Curriculum Lead - Head of English - Full-time - Special Needs Position

Rivermead, Gillingham

• Ref:MED887-7016-29T
• Posted:24/04/2025
• Pay:MPS/UPS + SEN + TLR
• Start Date:Sept 2025
• App Close Date:08/05/2025 at 12:00
• Interviews:W/C 12th May 2025

Advert

Rivermead Special School is seeking a Head of English to lead its thriving department across our Rivermead provisions. This is an exciting full-time opportunity for a passionate and experienced English teacher with leadership potential committed to supporting learners with special needs. You will shape the academic and personal development of our amazing learners by building on and delivering an engaging English curriculum that caters to their diverse learning needs and fosters a love for literature, phonics, writing, and communication. You will lead your team, develop policy, implement interventions, and contribute to the school's quality assurance.

Exciting New Site: We are opening our new Stoke site in Lower Stoke, which will be the base for our KS3 learners, providing another layer of learning and opportunity across the whole school. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to support colleagues across all our provisions.

We are looking for a qualified teacher with QTS and secondary level English teaching experience, along with a deep understanding of special educational needs and strong leadership and communication skills. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the English department, providing guidance, support, and training to your team of dedicated teachers
• Lead on the development of English policy and procedure
• Take part in the school’s staff development programme by participating in arrangements for coaching and mentoring, further training and professional development
• Develop and implement a specialized English curriculum that caters to the diverse learning needs of our learners
• Monitor and assess learner progress, working collaboratively with staff to develop and implement effective intervention strategies
• Identify, implement, and monitor appropriate literacy-based interventions for pupils requiring additional support
• Leading on projects and initiatives that promote English across the curriculum.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment that promotes creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication skills
• Collaborate with other department heads and the school's senior leadership team to achieve our school's mission and objectives
• In consultation with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team undertake other identified areas of responsibility as necessary to ensure effective delivery of the school’s curriculum.
• To share the school’s responsibility to support and promote the learning, personal development and well-being of all learners
• Contributing to the school’s quality assurance and self-evaluation processes

Requirements

• A qualified teacher with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
• Experience teaching English at a secondary level
• A deep understanding of the needs of learners with special educational requirements
• Leadership experience, or the demonstrable potential for leadership
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to inclusive education and a passion for supporting learners with special needs

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• The opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of learners with special needs
• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Ongoing professional development and career advancement opportunities
• A chance to be part of a dynamic and innovative educational community

We reserve the right to shortlist and interview earlier than the stated closing date should an appropriate application be received.

Information about the school

Rivermead Inclusive Trust strives to be diverse and inclusive and a place where we can ALL be ourselves. We welcome applications from all diverse and ethnic groups

If you require access arrangements to complete an application form please contact Rivermead Inclusive Trust who will cater to your needs ie. large print, coloured forms and an audio version.

If for any reason you have difficulty completing an application form please again contact the Rivermead Inclusive Trust who will support.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to receipt of an enhanced DBS check, Health Declaration and satisfactory references

Job Contact Information

• Name:Mrs Mel Bate
• Address:Forge Lane, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1UG
• Telephone: 01634 338 348
• Email: mbate@r-i-t.org

Fax: 01634 338 347

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Equality and Diversity Statement
• Person Specification