Head of English
Job description
Job Title: Head of English
Location: Burnley High School, East Lancashire
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Start Date: December 2025 (or as soon as possible)
About Burnley High School:
Burnley High School is a progressive and inclusive secondary school located in East Lancashire, dedicated to academic excellence and nurturing creativity. We are committed to providing a supportive environment where students and staff thrive.
The Role:
We are looking for an inspirational and experienced Head of English to lead our English department. This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate leader who is committed to raising standards, driving innovation, and developing a vibrant curriculum that excites and challenges students.
Key Responsibilities:
-
Lead, manage, and motivate the English department team to deliver outstanding teaching and learning.
-
Develop and implement a broad, balanced, and innovative English curriculum that meets the needs of all students.
-
Monitor and evaluate teaching standards and student progress, using data to inform improvements.
-
Support staff professional development and performance management within the department.
-
Promote a love of literature, language, and critical thinking across the school community.
-
Collaborate with senior leadership to contribute to whole-school priorities and initiatives.
Person Specification:
-
Qualified teacher status (QTS) with substantial experience teaching English.
-
Proven leadership experience within a school setting, ideally as a Head of Department or senior leader.
-
Strong subject knowledge and a passion for English literature, language, and literacy.
-
Excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
-
Commitment to high standards and continuous improvement.
-
Ability to inspire and engage both staff and students.
What We Offer:
-
A collaborative, supportive, and forward-thinking school environment.
-
Opportunities for leadership development and career progression.
-
Access to excellent teaching resources and professional learning.
-
The chance to make a significant impact on the education of young people in East Lancashire.
How to Apply:
Please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your vision for the English department and your suitability for the role OR contact Hayley on 01772 386307.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.
Similar jobs
We are sorry but your search has returned no results.
Please try some of the links below to find what you are looking for:
Related posts

Teaser
Education NewsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Despite his material being written more than 400 years ago, William Shakespeare’s work continues to be a core pillar of English classes the world over. This is particularly true in England, the birthp
by
Alex Schulte
Register with us
for work in schools across England & Wales
Register today
Recent jobs