English Teacher Job Description
Ready-to-use job description content to help you recruit a qualified English Teacher for your secondary school or academy. Customise the placeholders to match your setting and vacancy details.
What does a English Teacher professional do?
Full-time or part-time, term-time teaching role delivering English across Key Stages 3 and 4; permanent and fixed-term contracts are common depending on school needs.
English Teacher job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
English Teacher (Secondary)
About the role
We are recruiting an English Teacher to teach engaging, well-planned lessons across KS3 and KS4. This role involves classroom teaching, assessing pupil progress, setting and marking GCSE assessments where required, contributing to department planning and supporting the pastoral development of students. [Location] | [Salary or pay scale] | [Contract type] | Start: [Start date].
Key responsibilities
- Plan, prepare and deliver age-appropriate English lessons that meet the needs of all pupils and align with the school’s curriculum and assessment calendar.
- Differentiate learning activities and resources to support pupils with varied abilities, including stretch and intervention for underperforming pupils.
- Create a positive classroom climate that supports good behaviour, resilience and a culture of high expectations.
- Assess, mark and record pupil work regularly, using assessment data to inform planning and report on progress to parents and leaders.
- Prepare students for GCSE (and A-level where applicable) assessments, including exam technique lessons and grading practice.
- Contribute to departmental schemes of work, resource development and the moderation of assessment outcomes.
- Attend and contribute to parents’ evenings, departmental meetings, and relevant school events.
- Take part in continuing professional development (CPD) and performance review processes; share good practice with colleagues.
Essential skills and experience
- A degree in English, English Literature, or a closely related subject (or equivalent knowledge and experience).
- A recognised teaching qualification or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) where required by the employer.
- Proven classroom experience teaching secondary pupils (Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4).
- Strong classroom management and behaviour-management skills.
- Ability to plan differentiated lessons and use assessment to drive pupil progress.
- Good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents.
- Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check and comply with safer recruitment procedures.
Desirable
- Experience teaching GCSE English Language and/or English Literature.
- Experience or training in supporting pupils with SEND and literacy difficulties.
- Experience as a form tutor or with pastoral responsibilities.
- Familiarity with common virtual learning environments (VLEs) and remote teaching techniques.
- Experience of contributing to curriculum development or leading departmental initiatives.
- Recent relevant CPD in assessment, behaviour management or subject-specific pedagogy.
What we offer
- [Pension scheme — e.g. local government or workplace pension]
- [Continuing professional development budget and training opportunities]
- [Paid term-time contract with specified holiday entitlement]
- [Employee assistance programme or wellbeing support]
- [Cycle-to-work scheme / season ticket loan / flexible benefits package]
- [Paid induction and mentoring for early-career teachers]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is an English Teacher role?
An English Teacher plans and delivers lessons that develop pupils’ reading, writing, speaking and analytical skills. In a secondary setting the role typically covers Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, prepares students for GCSE assessments, monitors pupil progress through assessment and feedback, contributes to department planning and supports pupils’ broader personal development and literacy across the curriculum.
Curriculum delivery
Teach and assess English across the relevant key stages, using schemes of work and exam specifications.
Classroom leadership
Manage classroom behaviour, foster inclusion and maintain a productive learning environment.
Assessment & reporting
Mark work, track progress, produce reports and use data to inform teaching.
Professional development
Engage in CPD, contribute to team planning and develop subject expertise.
Typical English Teacher responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Plan, prepare
Plan, prepare and deliver age-appropriate English lessons that meet the needs of all pupils and align with the school’s curriculum and assessment calendar.
Differentiate learning activities
Differentiate learning activities and resources to support pupils with varied abilities, including stretch and intervention for underperforming pupils.
Create a positive classroom climate
Create a positive classroom climate that supports good behaviour, resilience and a culture of high expectations.
Assess
Assess, mark and record pupil work regularly, using assessment data to inform planning and report on progress to parents and leaders.
Prepare students for GCSE (and A-level
Prepare students for GCSE (and A-level where applicable) assessments, including exam technique lessons and grading practice.
Contribute
Contribute to departmental schemes of work, resource development and the moderation of assessment outcomes.
Attend
Attend and contribute to parents’ evenings, departmental meetings, and relevant school events.
Take part in continuing professional
Take part in continuing professional development (CPD) and performance review processes; share good practice with colleagues.
English Teacher skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- A degree in English, English Literature, or a closely related subject (or equivalent knowledge and experience).
- A recognised teaching qualification or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) where required by the employer.
- Proven classroom experience teaching secondary pupils (Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4).
- Strong classroom management and behaviour-management skills.
- Ability to plan differentiated lessons and use assessment to drive pupil progress.
- Good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents.
- Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check and comply with safer recruitment procedures.
Useful where relevant
- Experience teaching GCSE English Language and/or English Literature.
- Experience or training in supporting pupils with SEND and literacy difficulties.
- Experience as a form tutor or with pastoral responsibilities.
- Familiarity with common virtual learning environments (VLEs) and remote teaching techniques.
- Experience of contributing to curriculum development or leading departmental initiatives.
- Recent relevant CPD in assessment, behaviour management or subject-specific pedagogy.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a English Teacher job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
State the school context clearly
Include whether the vacancy is for a mainstream state school, academy or independent school, plus the age range and approximate class sizes.
Specify curriculum and exam responsibilities
Make it clear which exam specifications (e.g. GCSE English Language/Literature) and key stages the post will cover.
Be explicit about workload and timetable
Mention weekly teaching hours or PPA time, any whole-school duties and expectations for after-school activities to set realistic applicant expectations.
Highlight development and career paths
If there are opportunities for leadership, departmental projects or funded CPD, list them — these attract experienced teachers.
English Teacher salary considerations
Pay for English teachers varies by school type, experience, qualifications and region. Employers should consider the following factors when setting a salary or pay scale rather than relying on a single fixed figure.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What English Teacher candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What age range and key stages will I teach?
Candidates want to know whether the role covers KS3, KS4 and/or KS5, and which year groups are the priority.
What are typical class sizes and set structures?
Information on class sizes and whether teaching is to mixed-ability or set classes helps teachers assess workload.
How much PPA and planning time is provided?
Teachers expect clarity on protected planning, preparation and assessment time and timetabled contact hours.
What support is available for behaviour and SEND pupils?
Experienced applicants will ask about TAs, behaviour policies and intervention strategies used in the school.
What CPD and career progression do you offer?
Teachers look for development pathways, mentoring, leadership opportunities and any funded training.
Will I need an enhanced DBS and other checks?
Candidates need to know that safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS, are required and whether the school supports expedited checks for new hires.
Where to post a English Teacher job
Advertise where teachers look: national education job boards, specialist school recruitment sites and teacher-focused networks reach active applicants, while local authority HR portals and university PGCE careers services attract newly qualified teachers. For more experienced hires, include professional networks, subject-specific teacher forums and local teacher unions; combine broad boards with sector channels to reach both early-career and experienced candidates.
English Teacher job description FAQs
Do applicants need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)?
QTS is usually required for permanent posts in state-funded schools. Some independent schools may appoint candidates without QTS but will typically expect a recognised teaching qualification or relevant classroom experience. State whether QTS is essential for your vacancy.
Can we advertise for an unqualified teacher?
Yes — schools sometimes appoint unqualified teachers on a temporary basis, but the advert should explain the expected training, supervision and any route to qualification the school can support.
What safer recruitment checks are necessary?
An enhanced DBS check is standard for roles involving regulated activity with children. Employers should also complete identity, right-to-work, professional reference and barred-list checks in line with statutory guidance.
How long should we keep an advert live?
Advert length depends on the applicant pool; a 2–4 week run is typical for established channels. For urgent or niche vacancies, extend exposure to specialist networks or local teacher pages to reach passive candidates more quickly.
Should we ask for a teaching demonstration at interview?
A short, observed teaching task or presentation of a lesson plan helps assess classroom practice. Decide in advance whether the demonstration will be with pupils, a professional panel, or a micro-teach session to ensure fair comparison between applicants.
Customise and post your English Teacher vacancy
Use the template sections above to quickly build a clear, realistic advert. Replace placeholders with your location, salary or pay scale, contract type and closing date, then distribute via education job boards and local networks to reach suitable candidates.
