We are seeking an exceptional and passionate English Teacher to join our dynamic secondary school community. This is not just a teaching role — it is an opportunity to shape minds, ignite imagination, and truly inspire, challenge, and transform the way students experience English.
About the Role:
You will deliver engaging, high-quality lessons across Key Stages 3–4, fostering a deep appreciation for literature, language, and critical thinking. At the heart of your teaching will be a commitment to inspire curiosity, challenge thinking, and transform outcomes for every learner. We are looking for someone who goes beyond the curriculum — a teacher who can bring texts to life, challenge students intellectually, and cultivate confident, articulate communicators.
What We’re Looking For:
- An outstanding classroom practitioner with a proven track record of strong student progress
- A deep love of English literature and language, with the ability to inspire that passion in others
- Creativity and innovation in lesson design, with a willingness to embrace new approaches
- High expectations for all learners, combined with the skill to support and stretch every student
- A commitment to extracurricular enrichment
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- A mindset aligned with our ethos to inspire, challenge, and transform every student’s learning journey
What You’ll Do:
- Plan and deliver exceptional, thought-provoking lessons that inspire curiosity and a love of learning
- Challenge students to think critically, analyse deeply, and express themselves with confidence
- Transform student outcomes through high-quality teaching, feedback, and support
- Create a stimulating and inclusive learning environment
- Use assessment effectively to drive progress and raise attainment
- Contribute to curriculum development and departmental excellence
- Play an active role in the wider life of the school
At The Westleigh School, we place the utmost importance on the wellbeing and professional development of our staff. We believe that happy, supported educators are the key to unlocking the potential in our students. That’s why we prioritise a healthy work-life balance, continuous professional growth, and a collaborative, nurturing environment. We are proud to be a school that has enabled more staff than ever before to complete National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), and we remain fully committed to supporting ongoing development at every stage of a teacher’s career. Whether you're an early career teacher or an aspiring leader, we invest in your journey because we know that developing great teachers leads to great outcomes.
We are a school driven by excellence and innovation. As a fully digital school, every staff member and student is equipped with an iPad, allowing for creative, high-impact teaching strategies and interactive learning experiences. Our strong pastoral system, built around a thriving college model, fosters healthy competition, a deep sense of belonging, and a shared determination to be the best in all areas of school life. At The Westleigh School, we don’t just aspire to excellence—we create the conditions for it, empowering our staff and students to achieve their full potential together.
Uniting with The Shaw Education Trust brings with it new opportunities and a wealth of resources to supplement our mission to improve outcomes for all our students. Colleagues will have access to a large range of well-established training opportunities, such as a fully funded L5 Instructional Coaching qualification or Accelerated Leadership training, for those aspiring to Middle Leadership. Outstanding teachers will also achieve Trust Professional Advocate designation, which provides exciting opportunities to support colleagues within both The Westleigh School and across other SET schools to share best practice. With this brings the opportunity to engage in the cross-trust peer review and Trust CPD programme.
All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position.
Join Shaw Education Trust – Support, Teach, Lead… Make the Remarkable Happen.
At Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role holds the power to transform a life. Whether you're supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or leading with vision, you’ll be part of something extraordinary.
We are a dynamic and growing family of Primary, Secondary, and Special Schools, proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury. Our mission is to unlock opportunity for every young person—whatever their background, ability, or starting point.
Our people are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their growth. Through high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent acceleration, and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled, confident professionals and we champion wellbeing, value every voice, and create a culture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a real difference.
You will join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and professional community fuel success. Every academy in our Trust has an equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital part in shaping tailored learning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures.
At the heart of our work is a deep respect for the children and young adults we serve—our “precious cargo.” We are proud to "exactly like nothing else” and bridge the gap between education and the wider world, preparing every student for further education, employment, or training in inclusive environments where integrity, equality, and opportunity thrive.
If you have the heart, passion, and drive to help shape lives and create futures filled with promise, we would love you to join our incredible team.
Support. Teach. Lead. Belong. Thrive.
Together, let’s make the remarkable happen.
Shaw Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or Support Staff employment:
- An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff)/Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)
- Support Staff only based on working full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’ service including Bank Holidays)
- Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to support your well-being.
- Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands.
- Free Eye Tests
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to our Institute of Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and flourish in your role and in the Trust.
We know our people are the key to our success and so we’re committed to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a rewarding one.
Colleagues within the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses both in-house and professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of the National Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programme delivered by Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition Institute.
- Experienced leadership and subject-specific support.
- Guidance from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
- Access to the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
- Opportunities to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional Advocate.
- Participating in peer reviews.
- Access to a suite of online courses.
- Placement projects within our family of schools.
The Westleigh School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, click here to review Safeguarding and Pupil Protection Policy https://www.shaw-education.org.uk/our-trust/key-information
This position is subject to robust vetting procedures, including an online search for all shortlisted candidates, in line with our Trust’s commitment to safer recruitment.
An enhanced criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), formerly known as the CRB, is required. You will be asked to disclose all relevant unspent and, where applicable, unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions, and convictions.
Shaw Education Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer. We are fully committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection processes promote equality, diversity, and inclusion at every stage.
In accordance with our safer recruitment policy CVs alone will not be accepted.
We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date as we review applications on an on-going basis and interviews may be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, therefore, we encourage early applications.
Successful candidates will be subject to a fully Enhanced DBS check along with other relevant employment checks.