Head of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and passionate Head of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) to join our middle leadership team here at The Priory School, Hitchin (TPSH). We believe that every student has the potential to succeed in learning a language, and we are looking for a leader who is passionate about teaching languages and also leading a curriculum department in our over-subscribed and successful secondary school.

French and Spanish are the principal languages studied at TPSH and the successful candidate will, lead a team that embraces and celebrates all languages and cultures, encourages students to develop curiosity about the wider world, and support students with their confidence in communicating with others in another language.

We are looking for an inspiring language specialist who will bring their own expertise, creativity and ideas to our existing provision. The successful candidate will be an ambitious, enthusiastic and innovative practitioner with excellent subject knowledge, proven fluency in French or Spanish and a genuine passion for inspiring young learners.

They will teach high-quality French and Spanish lessons to students in Years 7 to 13, while providing subject leadership and contributing to the continued enrichment of MFL at TPSH.

As a proud member of the Hitchin Sixth Form Consortium (alongside Hitchin Girls’ School and Hitchin Boys’ School), we offer a vibrant KS5 experience. The successful candidate may have the opportunity to teach Sixth Form, working with our dedicated and hard-working Year 12 and 13 students.

This is an opportunity for an excellent practitioner to work within a school where languages are valued, teaching standards are high, and students are encouraged to develop both confidence and ambition. The successful candidate will build on the strengths of our existing provision, identifying opportunities to extend students’ experience of language and culture through curriculum and co-curricular opportunities.

The Priory School, Hitchin (TPSH)

TPSH is an oversubscribed, co-educational Foundation School serving over 1,200 students in the Hertfordshire town of Hitchin. As part of the Hitchin Sixth Form Consortium (alongside Hitchin Girls’ School and Hitchin Boys’ School), we also offer access to a vibrant post-16 community of over 800 learners.

Our values

At TPSH, we are committed to empowering every child to meet their aspirations, to be self-confident, inspirational, and active members of their community whatever their background, ability, or circumstance. We achieve this by ensuring that every child at TPSH follows a rich and ambitious curriculum, is offered extensive extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities, and that they benefit from inspirational teaching, alongside dedicated pastoral care that provides a secure and caring environment.

We are incredibly proud of our students who are superb ambassadors for our school when representing us in Hitchin but also nationally, and internationally. We are proud to serve the entire community of Hitchin and as such, we have a number of exciting partnerships with local and national organisations.

Our staff are well-qualified, highly experienced, and dedicated to providing the very best education and pastoral care to every student. We all share the same values that are woven into our school’s culture: Responsibility, Respect, and Resilience.

Staff development and support

We are committed to providing high-quality professional development and support to all of our staff and understand that teachers and support staff are the decisive element in positively changing the lives of young people.

We recognise that teaching is a rewarding but pressured profession, as such, we are dedicated to maintaining a culture where staff wellbeing matters. In staff surveys, our staff consistently report that they are proud to work at The Priory School, Hitchin.

Facilities

Our school has some of the best facilities that you will find anywhere and we are lucky enough to sit on an expansive 27-acre site. We benefitted from a £1.6 million investment in our 3G football pitches in collaboration with Hitchin Belles Football Club, a £500,000 pavilion, revamped café, a new languages block, and our newly built Sixth Form centre which received a £2.8million investment. We also have ample on-site parking and are a short walk from Hitchin train station.

Working or living in Hitchin

Hitchin is a beautiful historic market town in North Hertfordshire, surrounded by lovely countryside, with a population of approximately 33,500. It has been voted in the ‘Top 10 Best Places to Live in the UK’ in The Times.

It has great transport links, being just two miles from the A1(M) and only 10 miles from the M1, and is in easy reach of London with Kings Cross station a mere 30 minutes away. There is also good access to the main rail routes to Cambridge.

The town is great for families with lots of activities for young people and their parents to participate in including sports and activities, youth organisations, performing arts and more. Hitchin also is well known in the area as a town for foodies with virtually every cuisine represented. Hitchin Festival runs throughout the month of July with over 100 different events celebrating the artistic, cultural and community life of the town.

Applying for this role

If you are interested in working at our school and would like further information, please contact our Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning, Fiona Rosler (frosler@priory.herts.sch.uk)

If you would like to apply for the post, please submit the application form electronically to Emma Sangster (emma.sangster@priory.herts.sch.uk).

Closing date for applications: Monday 12th October 2026

Interviews: Thursday 15th October 2026

The Priory School, Hitchin is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought for the successful candidate in accordance with Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education legislation.