Fir Vale Academy

Salary
Competitive Teachers Pay Range + TLR2 (negotiable on appointment)
Contractual hours
37.5
Basis
Full Time
Region
Sheffield
Date posted
14/10/2026
Job reference
REQ005726
Job title: Assistant Head of English
Location: Fir Vale Academy, Owler Lane, Sheffield, S4 8GB
Starting salary: Competitive Teachers Pay Range + TLR2 (negotiable on appointment)
Contract: Permanent, Full- Time, 37.5 hours per week
Start date: January 2027
We are seeking to appoint a dynamic, enthusiastic, and influential 2nd in department in English to help lead our current successful department. We have made strong gains over the last two years and now wish to achieve results that compare with the very best in the city.
We are looking for someone who can provide inspiring and outstanding leadership or quickly develop as an outstanding leader to ensure that attainment and progress in English continue an upward trajectory and who embodies our core values of ambition, knowledge, and determination.
This role would suit an ambitious and driven individual with high expectations for student achievement. It would suit either someone looking to progress to Head of Department and Middle leadership in the next 2 to 3 years or someone who would like experience in a large secondary school with A-level English provision
Our mission statement is to create Sheffield’s Influential young leaders of tomorrow and you will play a key role in equipping students with the language skills to attain a range of prestigious positions and life experiences.
We will consider applications from a range of experience, minimum 1 year teaching, more important for us is your focus, impact, and ability to motivate students and staff towards the highest of standards and a genuine belief that students have the potential to achieve highly.
Fir Vale Academy is a diverse and dynamic 11–16 secondary school, proudly serving the North of Sheffield. We are part of the United Learning family of schools, and we work closely with our cluster partners to share best practice and drive improvement. We fully subscribe to the ethos and values of United Learning, which align closely with our own commitment to ambition, opportunity, and determination for every student.
The city of Sheffield itself is a vibrant place to live and work with two universities and a range of entertainment opportunities alongside the access to the Beautiful Peak District within 20 minutes. Quality of life is routinely ranked very highly, and it is one of the greenest cities in Europe. <a href="https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/</a>
We are looking for applicants who are able evidence a strong track record of student achievement with their own classes and who have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives and education of the children they teach. This will need to be demonstrated in your application and be clear at interview.
At Fir Vale Academy, we pride ourselves on a team of staff who are supportive, friendly and dedicated to providing the very best teaching and learning for our students. Staff across the academy set a culture of high expectations and continuous improvement for students which, in turn, is reflected in the emphasis we place on continuing professional development CPD) for our staff.
What we would like from you:
<ul>
<li>Monitoring and improving academic progress in liaison with the team of curriculum area leaders and other key colleagues.</li>
<li>Identification of student groups within the school who need additional interventions in order to secure excellent outcomes.</li>
<li>Strategic oversight of programmes of intervention delivered by staff, academic tutors and supporting the work of trust-level subject advisors.</li>
<li>Overall leadership of interventions to support individuals and cohorts of students, including in-school time and interventions taking place outside normal school time.</li>
<li>Providing high quality coaching and mentoring particularly focusing on new colleagues joining the department</li>
<li>Supporting staff in setting and achieving aspirational targets for all students.</li>
<li>Working as part of a highly effective leadership team to support the running of a calm, purposeful and positive academy.</li>
</ul>
We will offer you:
<ul>
<li>Highly competitive salary. We pay an average of 5% above national scales, the best rates of pay in the sector.</li>
<li>Excellent facilities and resources.</li>
<li>Access to an outstanding professional development programme.</li>
<li>Exceptional curriculum resources.</li>
<li>Expert subject advice.</li>
<li>Three extra INSET days for planning.</li>
<li>At least one personal day a year.</li>
<li>Polite, respectful and dedicated students who want to learn and fulfil their potential.</li>
<li>Colleagues who are supportive, friendly and who are committed to each other’s professional development.</li>
<li>A chance to become part of one of the largest groups of academies in the country.</li>
<li>Opportunities to work collaboratively with colleagues in other schools within the Yorkshire cluster and across United Learning.</li>
<li>Excellent employee benefits which include a highly sought-after pension scheme with high employer contributions.</li>
<li>Access to training through the Apprenticeship Levy.</li>
<li>Generous staff discount scheme.</li>
<li>We are open to requests for flexible or part-time working; and we encourage open and regular conversations about work-life balance.</li>
</ul>
If you possess these qualities and share the academy’s vision, then we will be delighted to hear from you. Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further information.
To apply, please click the ‘Apply’ button at the top of this page to complete our online application form, CVs are not accepted. If you have any queries regarding this role, please <a href="mailto:emailhr@unitedlearningyorks.org.uk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">emailhr@unitedlearningyorks.org.uk</a>
The closing date for this post is 11:59pm, Tuesday 20 October 2026. Interviews will take place on Friday 23rd October 2026.
United Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employees will, in accordance with statutory guidance, be subject to a comprehensive checking process including references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK, an Enhanced DBS check and a further check against the appropriate barred list.

Assistant Head of English

Assistant Head of English

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