ALLEYN'S
Appointment ofTeacher of Modern Foreign cher of GerLanguages
rary, Part-time (0.8 FTE over 4.5Full-time, fixed term for one year from 6 January 2025 for one yearto start on Thursday 3 September 2026 (part-time may be considered)
Information for Applicants
Letter from the Head
Dear Applicant
Thank you very much for your interest in becoming a Teacher here at Alleyn’s. I am delighted that you are considering it and I hope to give you a sense of our school and why it is such a wonderful place to work! Our ROCCK values (Respect, Opportunity, Curiosity, Courage, Kindness) will also tell you what we are seeking to achieve here.
So, why Alleyn’s? I started as Head here in January 2021, so I feel in a good position to help you answer that question, having asked it myself a few short years ago! You’ll know, from our website, most of the key facts. We are an academic, co-educational through-school; our Junior School is also on our site and we love the fact that many of our pupils learn here from 4–18. We are situated in an inspiringly leafy part of SE London, on a beautiful and well-resourced site with the City of London twinkling enticingly on the horizon, just about four miles away.
As one of the three Dulwich Foundation Schools, Alleyn’s is part of a historic foundation which has been educating young people for 400 years. Our namesake and founder, Edward Alleyn, was one of the great Elizabethan players, and playful academic exploration and discovery is something we very much welcome here. I won’t go into the less reputable activities he was famous for, but as well as acting, Edward Alleyn was also a philanthropist and a philosopher. His “College of God’s gift” was established to change the lives of children – initially “12 poor scholars”. It is rather wonderful that the original 12 has grown into our large, thriving community of more than a thousand children. Alleyn’s has been honouring the founder’s legacy, as one of this country’s leading co-educational schools, for generations.
We are very over-subscribed and entrance to the school is intensely competitive. Our pupils are gifted and ambitious and, unsurprisingly, they do extremely well in exams. I can’t pretend that we are not proud of our pupils’ results; we are, of course, but they are a by-product of an Alleyn’s education, not the reason for it. The ‘outcomes’ we most care about are the incredible young men and young women who leave us. They are engaging, grounded, passionate and interesting individuals, who cross the stage at graduation, aware of who they are and what they care about and very ready to go out into the world and make it better. We’re not the only people who think this; we loved Tatler’s take on it in their Schools Guide this September: ‘”If you’re looking for the epicentre of forward-thinking education, here it is”’ they said, quoting a recent visitor to the school, ‘the school is “dynamic, diverse and thinking in the future tense.”’
The really lovely staff/pupil relationships here are critical and they underpin all we do. The strength of the relationships was one of the things people told me about before I started at the school and the other thing was how delightful Alleyn’s pupils are. And they were right on both counts! Our students are grounded, engaged and enormous fun; they wear their talents lightly, they support each other, they are often impassioned and keen to fight for important causes and they are (mostly!) very engaged by the adventure of learning. They also make us laugh a great deal (you can see lots of evidence of all of this in our latest ISI report - do have a look at the highlights online).
Pretty much all our pupils are involved in the co-curricular life of the school and in our partnership and outreach programmes. This matters to us and we do ask all our teaching staff to play an active part in the co-curricular and enrichment programmes partly because so much of the fun and friendship here stems from this. Equally, of course, most staff will play a role in the pastoral care and education which is delivered through Year Groups, School Sections and Houses. The Outreach programmes at Alleyn’s are a big part of who we are and a critical part of an education here.
I hope this summary has been helpful and that you feel excited by this opportunity and keen to apply. If perhaps you are thinking that a historic, academically selective independent school might be a bit daunting or might not be the right place for you, can I urge you to reconsider this? We are emphatically not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ community and we take great pride and delight in individual differences and the successes these bring. And of course, our pupils benefit from seeing a varied team of adults working together successfully and happily as part of a diverse and inspiring team. If you join us, we hope that you will quickly feel part of the school community and we will warmly encourage you to make the most of the many opportunities for personal and professional development on offer.
I also very much hope that you will be able to get a sense of the energy and fun at the heart of our school during this recruitment process. The informality, the warmth and the unpretentious approach at Alleyn’s really is infectious and I hope you will feel it, as I did, the moment you walk through the doors. There is nothing entitled, stuffy or pompous about this school. And we really hope that you will enjoy getting to know us a little bit.
May I wish you the very best of luck.
Yours Faithfully
Mrs Jane Lunnon The Head
THE MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
Modern languages are a thriving, lively and successful subject at Alleyn’s, and they remain an attractive and popular choice right through to the sixth form, and beyond.
Exam results have been consistently excellent, and every year many students choose to follow degree courses involving a language as part of a single or joint honours degree. Our students progress to a variety of universities, including Oxbridge, and increasingly opt to pursue their university careers abroad to experience full immersion in their A level subject.
The MFL department consists of fourteen permanent teachers, including a Director of Modern Languages, as well as individual Heads of French, Spanish and German. Most members of the department offer two languages, at least one of which to A Level. There are language assistants for Spanish, French and German; we also teach Mandarin and we offer an Italian club.
Curriculum Offered from September 2026
• Year 7 MFL Carousel, involving seven weeks of lessons in each language: French, German, Mandarin and Spanish. Pupils have the option to choose two languages in Years 8 and 9, from Latin and the modern languages.
• Year 8 Two languages from French, German, Latin and Mandarin, and Spanish.
• Year 9 Pupils continue to study their two Year 8 languages.
• Years 10 and 11 Edexcel GCSE – Pupils are strongly encouraged to choose at least one language for GCSE, from French, German, Latin and Mandarin and Spanish.
• Years 12 and 13 Edexcel A Level offered in Spanish and French; Eduqas A Level offered in German. • Years 12 and 13 Edexcel A Level offered in Spanish and French; Eduqas A Level offered in German.
Bilingual pupils: We provide a varied programme of study based on demand for native speakers of French, German, Mandarin and Spanish, including support with the DELF and DELE qualifications. Our language assistants lead on these and the sessions are scheduled during lunchtime and after school.
Our broad offering of clubs, trips, and activities, includes:
• GCSE and A-level support clinics
• GCSE conversation clubs
• Cultural Talks through the MFL Society and language culture clubs
• Cinema and theatre trips
• Annual Modern Languages Concert
• Our very own MFL Magazine
• Study Visits to France, Germany, and Spain
• UKLO Competition
• Inter-school debating competition
• University preparation course
• Annual participation in national language competitions (Stephen Spender Poetry Laureate/ ISMLA Creative Writing/Oxford Flash Fiction)
• Year 7 Spelling Bee
• Inter-House verb conjugator competition
• Year 12 Higher Education event
• Annual Language and Culture Fair to celebrate our vibrant bilingual community
Key Stage 3
The Modern Languages Department teaches a carousel of languages in Year 7 to expose pupils to the four modern languages we offer. This involves seven weeks of each: French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish, alongside consistent weekly Latin lessons throughout Year 7. During the fourth and final rotation of the MFL carousel, pupils are asked to select two languages to study in Years 8 and 9 from French, German, Latin, Mandarin, and Spanish.
Key Stage 4
Pupils are no longer compelled to choose a modern foreign language for GCSE, although it is recommended they select one subject from the language option block (French, German, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish).
Key Stage 5
In German, we teach the Eduqas A level course. In French and Spanish, we follow the Edexcel A Level specification. In Year 12, each group has twelve periods of teaching per fortnight, followed by fourteen periods per fortnight in Year 13. Students have one additional compulsory weekly period, either one-to-one or in a small group, with the foreign language assistant, in addition to their timetabled curriculum lessons.
Facilities & Resources
For pupils in Years 7 and 8, MFL lessons are taught in the Lower School. From Year 9 to Year 13, languages are taught in a suite of classrooms located on the top floor of the main school building.
The department has a part-time administrator and is well resourced, with Clevertouch screens in every classroom and subscriptions to language websites and journals. Members of the department are strongly encouraged to undertake continuing professional development, including courses abroad, as appropriate. Teachers within the department are housed in a modern, purpose-built office near to the teaching rooms.
We organise a range of annual school trips to the target language countries, as well as cultural and educational visits and study days in the UK. An interest in helping with, and participating in, such visits is highly desirable.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Post Outline
We are seeking to appoint a Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages as a one-year maternity cover from the start of the 2026 Advent Term on Thursday 3rd September.
The ideal candidate will be able to work full time but the school may be able to consider candidates able to work 4 days a week at 0.75 of a maximum teaching allocation.
The school is seeking a colleague who is able to teach Spanish to Key Stage 5 and French to at least Key Stage 3. That being said, the school is keen to hear from applicants who may be able to deliver either of these subject areas and interested parties are invited to contact the Director of Modern Foreign Languages, Kate Goff, (goffka@alleyns.org.uk) to discuss their suitability prior to any application.
We are an industrious, visionary, and forward-thinking department with a strong sense of collegiality at the heart of everything we do. Commitment, enthusiasm, passion, and outstanding subject knowledge, alongside a capacity for hard and sustained work, are vital qualities in any candidate seeking a position in our Modern Languages Department.
This post would suit an experienced teacher with very strong subject knowledge at A Level but, above all, we are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and with a real love for Languages and an ability to convey this to pupils, as well as a natural empathy and pastoral instinct. The ability to motivate and inspire (both students and teachers) is vital, as is being able to work as part of a strong team..
The ideal candidate will be a committed and dynamic person who will:
• contribute to the high-quality teaching and learning, assessment and tracking of languages across a range of abilities and key stages;
• work collaboratively with the whole MFL Department to actively promote languages as a subject within the School;
• contribute to the department’s diverse and extensive range of extension and co-curricular activities, from remedial to enrichment;
• attend, and also be willing to assist with the organisation of, regular overseas educational visits. We have our own very competitive salary scale which takes account of experience and the nature of the role.
All staff enjoy access to superb facilities and resources, as well as a variety of great benefits which are detailed in the accompanying ‘Working at Alleyn’s’ brochure.
Our Values (the Alleyn’s ROCCK!)
Respect Opportunity Curiosity Courage Kindness
There are also some core responsibilities that are common to all teachers at Alleyn’s who are expected to:
• promote and protect children’s welfare in all aspects of their contribution to school life, demonstrating a clear understanding of all aspects of safeguarding and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE);
• establish a safe and stimulating classroom environment, rooted in mutual respect;
• demonstrate consistently positive attitudes, values and behaviours and encourage pupils to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and study;
demonstrate and employ good subject knowledge, and become fully acquainted with the appropriate specifications and schemes of work;
• keep abreast of developments in their subject(s);
• plan and teach well-structured lessons; imparting knowledge and developing understanding through effective use of lesson time;
• promote a love of learning, intellectual curiosity, good progress and outcomes by pupils;
reflect systematically on the effectiveness of lessons and approaches to teaching;
adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils;
set homework and plan other out-of-class activities that consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired;
have a clear understanding of the needs of pupils with special educational needs, those of high ability, those with English as an additional language, those with disabilities, and use a range of approaches that are conducive to successful engagement and learning for all;
make appropriate and consistent use of rewards and sanctions in line with school policies;
• give pupils regular feedback, both orally and through marking work regularly (in accordance with departmental guidelines), and encourage pupils to respond to the feedback;
make accurate and productive use of formative and summative assessment, keep appropriate academic records, and use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets and plan subsequent lessons;
• contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the subject;
• be ICT literate and have experience of using appropriate software in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning;
take a proportional share of responsibilities for departmental activities (e.g. trips, societies, the departmental area of the learning platform, university admission etc.), new initiatives and provision and maintenance of resources (e.g. the writing and updating of schemes of work, the display of pupils’ work, etc); and
• contribute to the extension and enrichment activities of the department.
Other Responsibilities
• to support the School’s vision and values;
• to support the holistic development of pupils by contributing to and supporting the pastoral work and wider school programme of co-curricular activities;
• to promote good and courteous behaviour both in classrooms and around the school;
• to work positively to develop effective professional relationships with both teaching and support staff colleagues across the school;
• to make arrangements to attend all relevant meetings and evenings as published in the School calendar;
• to engage positively in professional development opportunities;
• to have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices at Alleyn’s, as written in the Staff Handbook and School Policies; and
to carry out any other task at the reasonable request of the Head.
Person Specification
Alleyn’s seeks to appoint teachers who will have the following qualities, or the potential to develop them:
• the energy, dynamism, stamina and sense of fun to contribute fully to the life of a busy and very successful co-educational independent London day school;
• a profound and continuing interest in the academic subject(s) to be taught;
• empathy with pupils across the age and ability spectrum;
• the depth of knowledge and agility of mind to allow flexibility in lessons, adapting delivery as appropriate in the light of pupils’ responses;
• the capacity to understand and deal professionally and sensitively with pastoral problems raised by pupils;
• the ability to create effective rapport and a sound relationship with pupils, earning their respect and trust but maintaining proper professional boundaries;
• the ability to create effective rapport and sound relationships with parents and colleagues;
• a willingness to contribute to the extensive range of activities provided for pupils outside the classroom including departmental extension and enrichment activities, and whole-school cocurricular activities;
• degree level education.
a confidence in communicating on a personal or public scale in a variety of ways.
How to Apply
Further information about how to apply can be found on our website at www.alleyns.org.uk/jobs.
Please submit your application by midnight on Sunday 10 May 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact the HR Department by email at jobs@alleyns.org.uk or by phone on 020 8299 8009.
Interviews and Appointment
Interviews are planned for Wednesday 13 May and further details will be sent to invited applicants who will be asked to plan and teach a lesson.
Please note that references will be taken up before the interviews but we will contact you first to seek your permission for us to contact your referees.
Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date, and we reserve the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made.
Safeguarding Checks
Alleyn’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Equal Opportunities
As an Equal Opportunities employer we welcome applications from all applicants who meet the requirements for the position. However we are especially keen to receive applications from those in minority groups for which the School is currently underrepresented. We celebrate diversity and thrive on the benefits it brings.