A rare opportunity has arisen for a dynamic teacher and leader to join a successful and flourishing English team as Secondi n Department. You will be an outstanding classroom practitioner whose passion and subject knowledge promotes students’ enjoyment of English throughout Key Stage 3 to 5, in addition to being an ambitious leader to thrive as a Second in Department.  

The role is full time, however a 0.8 FTE contract may be considered for an exceptional candidate.  

Our English curriculum aims to help students become confident communicators who have their own ‘voice’, who can think critically and write with creative flair. By providing them with opportunities to engage with a diverse range of texts, we encourage students to question the world around them, developing empathy and open-mindedness as well as fostering a love of literature.

As a core subject, we teach all pupils at KS3 and 4 and we believe it is a testament to their experience during these years that we have high uptake at studying English at A Level. Whatever the key stage, our classrooms are active and lively learning environments where pupils’ creativity, group work and independence are fostered. We also utilise our amazing library space where pupils learn how to effectively use materials for research and are encouraged to read widely and for pleasure. When the weather is nice, you might even find us outside in the amphitheatre or in the lecture theatre staging drama workshops or practicing our rhetoric!

We offer an extensive range of extra-curricular activities in which all students are encouraged to take part. We encourage creativity, offering opportunities for drama, poetry, creative writing and debate, as well as encouraging pupils to mix media and draw on their knowledge from outside of the subject to enrich their learning (some even make cakes inspired by the texts we read!) Currently, the department offers creative writing club, book club, poetry writing competitions, public speaking competitions, a murder mystery club as well as supporting the whole school efforts for World Book Day. This year, pupils have had the opportunity to watch theatre productions of the texts they are studying and had workshops with visiting authors. We also have a fantastic group of subject ambassadors who assist the department in open evenings, leading clubs and supporting as reading and writing mentors.

Our department is made up of a mix of part- and full-time teachers who each have their own unique and special areas of expertise, something that is encouraged and cultivated.  The team includes experienced examiners as well as some teachers of Media, but we all share a collective mission: to share our passion for literature and the English language with our students.

This is an exciting time to join our team, as we embrace the challenge of increasing the diversity of voices studied within our curriculum. Whether an ECT or an experienced teacher, we welcome applications from teachers who share our vision and who will join in with our collaborative ethos, sharing ideas, passion for our subject as part of our very special team.

If you would like to arrange a school visit, please contact Sarah Forster, Headteacher, via Louise Rumbelow, Headteacher's PA (lrumbelow@tggsacademy.org) or if you have any questions in relation to the role or the recruitment process, please contact Abigail Henwood, HR Manager (personnel@tggsacademy.org).

Thank you for your interest in this role and our school. We look forward to hearing from you!

Torquay Girls’ Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All roles within our school are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and it is an offence to apply to this role is you are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children.

As part of our safer recruitment procedures, references will be taken up for all shortlisted applicants, and online searches will be completed. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, including a Child Barred List check, and other relevant employment checks.

As a school, we are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants.