Head of Spanish

We are seeking an exceptional teacher and inspiring leader to join King's Ely as Head of Spanish. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a thriving department while contributing to the wider strategic development of Modern Foreign Languages. We are looking for a leader who combines academic excellence with warmth, integrity and vision; someone who is passionate about developing both young people and colleagues and who will help shape the future of languages at King's Ely.

Reporting to the Head of Modern Foreign Languages, the Head of Spanish will provide strategic, academic and operational leadership for Spanish across the School, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning and pupil achievement. The successful candidate will enjoy significant autonomy in leading the Spanish curriculum, developing teaching and learning, and promoting the subject. At the same time, they will work in close partnership with the Head of Modern Foreign Languages, contributing positively to the shared vision, strategic priorities and collective success of the department.

The successful candidate will be an outstanding classroom practitioner with a genuine passion for languages and a commitment to academic excellence. They will possess excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to inspire confidence, motivate others and build strong professional relationships founded on trust, respect and open communication. They will be a naturally collaborative leader who recognises the strengths that colleagues bring to the department and creates an environment in which everyone feels supported, respected and empowered to contribute their expertise.

They will be committed to creating a positive and inclusive culture in which professional dialogue is encouraged, ideas are shared openly and constructive challenge is welcomed in a respectful and solution-focused manner. They will demonstrate sound professional judgement, resilience, integrity and empathy, always keeping the needs of pupils at the heart of decision-making. They will recognise that leadership is not simply about managing a subject, but about developing people, strengthening relationships and enabling colleagues and pupils alike to flourish within a culture of mutual respect, shared ambition and continuous improvement.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious and forward-thinking leader to make a lasting contribution to a successful academic department. The postholder's duties will involve, but will not necessarily be limited to:

• Writing and reviewing Schemes of Work.
• Setting high expectations of pupils both in academic achievement and behaviour.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, which leads to the teaching of challenging and differentiated lessons in the classroom.
• Produce high-quality preparation and delivery of lessons to stimulate and encourage pupils' learning.
• Be responsible for Spanish teachers, supporting their work as subject teachers.
• Encourage, manage and support the professional development of staff within the Spanish Department.
• Encourage consultation and discussion within the Spanish Department and with the MFL Department.
• Setting and marking internal examinations.
• Be responsible for the academic progress of pupils studying Spanish, ensuring effective record keeping of pupil progression and achievement.
• Ensure effective communications with pupils, parents and guardians and staff.
• Endeavour to provide extra-curricular learning opportunities and trips to enhance subject learning beyond the exam specifications.
• Promote the subject with integrity to ensure pupil numbers remain strong.
• Advise pupils interested in pursuing Spanish and related subjects at Higher Education.
• Undertake colleagues' PDR.
• Carry out regular lesson observations.

King's Ely exists to make the most and best of childhood, and in particular to give the very best education, opportunities and pastoral care to as diverse a community of children as we can. In doing so we aim to prepare each one to live positive, productive, successful and fulfilled lives, for the betterment of themselves and the world around them.

We achieve this through the operation of a family of schools centred around a 2-19 co-educational day and boarding school in Ely, aiming to draw fully on our exceptional environment, history, physical, cultural, spiritual and human resources in doing so. History King's Ely can trace its origins from at least 970AD, making it one of the oldest schools in Europe.

The School was…