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Teacher of English - Full-time - Special Needs Position

City of Rochester School, Cliffe Woods

  • Ref:KCC887-6011-126T
  • Posted:07/04/2026
  • Pay:MPS + SEN allowance
  • Start Date:TBC
  • App Close Date:15/07/2026 at 12:00
  • Interviews:TBC

Advert

English Subject Lead (with Teaching Responsibility)
 
City of Rochester School

MPS/UPS (depending on experience) + SEN Allowance
 
This is not just an English Lead role. This is an opportunity to shape how young people find their voice, build confidence and access the world through literacy.
 
At City of Rochester School, we believe that communication changes lives. We are looking for an exceptional English specialist who shares that belief and is ready to lead a whole-school approach to English, literacy and oracy—from primary through to sixth form—in a setting where relationships, inclusion and ambition are at the heart of everything we do.
The Role
 
This is a key leadership role with a teaching commitment. You will:
  • Lead and develop a whole-school approach to English, literacy and oracy
  • Ensure a coherent, ambitious curriculum from primary to post-16
  • Lead a phase of the school (phase responsibility will be determined based on experience)
  • Support and develop staff through coaching, modelling and CPD
  • Use assessment effectively to drive progress and outcomes for all learners
  • Contribute to whole-school improvement and strategic development
You will play a central role in raising standards through high-quality teaching, curriculum leadership and strong teamwork .
About You
You will be:
  • An excellent classroom practitioner with a passion for English
  • Has experience of leadership
  • Committed to inclusive practice and SEND
  • A confident leader who can inspire and develop others
  • Ready to take on wider leadership responsibility, including phase leadership
  • Driven by high expectations and a belief that every student can succeed
  • A strong communicator with the resilience and flexibility to thrive in a specialist setting
Why Join Us?
  • The chance to shape English across an entire school
  • A genuine opportunity to transform students’ lives
  • Wonderful pupils who will inspire and motivate you every day
  • A supportive, committed staff team
  • Flexible PPA arrangements to support workload and wellbeing
  • Additional leave to support work-life balance
  • High-quality CPD and leadership development opportunities
  • A role with real scope for innovation and creativity
About Us
City of Rochester School is a specialist setting committed to inclusion, high expectations and strong relationships. We pride ourselves on knowing our students well and creating a curriculum that enables every young person to succeed.
Apply Now
If you are ready to lead English in a school where you can truly make a difference, we would love to hear from you.

You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time, and interview at any time, once we have received sufficient applications.

Information about the school

City of Rochester School is a specialist school for children and young people aged 5–18 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). We are proud of our pupils, our strong partnerships with parents and carers, and our dedicated staff team who work together to create a safe, happy and inspiring environment for learning.

As a small school, we offer a highly personalised and bespoke curriculum built around the individual pupil. Guided by our core principles of Confidence, Resilience and Success, our curriculum is broad and ambitious, combining academic, vocational and creative learning delivered through a therapeutic and nurturing approach.

From Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5, pupils can access a range of accredited programmes, from entry-level qualifications to GCSEs and beyond. Experiential learning is a key feature of our curriculum and includes opportunities such as forest school, STEM activities, photography, wellbeing, music, geographical exploration and meaningful work experience. Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 also access age-appropriate vocational experiences at the Vocational College that build early practical skills, curiosity and independence.

Our partners include Squirrell’s Riding School, Larkin Farm, Creepy Claws Farm, Medway League of Friends and St Helen’s Church – to name a few. These partners understand the individual needs of our pupils and work with patience, flexibility and care to support confidence, inclusion and success beyond the classroom.

A key strength of the school is our Vocational College, which provides practical, hands-on pathways for pupils who thrive through technical and vocational learning. Courses include construction trades, engineering and motor vehicle studies, with English and mathematics embedded throughout. This provision is particularly well suited to pupils who do not enjoy learning in a traditional classroom environment and who are motivated by learning through “doing”.

Our post-16 provision, based at the Vocational College, focuses on preparing pupils for adulthood and life after education. Bespoke programmes develop independence, employability and life skills, including access to our on-site flat and extended work experience opportunities that support successful next steps.

Alongside academic learning, we place a strong emphasis on pupils’ social, emotional and communication development. Our therapeutic approach is embedded across the school and supported by a wraparound therapy team, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, arts therapy and counselling. Strong relationships between staff, pupils and families form the foundation of our work.

During the most recent Ofsted Inspection in July 2024, inspectors recognised that “the school has designed its educational offer very carefully to ensure that pupils achieve well academically,” with learning that “deliberately builds on what came before and enables pupils to build their knowledge and understanding in manageable steps.” They also noted that pupils “work hard to meet the school’s high expectations for their behaviour and conduct and to achieve well in their learning.” This picture is strongly reinforced by feedback from our Parent Survey (2025), where all parents who responded said that their child is happy at City of Rochester School and spoke positively about the progress their child has made both academically and personally. Parents highlighted improvements in confidence, engagement with learning and readiness for next steps, saying that the consistent support helps pupils achieve success in ways that are meaningful for them.

City of Rochester School also benefits from an experienced and supportive Trustee Board, whose breadth of knowledge and expertise provides strong strategic oversight and ensures a continued focus on high standards and positive outcomes for pupils.

We are proud of our school community and warmly welcome you to City of Rochester School.

Alicja Emmett Headteacher

Job Contact Information

Documents

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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.