Head of English at Shaftesbury School

  New


New
  Job Reference #
EDV/2026/SS/27981
  Location
Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8ER
  Contract Type
Permanent
  Contract Term
Full-Time
  Salary
£32,916.00 - £51,048.00 Annually (Actual)
Teachers' Pay Scales (M1 - UPS3) plus TLR 1.1 (£10,174)
  Closing Date
9:00am, Mon 13th Apr, 2026
  Start Date
September 2026
  Positions Available
1
   Positions Available        1
  Interview Date(s)
W/C 20th April 2026
   Interview Date(s)           W/C 20th April 2026
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About this Role

Salary: Teachers' Pay Scales plus TLR 1.1 (£10,174)
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

 Are you an ambitious and inspirational English leader ready to make a significant impact? Shaftesbury School invites you to lead our passionate English department and help shape the future of literacy and language across our school community. This is a rare chance to combine subject leadership with whole-school influence through an Associate Assistant Headteacher role for the right candidate. If you thrive on nurturing talent, driving academic success, and embedding a love of English, we want to hear from you.

For the right candidate, we offer the exciting opportunity to step into senior leadership as an Associate Assistant Headteacher (Leadership Scale 6 - 10), with a clear leadership portfolio to influence teaching and learning beyond English. This role is ideal for an outstanding practitioner who wants to combine classroom excellence with strategic impact.

Shaftesbury School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form with a proud Church of England foundation, serving pupils aged 11-18 in Dorset. Rated Good in all categories by Ofsted (2023), we are committed to our vision for every pupil to “be the BEST they can be”, underpinned by our core Christian values of Belonging, Empathy, Service, and Thrive (BEST).

We celebrate a diverse community where around a quarter of our pupils are disadvantaged, and we offer tailored support to ensure all pupils, including those with SEND and EAL, flourish. Our school ethos is inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan – we live by the principle to “Love thy neighbour as thyself” and foster a nurturing, respectful environment.

As part of SAST, we are on an exciting journey to strengthen curriculum quality, raise standards, and develop a thriving sixth form in strategic partnership with local schools. We are proud of our supportive, hardworking staff and our commitment to high expectations, excellent behaviour, and a positive academic ethos.

As Head of English, you will lead a dynamic and committed team, championing a rigorous and engaging curriculum that inspires pupils from Key Stage 3 through to A-levels. You will be at the heart of driving strong outcomes in English Language and Literature, while also embedding a whole-school literacy strategy that enhances oracy, reading, and writing skills across all subjects.

Key responsibilities include:
  • Leading and developing a high-profile English department
  • Shaping an ambitious curriculum aligned with the latest curriculum review
  • Leading literacy initiatives that improve reading, writing, and oracy
  • Managing departmental resources and budget effectively
  • Teaching English Language and Literature across all key stages
  • Collaborating with middle and senior leaders


You will be a passionate and skilled educator who believes in the transformative power of English. You will:

  • Inspire and motivate pupils and staff with energy, empathy, and professionalism
  • Demonstrate excellent classroom practice across Key Stages 3-5, including examination courses
  • Be committed to inclusive education and student wellbeing, fostering an environment where every pupil can thrive
  • Have strong leadership skills with the ability to support, develop, and empower your team
  • Be organised, adaptable, and solutions-focused, ready to embrace challenges with positivity and patience
  • Share our Christian values and contribute to the life of a busy, successful school community
  • Be eager to grow professionally and collaborate across the school and Trust


Experience in middle or senior leadership, curriculum development, and literacy initiatives is highly desirable, but not essential. We welcome candidates who are committed to learning and developing within a supportive environment.


At Shaftesbury School, you will join a vibrant community dedicated to high standards and continuous improvement. We provide:

  • A supportive and collaborative working environment with a strong focus on professional development
  • Access to a well-resourced English department including Drama and Film Studies expertise
  • Membership of Sherborne Area Schools Trust, with opportunities for cross-school collaboration
  • A thriving sixth form with strategic partnerships and shared leadership
  • Excellent facilities including a resourced library, ICT suites, and sports amenities
  • Staff wellbeing initiatives, free refreshments, and a positive, inclusive school culture


We warmly welcome applications from candidates who share our vision and values.


We are looking for someone who is organised, committed and able to motivate our young people, whilst also leading a dedicated and strong team of English teachers. We want someone who will go the extra mile. In return, you will join a school and a Trust that is full of activity, opportunity and optimism. The school has a centralised behaviour management system, supporting staff workload. We have bespoke Internal Alternative Provision on site for students who struggle with the mainstream lesson setting. The school has a thriving 6th Form and fantastic facilities, including a Techno Gym Suite (staff use free of charge), AstroTurf, Multi-Use Games Area, a full-scale climbing and bouldering wall, wonderful grass pitches that drain well, tennis courts, five ICT suites, a 6th Form/Staff Café, a fully resourced Library, free staff refreshments every day, a multi-faceted Steps to Support programme for our young people, a staff well-being charter and staff counselling.   

 

For more information about our wonderful school, please click here to view our careers page. 

To find out more about the benefits of working for SAST, click here 

 

Should you wish to arrange a visit to view our school, please do not hesitate to contact Channon Bruton, Office Manager on Channon.Bruton@shaftesburyschool.co.uk and she will be happy to arrange this for you.  

 

SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. In line with KCSIE guidance, this will be part of safer recruitment checks, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.  


 

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child.  It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis.  SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification, and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check.  The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.  


 

SAST recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.  

 

This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process. 



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