Aylsham High School · Norwich, East of England
Part of the Aylsham Learning Federation Tel: 01263 733270 Email: abarker@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk Website: www.aylshamhigh.com/ahsvacancies Executive Headteacher: Mr Duncan Spalding Salary - Lead Practitioner Pay Scale L10–L14 Permanent Full Time Required from 1 September 2026 We are seeking a committed and hardworking professional to provide strategic leadership for our English department and drive a whole-school culture of literacy and reading. At Aylsham High, we believe leadership is fundamentally about valuing people; your ability to get the best out of both students and colleagues is central to this role. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of securing excellent outcomes at GCSE English as well as ensuring strong progress in KS3. The successful candidate will also have a strong track record of leading, motivating, and inspiring others to teach effectively. You should be a highly reflective practitioner and strategic thinker who leads with humility and integrity, acknowledging when improvements are needed and maintaining a relentless focus on high standards. This position is designed for an accomplished teacher with senior leadership aspirations. As a Lead Practitioner, you will: Sit on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT): Work directly with the Deputy Headteacher to align departmental goals with the wider School Improvement Plan. Lead the English Department: Act as the direct line manager for the Head of English and the Second in English, providing mentorship and "critical friendship". Curriculum Architect: Design a knowledge-rich English curriculum rooted in cognitive science and robust educational research. Drive Literacy: Take full accountability for the school’s reading strategy, including overseeing the library and leading Year 8 reading assessments. Model Exemplary Practice: Maintain a teaching timetable that demonstrates the highest standards of evidence-informed pedagogy, such as Rosenshine’s Principles and adaptive teaching. Key Stage Progression: Ensure the curriculum is carefully sequenced to build on Key Stage 2 learning by working with feeder schools, maintaining this progression through to Key Stage 4. We believe wholeheartedly in helping teachers improve through professional dialogue rather than top-down monitoring. Every teacher works with an experienced coach to develop their practice. You will lead high-quality CPD and research-based working groups, fostering a team dynamic rooted in openness and honesty. Aylsham High School, Bure Valley School and John of Gaunt Infant and Nursery School are all part of Aylsham Learning Federation which suppo