We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate, dedicated and innovative Head of Modern Foreign Languages to lead our thriving department. If you are passionate about languages, have a visionary mindset and are ready to inspire both students and colleagues, we would encourage you to apply.

Here at Reading School, we do not only teach languages, we explore the culture and context of each of the languages our students study, reaching students through the festivals, customs, film and literature.

The successful applicant will be joining a highly supportive and collaborative department, which offers French, German, Mandarin and Spanish. The department currently consists of a mixture of seven full-time and part-time staff, several of whom able to offer more than one language. Most years we also have an additional Mandarin support teacher from China.

The key elements of this role are:

• Managing and supporting the team
  
• Shaping and leading the curriculum
  
• Engaging and supporting students
  
• Planning strategically to ensure continued success.
  

Our ideal candidate will have proven experience of the above.

We believe that learning languages supports neuroplasticity, enriches self-awareness and broadens students’ horizons. The Senior Leaders and Governors of the school are therefore committed to sustaining the broadest possible range of languages and promoting these at each Key Stage.

We expose our students to as many languages as we can and let them choose their own linguistic pathway. As a result, currently, all students study French, German and Spanish (and Latin) for the whole of Year 7, having two 45-minute lessons per fortnight per subject. Taster sessions of Mandarin are introduced during Term 1 of Year 7, after which 25-30 students will switch from a modern foreign language to Mandarin, as part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme. In Year 8, students chose which two languages to specialise in and enjoy three 45-minute lessons per fortnight in each language.

In Key Stage 4 at least one language option (from French, German, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish) is compulsory for all students, and many chose two.

Whilst numbers opting for A Level French, German and Spanish at A Level are small (typically between three and seven students in each language), these numbers are stable and viable, and generous teaching time of 12 periods per fortnight is afforded to each.

The curriculum at all levels is supported by online text books on Kerboodle, as well as This Is School at KS4 and 5. Students benefit from a vibrant programme that supports our curriculum including:

• Theatre trips to watch plays in the target language
  
• Museum, escape room and restaurant trips
  
• Football tournaments in the target language with national strips
  
• Teacher led trips abroad, typically for years 7-9
  
• Exchange programmes with schools in France, Germany and Spain, typically Year 10 and 12
  
• Year 12 work experience abroad
• Conferences and connections with other local schools with whom we enjoy collaborative activities e.g. debates, workshop and day conferences.

At Reading School, we have a clear educational philosophy and a deeply rooted commitment to social mobility. In all we do we seek to nurture character and develop academic excellence, and we know that what we do really matters. More than 10% of our Year 7 students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and we are proud of the difference that we make. In 2023, the school was rated the Sunday Times South East State School of the Year.

We are a short walk from central Reading and close to transport links. Reading is a diverse place to live with arts, culture and heritage at the heart of the town.

This is a permanent position starting in September 2024.