French Teacher | Secondary School in Hackney

Teacher of French & Modern Foreign Languages (January Start)

Location: Hackney, East/Inner London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational, Ages 11–18)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent or Fixed-Term

Start Date: January 2027

A vibrant, high-achieving secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Hackney is seeking an energetic, articulate, and culturally passionate Teacher of French to join their thriving Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) faculty this January. Situated in a dynamic Inner London hub renowned for creative innovation, academic excellence, and strong community spirit, this January appointment offers an exciting opportunity for a French specialist—whether an experienced linguist seeking a fresh challenge or a confident Early Career Teacher (ECT)—to cultivate communicative fluency, grammatical precision, and global curiosity across all key stages.

About the Role

Joining a collaborative, native- and near-native-speaking MFL department from January, you will inspire students to communicate with confidence, authenticity, and cultural awareness across the Francophone world. You will deliver academically rigorous, interactive lessons across Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 (GCSE French), and Key Stage 5 (A-Level French). Your teaching will combine structured phonics and grammar instruction with lively target-language interaction, literary and film analysis, and cultural immersion—equipping young linguists for top-tier university language degrees and international careers.

• Environment: A modern, well-resourced Inner London campus featuring dedicated MFL teaching suites, interactive audio-visual language technology, authentic Francophone literature and media collections, and collaborative departmental planning spaces

• Culture: A linguistically ambitious, inclusive, and supportive learning community dedicated to global citizenship, strong EBacc attainment, and outstanding examination outcomes

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver engaging, communicative, and academically rigorous French lessons across Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 (GCSE), and Key Stage 5 (A-Level), developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency.

• Prepare GCSE and A-Level candidates thoroughly for national examinations through targeted coaching in spontaneous speaking, role-play/photo-card fluency, accurate translation, listening comprehension, and analytical essays on French literature and cinema.

• Create an immersive target-language classroom environment that builds student confidence, celebrates diverse Francophone cultures across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, and makes grammar accessible and memorable.

• Track and evaluate student progress systematically, providing constructive, actionable feedback, implementing tailored scaffolding for developing linguists, and designing intellectual stretch for native/heritage speakers and aspiring Russell Group applicants.

• Contribute actively to departmental enrichment, including French conversation clubs, European Day of Languages celebrations, BFI cinema and theatre visits, and educational trips to France.

Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or a recognized equivalent secondary teaching credential.

• A strong academic degree in French, Francophone Studies, Modern Foreign Languages, or a closely related discipline, alongside near-native or native fluency in spoken and written French (ability to offer a second MFL such as Spanish at KS3 is advantageous, though not essential).

• Proven track record or demonstrated capability of delivering high-quality French instruction across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (A-Level French teaching experience is highly desirable).

• Comprehensive working knowledge of the reformed UK GCSE and A-Level MFL examination specifications (e.g., AQA, Edexcel) and evidence-informed language acquisition pedagogy.

• Exceptional classroom presence, warm interpersonal energy, and an infectious enthusiasm for French language, literature, and Francophone culture.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Main / Upper Pay Scale (MPS/UPS Inner London, commensurate with experience), with potential TLR opportunities available for suitable candidates (e.g., Key Stage 3 French Coordinator).

• Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), comprehensive continuous professional development (CPD), structured mentoring and middle leadership pathways, collaborative planning time, and staff health and wellbeing initiatives.

How to Apply

If you are an inspiring French educator ready to join a high-performing, welcoming school community in Hackney this January, we encourage you to apply promptly. Please send your updated CV and completed application form for consideration.