Teacher of Spanish & French with TLR2a

MFL with a TLR

At Shire Oak Academy, we will invest in you and support you to reach your potential. As a school we are only as good as the people we work with and to ensure that we get the best from our young people, we need to make sure that we also get the best from our staff. Relationships matter and this is at the heart of what we do every day in our school and as one of 12 schools within the Mercian Trust.

Shire Oak Academy is not the easier school to work in currently, but we encourage you to visit to see we are far more than our most recent Ofsted report. We have a new Leadership Team, led by experienced Headteacher Matthew Everett and we would welcome applications from those wishing to join us on the exciting journey that Shire Oak is currently on. We are a community secondary school in Walsall Wood and proud of our inclusivity. Our ethos is built upon #BeIncredible and we accept that young people are going to make mistakes, but through positive interactions and support we will help to ensure that they fall less often and can reflect and learn from their mistakes and #BeIncredible in all that they do . Through our House System, and form tutors, we provide the care and support that is needed for all individuals and their families, including healthy competition. Everyone within the academy is expected to be an active member of their house, students and staff alike!

As well as offering a knowledge rich curriculum, which includes the full spectrum of creative subjects, we also offer an extensive enrichment and extra-curricular programme. Our drama shows are as good as what you would see in the local theatres, our sports teams are committed and driven taking part in local and regional competitions, and our wide array of trips provide awe and wonder for our young people. If there is an opportunity to improve the cultural capital of our young people, we will always be open to ideas.

The design of our building is unique, a huge campus at the highest point in Walsall with incredible views and huge open spaces, with top of the range facilities, including sport, technology and photography spaces.

Come and see what Shire Oak Academy has to offer, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

This is an exciting and innovative time for the Academy and we are looking to appoint an individual who is:

An inspirational and enthusiastic team member.

Clear about what constitutes outstanding outcomes for all students.

A passionate, creative Subject Leader who believes in all students' capacity to succeed and will embrace our ethos 'Turning Potential into Excellence'.

We can offer you the support of a strong, hard-working team and the opportunity to work with students who meet the high expectations we have of them.

The Academy has been heavily oversubscribed for a number of years and we are incredibly proud of our external examination results.

Job Purpose: We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Subject Leader to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the department, raising standards of attainment and achievement, and ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, balanced curriculum.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the department team in raising standards of attainment and achievement across the curriculum.

• Develop and maintain positive attitudes towards the subject and confidence in teaching it.

• Establish short, medium, and long-term plans for the development and resourcing of the subject.

• Monitor progress, evaluate the effects on teaching and learning, and guide further improvement.

• Implement clear policies and practices for assessing, recording, and reporting on student achievement.

• Set expectations and targets for staff and students in relation to standards of achievement and quality of teaching.

• Ensure high-quality, consistent teaching and learning across all ability groups.

• Provide guidance on appropriate teaching and learning methods.

• Lead professional development of subject staff through example and support.

• Use data effectively to identify and support students who are underachieving.

• Ensure the provision of a broad, balanced, relevant, and differentiated curriculum.

• Establish constructive working relationships among staff involved with the subject.

• Manage and deploy teaching/support staff, financial, and physical resources within the department.

Requirements:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

• Proven experience in teaching and leading a department.

• Strong subject knowledge and a passion for the subject.

• Ability to inspire and motivate students and staff.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute to a positive working environment.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in the academy's CPD programme.

• Communicate effectively with parents and external bodies.

• Contribute to the academy's planning and quality assurance activities.

• Support the academy's ethos and policies.

Closing Date: Friday 26th September 2025 at midnight

Interviews: WC 6th October 2025

For a more detailed look at our Academy access our website on www.shireoakacademy.co.uk.

Further details are available by contacting the Headteacher's PA by e-mail on s.read@soa.merciantrust.org.uk

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Pre-employment checks include an enhanced disclosure and barring service check as a requirement of this post. Our Safeguarding Policy is available on our website, and we encourage applicants to review it before applying.

This position is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check (formerly CRB) under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Further details regarding this check are available from the school or by visiting www.crb.gov.uk.