About Us
Downlands Community School is a thriving, inclusive, and ambitious school committed to providing transformative opportunities that take all pupils beyond their lived experience.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an outstanding teacher to contribute to a thriving and highly successful Modern Languages Department as it continues to build on its strong reputation for enthusiasm and passion for language learning and cultural understanding.
The school has a very strong program to provide professional development for teachers of all experiences and aspirations including ECT’s. For this reason, the post is suitable for an ECT or for a more experienced teacher who wishes to further their career.
Downlands is West Sussex School and uses national pay scales. The pay range for a Main Scale Teacher is point 1 (£32,916) to point 6 (£45,352). Teachers will be placed on this range according to the number of years of successful teaching experience they bring. The pay range for teachers on the Upper Pay Range is point 1 (£47,472) to point 3 (£51,048). Teachers will be placed on this range according to their current point on the range unless evidence can be produced of successful appraisal and recommendation from the current Headteacher that progression is warranted.
Job Details
ROLE SPECIFICATION – TEACHER OF MODERN LANGUAGES
Job Title: Teacher of Modern Languages and Character Development (PHSE)
Grade: Main Pay Range / Upper Pay Range
Contract: 0.78 FTE Temporary – Maternity Cover
Reporting to: Head of Modern Languages
Start Date: 1st September 2026
Are you a qualified teacher with a passion for Modern Languages who has the skills to help students excel?
Do you want to work in an academically successful school that achieves outstanding results?
This is an outstanding and rare opportunity to join a thriving, successful and oversubscribed, 11-16, mixed, comprehensive school with an excellent reputation, set in an enviable location at the foot of the beautiful South Downs just north of Brighton
The post is suitable for a newly qualified teacher or a more experienced teacher wishing to further their career.
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
To carry out the professional responsibilities of a teacher in accordance with the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document and the school’s policies, under the direction of the Headteacher.
ACCOUNTABLE FOR:
- The learning, progress and outcomes of pupils in allocated teaching groups, ensuring pupils make progress in line with, or exceeding, expected progress across Key Stages 3 and 4.
- Delivering departmental schemes of work, ensuring the needs of all learners are met appropriately.
- The pastoral, academic and social development of the allocated tutor group.
Further Information
Downlands Community School and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references.
This school and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
How to Apply
Applications
Visits prior to application are welcomed and encouraged.
All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references.
Shortlisted applicants will be subject to an online search. This is not part of the short-listing process itself, and you will get a chance to address any issues of concern that some up during the search, at interview.
Applications should be made on a West Sussex application form for teaching posts which can be downloaded from the school website under “Vacancies” or downloaded below.
Applications should be addressed to Mr M Ashdown – Headteacher, once completed, please email to: [email protected]
Closing dates for applications: 9am on Wednesday 17th June 2026
Applicants who are short listed for interview should be aware that references may be taken up before interview unless it has been indicated on the application that you do not want us to contact your referees without letting you know first.
Start date: 1st September 2026
NOTE TO CANDIDATES - Please do not select the ‘Apply online’ button as the School processes your applications directly rather than through this site.
The reference number for this role is SCHO02588.
Job Reference: SCHO02588
