Principal Teacher of Literacy - ABC12407
| Posting date: | 21 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £57,429.00 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 04 August 2025 |
| Location: | Aberdeen, AB10 1RG |
| Company: | Aberdeen City Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | ABC12407 |
Summary
Job Description
Before applying for this job, it is important that you read the Applicant Guidance by clicking on this link and the Job Profile attached. These explain the job role and the type of person we're looking for.
Location: Harlaw Academy
Duration: Permanent, Full Time - 35 hours
Job Purpose:
The Faculty Head of Whole School Literacy will be responsible for leading the strategic direction, coordination, and improvement of literacy across the school. The postholder will work closely with staff, pupils, parents, and feeder primary schools to raise standards of literacy and ensure that every student has the skills necessary to succeed across the curriculum.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Leadership and Planning:
- Lead the development and implementation of a whole-school literacy strategy aligned with the school’s improvement plan and national priorities.
- Collaborate with school leadership to set targets for literacy improvement and ensure consistency in literacy practices across departments.
- Use data effectively to monitor, review, and evaluate the impact of literacy initiatives.
2. Teaching and Learning:
- Provide pedagogical leadership in literacy teaching, supporting staff in all departments to integrate literacy into their subject areas.
- Develop and deliver CPD sessions for staff focused on literacy teaching strategies, ensuring differentiation for students with diverse learning needs.
- Promote active reading and literacy development across the school, including initiatives to encourage reading for pleasure.
3. Collaboration and Communication:
- Work in partnership with faculty heads, classroom teachers, and support staff to embed literacy skills into all areas of the curriculum.
- Establish and maintain strong links with feeder primary schools to ensure a seamless transition in literacy progression from primary to secondary.
- Engage with parents and the wider community to promote literacy as a key part of students’ development and life-long learning.
4. Data and Assessment:
- Implement and oversee consistent literacy assessment practices across the school.
- Lead the analysis of literacy data, identifying areas for improvement and informing targeted interventions for students requiring additional support.
- Report on progress to school leadership and contribute to quality improvement discussions related to literacy.
5. Professional Development:
- Keep abreast of the latest research and developments in literacy education, ensuring these inform teaching practices and initiatives at Harlaw Academy.
- Support staff in their professional learning related to literacy, offering coaching and advice as required.
6. Transition and Liaison with Primary Schools:
- Foster strong collaboration with primary schools in the area to align literacy standards and ensure continuity in pupils’ literacy experiences as they move to secondary education.
- Share best practices and collaborate on cross-sector literacy projects that benefit both primary and secondary learners.
Requirements
The post holder needs to hold as a minimum:
Appropriate teaching qualification
Full GTC (Scotland) Registration in relevant subject.
PVG Membership for Regulated Work with Children and/or Protected Adults or willingness to obtain prior to a formal offer of employment being made.
Responsibilities
The post holder is expected to demonstrate:
Ability to provide strategic direction and guidance to colleagues
Ability to lead curriculum development and quality assurance
Ability to teach the full curriculum in the relevant subject (or, in a multi-departmental faculty, at least one subject area) or sector, and to develop the curriculum
Ability to prioritise the work in the assigned areas of responsibility
Organisational skills
Ability to manage and organise classes through planning and preparing for teaching and learning
Ability to assess, record and report on the work of pupils’ progress to inform a range of teaching and learning approaches
Ability to prepare pupils for examinations and qualifications
Ability to contribute towards good order and the wider needs of the school
Ability to contribute to the school and council planning and improvement processes
Ability to maintain and develop knowledge and skills and contribute to the professional development of colleagues including probationary and student teachers
The Individual
See Job Profile for more information
Aberdeen City Council is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Flexible Working
We are happy to talk flexible working and offer flexible working for most roles in the organisation meaning that many of our employees enjoy the freedom of choosing a working pattern that suits them as much as it suits the organisation.
Disability Confident
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you consider yourself to have a disability and think you may require a reasonable adjustment to be made for this part of the selection process, or would like further information in relation to reasonable adjustments, please contact AskHR@aberdeencity.gov.uk.
Armed Forces
We are a forces-friendly employer, have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a silver award recipient in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We have a specific email address for those in the forces, those who have left the forces, as well as their partners / spouses / families: armedforces@aberdeencity.gov.uk. We are able to answer questions about jobs and our application / selection process, as well as about our employee support provisions.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
We have a number of guaranteed interview schemes available to applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our roles and who:
- have a disability
- are care-experienced and aged 16-29
- are aged 16-24 and live in Aberdeen City or have been to an Aberdeen City Council school and are applying for a Modern Apprenticeship (except Trades apprenticeships)
- have done a Foundation Apprenticeship with Aberdeen City Council and are applying for any apprenticeships relevant to the area in which they did their Foundation Apprenticeship
- are New Scots aged 16-24 and are applying for any apprenticeships
Further information can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/jobs
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme