Lead Practitioner of English - Secondary School - Leeds

A large and well-regarded 11–18 secondary school in Leeds is seeking an exceptional Lead Practitioner of English to drive teaching excellence across its English faculty and wider school community. This is a pivotal appointment within a school that has secured strong GCSE outcomes in recent years and is firmly focused on embedding consistency, academic rigour and high expectations in every classroom.

Located within a well-connected part of Leeds, the school serves a diverse and ambitious student population. Behaviour systems are well-established, leadership is visible and structured, and professional standards are high across departments.

The Role

As Lead Practitioner of English, you will play a central role in raising standards of teaching and learning across the department. This is not simply a classroom role — it is a strategic position designed for an experienced practitioner who can model outstanding pedagogy and support colleagues in refining their practice.

You will:

• Teach English across KS3–KS5, including GCSE and A-Level
• Model exceptional classroom practice and support department CPD
• Lead on curriculum development and assessment refinement
• Support mentoring of ECTs and early-career colleagues
• Contribute to whole-school teaching and learning initiatives
• Analyse performance data to drive targeted improvement

The role includes a reduced teaching timetable to allow for coaching, lesson study and departmental leadership responsibilities.

The English Department

English is one of the school’s strongest faculties, with consistently improving GCSE outcomes and strong uptake at A-Level. The department benefits from:

• A clearly sequenced, knowledge-rich curriculum
• Shared schemes of work and centralised resources
• Regular moderation and collaborative planning
• Structured revision and intervention programmes
• Strong links with Drama and Media Studies

The team is cohesive, professional and improvement-focused, with a culture of peer observation and reflective practice.

The School Environment

This Leeds secondary school combines clear behaviour systems with strong pastoral care. Lessons are calm and purposeful, allowing staff to focus on high-quality teaching.

Facilities include modern classrooms equipped with updated presentation technology, a well-stocked central library and designated quiet study areas for Sixth Form students. The school’s leadership team actively supports professional growth and promotes internal progression pathways.

Staff wellbeing is prioritised through sensible marking policies, protected CPD time and structured workload planning.

Who We’re Looking For

The successful candidate will:

• Hold QTS and have substantial secondary English teaching experience
• Demonstrate consistently strong outcomes at GCSE and ideally A-Level
• Have experience mentoring or coaching colleagues
• Show the ability to drive curriculum improvement strategically
• Maintain high expectations for behaviour and academic achievement
• Be confident leading professional development sessions

This role would suit an experienced English teacher ready to step into a strategic teaching and learning position within a stable and ambitious Leeds secondary school.

What’s On Offer

• Competitive salary with TLR or Lead Practitioner pay scale
• Reduced timetable to support leadership responsibilities
• Strong leadership support and structured CPD
• Clear pathways toward senior leadership
• A respected and improving Leeds secondary school community

This is a significant opportunity for an ambitious English specialist to influence teaching quality and student outcomes at scale within a well-led and forward-thinking school.