Head of English

Job Title: Head of English

Location: Redbridge

Start Date: 1 September 2026

Salary: £38,805 to £58,404 plus TLR or Leadership Scale

Contract: Permanent

Are you a knowledgeable English Teacher and skilled leader seeking a Head of Department role?

Do you set high expectations for your students, demonstrate confident classroom presence, and engage students across all key stages?

Are you an English subject specialist and curriculum expert, able to lead the subject effectively, supporting colleagues to deliver excellent lessons and results?

TeacherActive are seeking a Head of English for a high-achieving academy trust school. The ideal candidate will be experienced teaching English across KS3 to KS5 and have previously held responsibilities within their department such as Key Stage Coordinator or Second in Charge. Experience delivering AQA GCSE English Literature and Language and Edexcel A Level curricula will be an asset. This school is open to candidates who are interested in moving into senior leadership in the future.

This secondary school sets high expectations for both staff and students, promoting academic excellence across all subjects and maintaining good behaviour. The student and staff population are diverse with several languages spoken and cultural traditions observed across the school, building community and connection. The school is well-run and has a clear vision of success for its students which all teachers and support staff actively support, in lessons and across lessons and whole school initiatives. As part of a large MAT, collaboration between Heads of Department across schools is actively encouraged, with subject specific professional development and workshops regularly arranged.

To be considered for this role, you will:

• Demonstrate excellent subject knowledge and confident classroom presence
• Hold QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
• Hold a degree in English Literature, Language, or similar area of study
• Have previous leadership experience in a secondary school setting
• Foster positive relationships with your students, setting and maintaining high expectations
• Demonstrate high standards of professionalism and leadership
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues
• Communicate clearly and confidently, verbally and in writing
• Hold UK Right to Work

At TeacherActive, we understand the impact high quality teaching has on student outcomes. This is why we have a dedicated permanent recruitment team based in London to support qualified teachers match with the right schools and take the next step in their careers.

By engaging with TeacherActive for your next permanent role, you will gain:

• A dedicated permanent recruitment consultant offering individualised, expert support
• Access to all permanent teaching staff benefits provided by the hiring school, including the Teacher Pension Scheme
• Access to a range of schools and roles across our national school network
• Continuous professional development through our free online portal, My-Progression, with new videos added each week
• Access to our referral scheme which allows you to earn a £100 bonus for each successful referral, in line with our terms and conditions
• The security of partnering with a well-established education company with a proven record of service since 2004

If you’re interested in being considered by our permanent recruitment specialists, click ‘apply now’ or follow this link to register your interest.

Vacancy contact:

[email protected]

0207 858 6655

About TeacherActive

TeacherActive is one of the UK’s leading education recruitment agencies, with over 20 years of experience supporting schools and education professionals. We place teachers and support staff into a wide range of temporary, contract and permanent roles, helping candidates find rewarding opportunities that suit their experience, availability and career goals. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent service to both our schools and candidates.

TeacherActive is an equal opportunities employer and operates as an Employment Business and Employment Agency in providing temporary, contract and permanent job seeking services.

Registration may involve an enhanced DBS check, ID checks and the supply of good professional references, depending on the role. We are committed to safeguarding and compliance across all placements.

Regular external audits have shown repeatedly that our standards are exceptional. We are passionate about finding the right staff for each education environment.