Teacher of MFL

About The Role

The MFL provision at AGFS is very strong. All students begin studying French in Year 7, with 70-90% continuing their language studies through Year 11. The curriculum is generously allocated, providing students with 3-4 hours of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) instruction each week. The top 30% of students also participate in the prestigious Mandarin Excellence Programme alongside their French studies. Our distinctive pedagogical approach ensures high progress and outcomes. In 2024, 50% of students achieved a grade 7 or higher at GCSE, with 100% securing at least a grade 4 in French. The department's value-added score in 2024 was +1.4, positioning it among the highest-performing MFL departments nationally. Typically, 10-20% of students continue studying a language at A Level or International Baccalaureate.

Our department is heavily influenced by cognitive science and best practices from other leading MFL departments across the UK. Our approach is frequently shared at subject association meetings, on Twitter, and through the Chartered College of Teaching's Languages Network.

All teachers in the department offer French at the GCSE level, with Spanish and Mandarin also available.

As an MFL teacher, you will support the Head of Department in leading, developing, and managing the effective delivery of the MFL curriculum. A passion for your subject and a commitment to extracurricular activities are essential.

Benefits

• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards - a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
• Interest-free loans - up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Gym discounts - offering up to 40%.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme - providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.

Find out more about the benefits of working for Ark here.

About Us

Our goal is for Ark Greenwich Free School to be the top choice for families in Greenwich, known for outstanding teaching, exemplary student behaviour, and unparalleled opportunities in and out of the classroom.

How is Ark Greenwich different?

• We are part of the Ark family of schools and benefit accordingly from outstanding networking and career opportunities and first-class CPD.
• Staff wellbeing is one of our main priorities. We provide breakfast for staff each morning, lunch for early careers staff and have a 6pm/weekend work-related communication cut off. We do not do knee jerk reactions, fads or last-minute deadlines. Our systems and processes for communication, marking and feedback and assessment are streamlined and the approaches we take are research led and based on our local context. Our full approach to staff wellbeing/workload can be found here.
• This is a small school model (600 scholars aged 11-16) because we believe that our close-knit family community provides the optimum conditions for success.
• Scholar behaviour is exceptional with clearly defined and embedded routines. This means our teachers can focus their time on the things that matter - planning and delivering brilliant lessons for our scholars.
• This is a strict no excuses, no mobile phone school. Phones are not permitted onsite at all. Scholars wear business dress to prepare them for a professional career.
• Our curriculum is traditional and academic, and we do not take shortcuts to seek to boost our position in school league tables - we do not, for example, offer equivalencies such as Btecs or Vcerts. 80-90% Ebacc entry rate each year.
• We put high-quality teaching at the heart of what we do. We are committed to providing staff with weekly high-quality training. We run coaching for staff who want to see rapid progress in their discipline. Live coaching and current best practice in the field of education is central to our approach.
• We don't grade individual lessons or ask for lesson plans but we do place a primacy on curriculum design, independent learning and formative assessment.
• Our scholars enjoy a compulsory co-curricular program on a Wednesday afternoon which includes a strong focus on community volunteering and we facilitate 12 drop-down days per academic year ensuring scholars benefit from a range of life-enriching experiences.

Alignment with the school's vision, values and approach to education is essential.
Visit arkgreenwichfreeschool.org/jobs to learn more about us and see our current vacancies.

Diversity and inclusion:
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone - staff and students - can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark's diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding statement:
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark's safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.