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Job title: English Teacher with Middle Leadership Responsibilities
Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
Salary: £45,000 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8:30am – 4:30pm
Contract: Fixed Term for 12 months | Term Time Only
Start: October 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available
About the Role
Are you an ambitious English Teacher ready for the next step in your career? Do you want the opportunity to develop your leadership skills while continuing to do what you love most, teaching, inspiring and changing the lives of young people?
At Dibden Park School, we're looking for a passionate and talented English Teacher with Middle Leadership Responsibilities to join our dedicated team on a 12-month maternity cover. This is an exciting opportunity to combine outstanding classroom teaching with leadership experience in a supportive specialist school where you'll have the freedom to innovate, influence practice and make a genuine impact every single day.
Whether you've already held a middle leadership position or you're an experienced teacher ready to take that next step, we'll support you to develop your leadership skills while working alongside an experienced Senior Leadership Team.
With smaller class sizes, personalised learning and a collaborative multidisciplinary team, you'll have the time to build meaningful relationships with pupils and deliver engaging lessons that help children with Autism and additional needs achieve outcomes they never thought possible.
If you're looking for a role where your ideas are valued, your leadership is nurtured and your teaching truly changes lives, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Be Doing
- Deliver engaging, creative and differentiated English lessons that inspire pupils to achieve their individual potential.
- Lead the development of English across the school, promoting high-quality teaching and a love of reading, writing and communication.
- Create an inclusive classroom where every pupil feels safe, valued and confident to learn.
- Monitor, assess and celebrate progress, adapting teaching to meet individual needs.
- Work alongside Learning Support Assistants, therapists and colleagues to provide personalised learning for every pupil.
- Develop and review Individual Education Plans (IEPs), behaviour strategies and personalised learning pathways.
- Support pupils' social, emotional and academic development through nurturing, trauma-informed approaches.
- Build strong relationships with families and external professionals to achieve the very best outcomes.
- Contribute to whole-school improvement and help shape the future direction of the school.
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people.
Your Leadership Opportunity
This role offers the chance to develop your leadership career while making a lasting difference.
You'll:
- Lead and champion English across the school, helping to raise standards and improve outcomes.
- Support curriculum development and introduce innovative teaching approaches.
- Coach and collaborate with colleagues, sharing best practice and supporting professional growth.
- Help monitor the quality of teaching and learning, contributing to school self-evaluation and improvement planning.
- Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to influence whole-school initiatives and future developments.
- Inspire a culture of high expectations, collaboration and continuous improvement.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who:
- Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent recognised teaching qualification.
- Is an excellent English teacher with a passion for helping every pupil succeed.
- Has experience teaching pupils with SEND, Autism or additional needs, or is eager to develop within specialist education.
- Is ready to take the next step into leadership, or is already developing as a middle leader.
- Is creative, enthusiastic and committed to delivering engaging, personalised learning.
- Can motivate, inspire and support both pupils and colleagues.
- Thrives as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.
- Is resilient, adaptable and committed to achieving outstanding outcomes for every child.
- Holds a Full UK Driving Licence.
About Us
Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school in Southampton, supporting pupils with SEMH needs, communication difficulties, and associated complex behaviours. The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where small classes and personalised support help every pupil thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our broad and purposeful curriculum combines formal learning with life skills and enrichment activities to develop confidence, independence, and resilience. Pupils benefit from staff who understand their individual needs and remove barriers to engagement. Working closely with families, the school fosters strong relationships and a supportive community. Dibden Park empowers every pupil to achieve their full potential and prepare for life beyond school.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
- Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
- Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
- Hundreds of UK and international discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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