Head of Learning Area: English

Head of Learning Area: English

This role will close for applications on August 17 2026.

Location:

Masada College, 9-15 Link Road, St Ives, NSW 2075

Terms:

Permanent, Full Time (1 FTE)

Reports to:

Head of Learning and Teaching

Key Stakeholders:

Head of Senior School, Head of Learning and Teaching, Head of Academic Care, Head of Learning Areas, All Senior School Teachers and Assistants and all Senior School Students

About Masada College

Masada College is a leading Jewish educational institution that integrates a premium academic program with a strong commitment to inclusivity. We welcome Jewish children from every denomination as well as non-Jewish students, fostering a diverse and supportive community. With a focus on academic excellence, resilience, hard work, community, and collaboration, grounded in Jewish values, students are equipped to achieve their full potential. Masada encourages students to excel not only academically but also personally, developing the skills and character needed to thrive. Guided by the belief that “Goodness Makes Greatness,” the College instils values of respect, kindness, and responsibility, empowering students to make a positive impact on the world.

Benefits of Working at Masada College

• Complimentary on-site parking.
• Access to novated leasing arrangements.
• Additional leave provided for Jewish holidays.
• Exemption from Saturday sport commitments.
• Opportunity to lead a committed and capable team of English educators. 
• Supportive professional environment with a strong focus on learning, collaboration and student growth. 

Role Summary

Masada College seeks an outstanding and inspiring English educator to lead our English Faculty across Years 7 to 12. This is an exciting Middle Leadership opportunity for a highly capable teacher and leader who is passionate about English education, student growth, academic excellence and the development of a strong, collaborative faculty culture.

The Head of Learning Area, English will lead a team of dedicated and highly capable educators in delivering a contemporary, rigorous and engaging English curriculum from Stage 4 through to the HSC. The successful applicant will model excellent classroom practice, support high-quality curriculum design, and lead evidence-informed approaches to teaching, assessment, feedback and curriculum design.

The successful applicant will work closely with the Head of Learning and Teaching, Head of Senior School and the broader academic leadership team to support strong student achievement, high expectations, professional collaboration and continued growth in HSC performance. Experience teaching across the full range of HSC English courses is highly desirable (including Extension 1 and 2), and previous experience as a Head of English will be viewed favourably.

Key Accountabilities

Faculty Leadership

The successful candidate must have/be able to:

• Lead, support and inspire the English Faculty as a collaborative, high-performing professional team.
• Build a positive faculty culture grounded in trust, shared practice, high expectations and continuous improvement.
• Provide instructional leadership through coaching, mentoring, professional dialogue and modelling highly effective teaching practice.
• Lead regular faculty meetings focused on curriculum, assessment, student learning, data, professional learning and faculty priorities.
• Support new and early career teachers through induction, mentoring, feedback and professional growth.
• Encourage staff to engage in professional learning, reflective practice and the ongoing refinement of classroom practice.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Learning and Teaching and Head of Senior School to support College learning priorities and faculty improvement.

Teaching and Learning

The successful candidate must have/be able to:

• Lead the development, implementation and review of English programs across Years 7 to 12 with an emphasis on strategic planning for new curriculum success.
• Ensure all programs are aligned with NSW curriculum and NESA requirements.
• Support the delivery of a rigorous and engaging English curriculum that develops students’ reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, representing and critical thinking skills.
• Lead the faculty in designing coherent and well-sequenced learning experiences that support student growth from transition to Stage 4, through to Stage 6.
• Promote a love of literature, language, creativity, inquiry and intellectual challenge.
• Model excellent classroom practice and support staff to deliver high-quality, differentiated learning experiences.
• Champion and embed Masada College’s Cultures of Thinking approach across the English faculty, ensuring  that thinking routines are used purposefully to deepen student engagement, understanding and intellectual independence.
• Support the purposeful use of digital technologies, multimodal learning and emerging technologies, including ethical and responsible use of generative AI.

HSC Excellence and Student Achievement

• Lead a strategic approach to improving student achievement in English, with a particular focus on Stage 6 and HSC performance.
• Support teachers to strengthen students’ analytical writing, textual understanding, creative and discursive composition, examination technique and confidence.
• Analyse internal and external student performance data to identify trends, areas for improvement and opportunities for extension.
• Lead targeted strategies to support students at risk of underachievement and extend high-potential learners.
• Contribute to the College’s broader academic improvement agenda and HSC excellence planning.
• Support accurate, evidence-informed judgements about student progress, achievement and future learning needs.

Assessment, Feedback and Reporting

• Oversee the design and review of high-quality assessment tasks, marking criteria and rubrics.
• Ensure assessment practices are fair, rigorous, meaningful and aligned with syllabus outcomes and College expectations.
• Lead moderation processes to support consistent teacher judgement across the faculty.
• Support teachers to provide clear, timely and effective feedback that improves student learning and writing.
• Ensure assessment evidence is used to inform teaching, intervention and extension.
• Support staff in report writing and review reports to ensure accuracy, professionalism and alignment with College expectations.
• Maintain accurate records of assessment, student progress and faculty documentation.

Student Wellbeing and Support

• Create and promote inclusive, supportive and intellectually challenging English classrooms.
• Support teachers to differentiate learning for students of varying abilities, including high-potential learners, students requiring additional support and EAL/D learners.
• Work collaboratively with Learning Support, Academic Care and pastoral staff to support student learning and wellbeing.
• Communicate professionally and respectfully with students, parents and carers about student progress.
• Promote high expectations for student engagement, conduct, effort and achievement.

Faculty Operations and College Contributions 

• Lead the effective day-to-day operation of the English Faculty.
• Coordinate faculty planning, assessment schedules, examination preparation, text selection and resource management.
• Manage the faculty budget responsibly and in line with College processes.
• Promote English within the academic and cultural life of the College.
• Encourage student participation in enrichment opportunities such as debating, public speaking, writing competitions, author visits, literary events, excursions and student publications.
• Actively contribute to College initiatives, professional learning, staff meetings and whole-school improvement priorities.
• Support the broader life and ethos of Masada College.

Key Attributes

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

• Excellence as an English teacher, with the capacity to teach to HSC level.
• Strong knowledge of NSW English curriculum, NESA requirements, assessment and HSC expectations. 
• Capacity to teach English Advanced, Standard and English Extension, highly desirable. 
• Strong instructional leadership and the ability to model excellent pedagogy. 
• Ability to lead, mentor and inspire a team of capable educators. 
• A commitment to academic excellence and improving student learning outcomes. 
• Skill in using student data to inform teaching, intervention and faculty improvement. 
• Experience in curriculum planning, assessment design, moderation and feedback. 
• Strong communication, organisation and interpersonal skills. 
• A warm, professional and student-centred approach. 
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to build trust with staff, students and families. 
• Flexibility, sound judgement, resilience and professional integrity. 
• A commitment to ongoing professional learning and reflective practice. 
• Willingness to contribute to the broader academic, cultural and co-curricular life of the College. 
• Support for the values and ethos of Masada College.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Relevant tertiary teaching qualifications
• Full academic transcripts – to be sent through ahead of an interview
• Current NESA accreditation
• Current NSW Working With Children Check clearance
• Demonstrated experience teaching secondary English
• Experience teaching Stage 6 English
• Previous leadership of English is highly desirable
• Australian citizenship, permanent residency or a current Australian work visa

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the Masada College Careers page or via Seek. Provide a cover letter outlining why you are suitable for the role, along with an up-to-date copy of your resume detailing your previous experience as it relates to this role. To apply for this position, you will need to be an Australian Citizen/Resident or have a current Australian work visa.

All applicants must have (or are willing to obtain) a NSW Working With Children Check Number. 

Masada College provides a dynamic working environment where staff are valued, and students are committed to learning. All appointments will be based on merit selection without reference to the religion of applicants. An empathy and support with the Jewish School ethos is essential. Masada College is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care.