Assistant Principal; English

Assistant Principal (English)

Lift Firth Park, Fircroft Avenue, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S5 0SD
, United Kingdom

Salary:
Leadership Scale 13-18 + well-being cash plan + pension scheme (TPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits

Hours:

Full Time

Contract:

Permanent

Start date:

January 2027 (an earlier start date is welcomed)

Closing date: 22nd June 12 noon

Interview date: 29th June

Be part of something transformational. Help shape the next chapter at Lift Firth Park.

At Lift Firth Park, we believe strong English skills are a powerful driver of opportunity, confidence, and future success. Knowing the importance of English capability in a child's education, we have created the new role ‘Assistant Principal (English)’ to drive our ambitious Lift 490 agenda and further improve English across the school.

We believe every young person is entitled to an excellent education, in every classroom, every day. Our 490 promise reflects that commitment: 90% of students achieve a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths.

This is a rare and career-defining opportunity for an inspirational leader passionate about English and committed to ensuring an excellent education for every child.

As Assistant Principal, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the school and spearheading the development of English across all year groups and departments.

Lead a culture where English fluency is visible, valued, and consistently applied. Through strong leadership, you will embed high‑quality pedagogy across departments, supporting staff to deliver engaging, rigorous, and inclusive English teaching.

At the heart of this role is a commitment to excellence, raising standards in teaching, learning, and behaviour while fostering a positive and supportive environment for students and staff.

• Drive whole‑school English excellence.
• Lead the strategic vision for English across the school.
• Promote a culture of English fluency and confidence for all learners.
• Embed robust, evidence‑informed pedagogical approaches across departments.
• Use data intelligently to identify gaps, inform interventions, and raise outcomes.
• Ensure consistency and high expectations in English teaching across all key stages.
• Play a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to whole‑school strategy and improvement.
• Lead on designated strategic priorities that drive academic excellence and student wellbeing.
• Line‑manage teaching and support staff, providing clarity, coaching, and high‑quality professional development.
• Uphold and promote outstanding standards of teaching, learning, and behaviour across the school.
• Model and embed the values and ethos of Lift Firth Park in all aspects of leadership.

• A degree in English (or a related subject), PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status.
• A strong track record of excellent classroom practice and raising student achievement in English.
• A strong understanding of evidence‑informed English pedagogy and curriculum design.
• Proven experience of improving outcomes within a UK secondary school setting.
• The ability to inspire, develop, and influence colleagues at all levels.

• Experience leading whole‑school or cross‑curricular initiatives.
• Experience supporting schools in challenging contexts or driving rapid improvement.
• Values‑driven, intellectually curious, and relentless in pursuit of excellence; belief in the transformative power of education and commitment to ensuring every student at Lift Firth Park achieves their full potential.

Lift Firth Park is a vibrant, mixed secondary school for students aged 11–16. Located in Shiregreen, Sheffield, we serve around 1,200 pupils and reflect a richly diverse community, with more than a third of students speaking English as an additional language.

The school is undergoing a period of new leadership and transformational change, with positive impacts already seen across the curriculum and culture.

Contact:

• alaking
• nbutler1

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