Second in English Department

Summary

An enthusiastic and engaging Second in English is required to join our flourishing team. This role would suit a current Second in Department or an experienced teacher looking to make the next step in their career, someone with aspirations for a Head of Department role in the future.

Detail

Required from: September 2026

Contract term: Permanent

Hours: Full Time / Part Time (0.8)

Salary: ML1/ML2

The role:

An enthusiastic and engaging Second in English is required to join our flourishing team. This role would suit a current Second in Department or an experienced teacher looking to make the next step in their career, someone with aspirations for a Head of Department role in the future.

The successful candidate will be, above all, passionate about English literature and language. They will be excited about sharing their subject passion with our students and ready to make a mark on our vibrant school community through their teaching. They will be eager to encourage students to find their voice through creative and persuasive writing, public speaking and debating, and determined to foster in all students a love of reading and literary scholarship.

The successful candidate will be required to teach at KS3, GCSE and A Level. Commitment to wider school life is expected. As a school, we value flexible working, and we would welcome applications from those seeking either full or part time hours (4 days). Please indicate your preference in your application form.

The Department:

The Department is well-resourced and experienced, and we run a rich variety of extra-curricular clubs including Debate and Public Speaking, Senior Literary Society, recently renamed to A Room of Our Own, Creative Writing Club and Comic Club.

Many girls take English Literature at A Level, and we are delighted that every year, students take places at Russell Group and Oxbridge universities. We currently prepare our girls for AQA GCSE in both English Literature and English Language, which they take at the end of Year 11 and we follow the AQA A Level Specification B in the Sixth Form.

We have spacious teaching rooms that are excellent collaborative learning spaces, with accessibility to a variety of digital technology including a computer suite, flexible Maker Space, and all students are trained in using their own Chrome Books. The school’s Centenary Library is an inspiring place for both students and teachers to indulge their love of literature.

We encourage our students to engage with English beyond the classroom through theatre visits, lectures, creative and essay writing competitions, lunchtime clubs and trips. In the last two years we have taken A Level students to see Othello and Year 11 to a GCSE Poetry Live lecture day. We have previously taken GCSE students to see Shakespeare at the Globe and Years 8 and 9 to see Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at the Wembley Troubadour Theatre. In addition, Costa Award-winner novelist and playwright Manjeet Mann and poet and academic Gita Ralleigh both led Year 10 writing workshops and spoke to Year 9. Year 11 benefitted from a Keynote revision day on English Language and Year 7 watched a performance of A Christmas Carol by Box Clever Theatre company in the Assembly Hall. Alongside providing a range of opportunities, we also encourage students to take the initiative and Year 9 students run the Key Stage 3 Literary Film Club. In addition, students from Year 9 and 10 lead supported ‘paired reading’ with Junior School girls for the service section of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. It is essential that the successful candidate is prepared to contribute to the Department’s extra-curricular activities and participate in planning and attending trips.

About the School:

Northwood College for Girls is an independent, academically selective day school for approximately 870 girls aged 3-18. At NWC, we value character and academic rigour equally. Our curriculum ignites intellectual curiosity and fosters emotional intelligence, building resilience through challenge. An NWC education enables every girl to lead a purposeful life and feel successful in their learning.

Both pupils and staff are encouraged to find and develop their passions and talents, through clubs, societies and an extensive programme of CPD. All members of the NWC community are expected to act with compassion and integrity, with respect for others and the environment and an awareness of global responsibility.

Everyone is equally valued in our NWC family and our dynamic young women are proud of their school. Looking after one another and rejoicing in one another’s successes comes second nature to a NWC girl as does her ‘can-do’ attitude and drive.

Benefits:

As part of the GDST, the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools, we can offer a variety of benefits, such as:

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• Training grants for qualifications
• Generous pension scheme
• Free life assurance benefit
• Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
• Interest-free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
• A Cycle to Work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment
• Access to the school gym and swimming pool
• Free school lunches
• Retail and lifestyle discounts via Pluxee
• Financial guidance and support

For further details to apply online please click here or visit the school’s website at www.northwoodcollege.gdst.net.

Applications must be received by 9am on Monday 2 March 2026. Interviews will take place the following week. Early applications are encouraged and we may interview candidates prior to the deadline.

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening will apply to this post.

Documents

• NWC Second in English Department JD PDF Document