1.0FTE Teacher of English (Maternity Cover) - Ferndown Upper School

1.0 FTE Teacher of English

Fixed term contract to cover maternity leave from 1^st January to 31^st December 2026

We are looking for an outstanding and ambitious teacher to work in our strong English department. The department achieves positive outcomes at GCSE and A level and Ferndown Upper School has been placed in the top 20% of schools nationally for its GCSE and A level results for the previous three years.

We have led the way locally with a forward-thinking research based approach to teaching and learning. We follow an interleaved curriculum that allows students to build knowledge and skills over their time at Ferndown. We are particularly proud of our systematic knowledge based testing and Michaela marking approach which has led to the outcomes outlined above. 

In the 6^th form, the department recruits well to both English Literature and English Language A levels. The department offers a range of extra-curricular activities to A level students including theatre trips, lectures from visiting experts (including David Crystal) and visits to literature festivals.

What Ferndown Can Offer You:

• Great students who behave – you can make a difference to their learning.
• The opportunity to work with outstanding colleagues.
• Tight, robust behaviour systems.
• Centralised detentions, including homework detentions (you do not need to organise/run/chase), helping to underpin our excellent behaviour, so you are free to teach.
• Ongoing ‘no-stakes’ feedback, helping you to continuously develop.
• We believe that trusting our staff with autonomy helps to develop a strong staff culture.
• Centralised, shared units of work and resources.
• Excellent, ongoing CPD, career development and promotion opportunities.
• A well-kept site and a very pleasant location in beautiful Dorset.
• Private Healthcare Cash Back Plan including 24/7 access to a GP by phone, gym discounts and cashback for optical, dental and other appointment expenses.
• Access to the staff benefits and discounts portal through Dorset Council.

To apply, please click on ‘Apply Now’ on the Dorset Council website www.jobs.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/vacancies. An Application Form is also available on our website www.fernup.dorset.sch.uk – please follow the link to Job Vacancies. Completed Application Forms should be sent to [email protected]. If you require any further information, please contact Andrea Baxter on 01202 871243.

Ferndown Upper School is a great place to work and we look forward to receiving your application.

Closing date:  midnight Sunday 5^th October 2025

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  The successful candidate will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check (formerly CRB) in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.

Ferndown Upper School values the diversity of our workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Ferndown Upper School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.