The Role

Head of English (for Easter or Summer Term 2025 by negotiation)

A rare opportunity has arisen to join our truly exceptional English department.  

In 2024, our English department achieved:

• a Progress 8 score of 0.9
• a P8 score of 0.45 for our PP students
• a place in the top 3% of schools nationally.

Our current Head of English, like her predecessor before, has been promoted to Assistant Headship.  We’re now looking for our next Head of English to build on the exceptional success of the last few years.  

As proud as we are of what has been achieved, English is at the beginning of its journey and we are confident that with the right leader, we can ascend new heights and deliver even more exceptional outcomes for our wonderful students.  

As impressive as our team is, there is no alchemy or gimmicks: our success is built on an incredible clarity about how to deliver a truly exceptional education in English.  Our team are experts at doing the things that make the greatest difference.  They inspire our students through the highest quality teaching, well targeted support and intervention, and an unshakeable conviction that every student can achieve the very best outcomes.  

We are now looking for someone to come and take on the leadership of our impressive team of professionals and who can ensure we deliver a truly exceptional quality of education.

You will be the right fit for the role if you:

• have the subject and pedagogical knowledge and vision to match our ambition to scale new heights;
• can point to experience working as part of, or leading, a high-performing team;
• have a relentless and uncompromising belief in the highest standards as the basis for exceptional performance.

We will give you all of the support you need to be successful in the role.  It is our working assumption that the post-holder, like their predecessors, will enjoy significant success leading to promotion to Assistant Headteacher within three years if that is what you are looking for.  

There is an opportunity for interested candidates to join a virtual information session to find out more on the following dates:

Monday 25th November at 8:00am

Thursday 28th November at 3:45pm

Please contact kym.hollinshead@coopacademies.co.uk to book a place.

Candidates who have any other questions about the role should contact the Headteacher, Shane Richardson, at shane.richardson@coopacademies.co.uk.

To apply for the role you should write a supporting statement in which you outline the following:

• Your impact in your roles to date
• Your vision for this role
• What you hope to have achieved within three years

The deadline for applications is: Friday 13th December 2024 at 9:00am.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 18th December 2024. 

HOW TO APPLY

We are now only accepting applications through FaceEd. Please apply online via

our vacancy website https://www.stokeontrent.coopacademies.co.uk/vacancies

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 18th December.

All our values are based upon the values of the Co-op Group, which will inform our behaviours.

Self-help: We do not expect to be spoon fed – we will try to do things for ourselves in the right way and at the right time.

Self-responsibility: Everyone should act in a responsible way around the academy site and in the local community. We take responsibility for our own learning; we want to become independent learners.

Equality: We are proud to be part of a very multicultural academy, with students from all over the world; it is important that we treat each other with respect and accept that others may be different from ourselves. We should all have equal chances to succeed.

Equity: We want to look for the best in each other. Rewarding others fairly to encourage all types of achievement.

Democracy: We will contribute our ideas to make the academy a success.

Solidarity: We can achieve more by working together, rather than as individuals.

Our Values

Being part of the Co-operative Group, we are both guided and driven by the Co-op values which are embedded in everything that we do within our Academy - We strive to demonstrate the following ethical values in everything we do - they are our ‘Ways of Being’:

Succeed together

Do what matters most

Be yourself, always

Show you care

So, if you believe in our values, we would love to hear from you! 

We offer a wide range of benefits and rewards to recognise the part you play in our success:

Benefits include:

Our employee benefits package includes:

• You’ll get being a Co-op member, you’ll get a Co-op colleague discount card. This gives you a 10% discount in our Co-op Food stores. 
• Co-operative flexible benefits (discounted line rental and broadband package, family care advice and cycle to work scheme)
• Discounted gym membership and leisure activities which includes discounts on Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life, Legoland etc), Virgin Experience Days, SuperBreak and many more!
• Co-operative Credit Union: save directly from your salary and receive a competitive dividend. Borrowers can benefit from very competitive interest rates & terms (in comparison with other high street lenders)
• Co-op Funeralcare benefit
• Season ticket and rental deposit loans

And More! 

For more information about the Co-op Academies Trust, please visit: www.coopacademies.co.uk

The Trust is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnerships.