The Sir Robert Woodard Academy, an Ofsted ‘good’ rated academy, and one of the ‘happiest’ schools in the country (The Sunday Times, 2025), is a dynamic and popular 11–18 academy located between Worthing and Brighton, serving the students of Lancing, Sompting and Shoreham. Our aim is that every student is known and nurtured and is provided with teaching and learning experiences enabling them to fulfil their unlimited potential. We are seeking an English Teacher with thorough subject knowledge and an ambitious outlook to join the English department from September 2025 (or earlier if available). This is an incredible opportunity to join an excellent team of teachers who are passionate about their subject and excited about the future outcomes of their students. We welcome applications from colleagues (with QTS) at all stages of their career, including ECTs, who are committed to raising achievement in English. This is a permanent and full time position. Staff in English form a dynamic team with a strong shared purpose, and there are high expectations for all, with students taught in mixed attainment groups throughout key stages 3 & 4. Lessons in English expose students to the best writing and the best ideas, with a diverse range of texts, including dystopian short stories by Ray Bradbury; contemporary YA fiction such as ‘Dear Martin', Romantic poetry and Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night’. Students are offered a text rich curriculum, that prioritises reading for pleasure and progress, but opportunities for writing, both analytically and creatively, punctuate the lessons. Students in our sixth form, 'W6', take English Literature at A Level, with opportunities to attend theatre productions of set texts and relevant literary conferences. Students are encouraged to develop their English skills outside of the classroom, with an extra-curricular offer that includes creative writing and debate club. The English department is housed in our modern building with visualisers in every classroom. At the heart of the Academy is the library, which is an accessible resource for all students and staff as we grow a love of reading in the student body. The Accelerated Reader programme was introduced in September 2013 and continues to be an effective tool in developing a reading culture at Key Stage 3 with the addition of Bedrock vocabulary to strengthen literacy skills at home. At SRWA, our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with wellbeing support, coaching, mentoring and a wide range of top-quality training and CPD programmes delivered at every level up to senior leadership. SRWA teaching staff benefit from the following:- • a collaborative approach and strong collegial relationships; • proven student progress and excellent student behaviour • an extensive CPD programme tailored to skills and experience; • strong links with Brighton and Sussex Universities; • free employee assistance programme, dedicated staff wellbeing space and 1-1 mental health booster sessions available; • free use of the Academy’s fitness suite; • free on site car parking and easy access to local public transport; • cycle to work scheme; • free flu jabs. Quotes from full Ofsted inspection report October 2021: Rating of “Good” in all areas: “The culture at this school is summed up by its motto, ‘Aspire to Achieve’. From Year 7 through to the sixth form, pupils learn to think ambitiously about their futures.” "The school is a calm and orderly place for pupils to learn….Pupils treat each other with respect … low-level disruption is rare." "Pupils, parents and carers feel proud of their school…one parent told us ‘we are really impressed with the school, the ethos and the staff’.” A Staff Well-being survey commissioned externally in June 2024 revealed these were some of the areas considered ‘outstanding’ by our staff cohort:- Staff morale, workload and job satisfaction Appreciation of staff achievement/contribution Opportunities for staff to develop. The successful candidate will:- • demonstrate the skills of a good teacher • be able to interest, encourage and engage students • provide appropriate levels of challenge so that all students make good progress • use methods and resources that enable all students to learn effectively • use assessment information effectively to plan the next steps in students learning • make effective use of their time • secure consistently high standards of behaviour from students • be able to demonstrate a proven track record of recent and successful class teaching in mixed ability classes of aged 11-18 students (or of successful completion of initial teacher training if applying as an ECT). Our commitment to Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities: The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share in this commitment. All offers of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory safeguarding and vetting checks, including the receipt of two references: one of which must be from the current or most recent employer and, where the applicant has previously worked in a school, one reference must be from the last time the applicant worked with children. Applicants for this post will be asked to certify that they are not on the DBS Barred List, Sex Offenders Register, disqualified or prohibited from work with children, or subject to sanctions imposed by a regulatory body, such as the Teacher Regulation Agency. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal record self-declaration form and to give consent for an online search to be carried out against their name. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (including a Barred List check) and an offer of employment will be conditional upon a satisfactory check. Please be aware that the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will reveal both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings, and any other information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role, unless any such information is ‘protected’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. There is a six-month probation period for all new post-holders. The Academy is committed to equality of opportunity. We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community.