Samuel Ward Academy
Head of MFL
Contract: Full time, permanent (33.25 hours per week)
Salary: MPS 1- UPS3 (FTE: £31,650 - £49,084 per annum) + TLR2b (£5,803 per annum)
Start date: 01 September 2025
Samuel Ward Academy is looking to appoint a well-qualified, optimistic, and successful Head of MFL to join our friendly and professional team of subject leaders (Middle Leadership Team).
Alongside teaching French, preferably (but not necessarily) with German, the successful candidate will oversee MFL across the curriculum, promote languages and internationalism across the school, as we undertake to challenge ourselves to provide the very best education for our students and the community. There will also be the opportunity to make connections and find support from other leaders and teachers of MFL across the Unity Schools Partnership which includes secondary, special and primary schools.
This is an excellent opportunity for a prospective Head of MFL with a passion for ensuring that each student can flourish and succeed academically within an environment that also prioritises enrichment and ‘whole-child’ development. We are a warm, welcoming school, at the heart of our community, committed to creating rich and fulfilling futures for each child. We ensure that our students aspire to be their very best, tackle challenges bravely and work together with compassion to build an inclusive community in which each individual can flourish.
We are an Ofsted ‘Good’ school with the ambition to be a great school. You will join a staff dedicated to promoting a positive culture of tolerance, respect and excellence. The successful candidate will be a teacher of the highest calibre who has the ability to motivate, challenge and inspire our students. You will be a highly skilled, innovative and enthusiastic practitioner with a determination to achieve the highest outcomes. Already an excellent teacher, you will be ambitious to have an impact across your own department within a supportive and possibly the Trust as well.
All staff at SWA benefit from close links with colleagues in the other secondary schools in the Unity Schools Partnership. You will join a highly visible and supportive SLT in a school with a sensible approach to workload and a calm, respectful working environment, alongside a professional and dedicated team of staff.
Samuel Ward is a successful 11-18 co-educational academy. We are situated in pleasant surroundings on the western edge of Suffolk, within easy reach of Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. We benefit from a modern building and excellent facilities.
Candidates are encouraged to visit our website to learn more about us and to see our Staff Well-being Charter. We encourage prospective applicants to come and visit us during the school day. Please contact Tom Johnston, Headteacher for more information, an informal conversation or to make a pre-application visit (email Kirsty Franks, Headteacher’s PA on Kfranks@samuelward.co.uk )
Closing date: 30 April 2025, 9am
Interview date: 02 May 2025
Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.
In line with safer recruitment, we are unable to accept CVs. Failure to complete an application form satisfactorily may result in not being shortlisted for the post.
Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safer recruitment, equal opportunities, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required.
We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you’d prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we’ll facilitate this wherever we can – whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We’re keen to ensure we’re designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups.
Unity Schools Partnership, welcoming diversity.

Please refer the Job description for details