A forward-looking 11–18 secondary school in Oldham is seeking an Early Career Teacher of English to join its supportive and well-established department from January 2026. This is an outstanding opportunity for a newly qualified teacher who wants to begin their career in a school that takes induction seriously — not as a tick-box exercise, but as a carefully planned, well-resourced period of professional growth. This school serves a diverse local community and is proud of its inclusive ethos. Pupils arrive with a wide range of starting points, and staff work with a strong sense of purpose: to ensure every student becomes a confident reader, writer and communicator. The culture is calm and purposeful, with clear routines and consistent expectations across the school. For an ECT, that matters — because it creates the conditions where you can focus on developing great teaching rather than firefighting. The English Department English is a high-profile subject in the school, and the department is structured to support both strong outcomes and strong teaching. You’ll join a team that plans collaboratively and shares resources. Schemes of work are well sequenced and designed to build pupils’ knowledge and skills steadily from KS3 through to GCSE, with careful attention paid to vocabulary, sentence construction, analytical writing and confident oracy. Within the department, you can expect: • Shared planning resources that reduce workload without limiting creativity • Clear approaches to writing structures, modelling and guided practice • Regular team meetings that focus on teaching and learning, not admin • A culture of supportive feedback, where new teachers are developed rather than judged The department also pays close attention to literacy in every classroom. You’ll be supported to deliver explicit literacy routines in a way that feels natural, not forced — building reading stamina, improving extended responses, and helping pupils develop their voice as writers. The Role As an English ECT, you will teach KS3 and KS4. Your timetable will be designed with your development in mind, and you’ll be supported to grow steadily in confidence across: • Lesson planning and sequencing learning over time • Questioning, discussion and classroom dialogue • Modelling and scaffolding analytical writing • Behaviour routines that are calm, consistent and sustainable • Assessment that informs teaching without creating unnecessary marking You will not be expected to “do everything at once”. The school wants you to build strong foundations, and the department will help you do it. ECT Support That Feels Real This is a school that understands what new teachers actually need. You will receive: • A reduced timetable in line with the Early Career Framework • A subject specialist mentor who meets with you weekly • Regular opportunities to observe strong teaching across the school • Coaching conversations focused on actionable classroom strategies • Time built into the week for professional learning and reflection Importantly, the support is practical. You will be helped to refine routines, sharpen explanations, plan effectively, and manage workload in a way that makes the job sustainable. The School Culture Oldham schools often sit at the heart of their communities, and this one is no exception. The school has strong pastoral systems and a visible commitment to student wellbeing, which translates into strong staff support too. New staff are welcomed properly, induction is structured, and expectations are clear from day one. You’ll find: • A professional staff culture where support staff and teachers work closely • Clear behaviour systems that are consistently applied • Strong pastoral structures that reduce classroom friction • Leadership that prioritises clarity, routine and staff wellbeing What You’ll Bring The school is looking for an ECT who is eager to learn and committed to excellent classroom practice, including: • QTS (or pending QTS) and a strong grounding in subject knowledge • A reflective mindset and willingness to take feedback seriously • High expectations for pupils and a calm, consistent approach • Enthusiasm for reading, writing and language in all its forms How to Apply If you’re an English ECT looking for a supportive, well-run school where you can develop into a confident teacher, please submit your CV.
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