The Modern Languages Department is one of the largest and most successful in the school, with seventeen teachers, including four language assistants. The department occupies a substantial suite of rooms in the centre of the school, including a twenty-five-booth traditional language laboratory, a Modern Languages common room, a dedicated Modern Languages library and number of small-group study and seminar rooms. The department holds a large collection of digital foreign language resources that supplements the wide range of literary texts and reference works available in both the main school library (which is situated immediately below the main departmental space) and the Modern Languages Library.
French, German, Spanish and Russian are all taught to GCSE and A-level. Every pupil in the school takes at least one modern language (either French or German) to GCSE, but many study two and some three. There are currently over one hundred pupils studying a modern language in the sixth form. Every year a number of pupils apply to read Modern Languages at university, including at Oxford and Cambridge, where the department is very well represented - the department received seven Oxbridge offers for Modern Languages and Linguistics in the 2024-25 cycle alone.
The department has a strong literary tradition. In the sixth form, pupils study literature as an integral part of their language courses and are expected to read widely in their subject. There are prestigious essay and recitation competitions in all languages, as well as play-reading societies; each year, outside speakers are invited to address pupils on literary and other cultural topics. French plays are regularly staged in the school theatre. There is an annual programme of trips and exchanges to France, Germany, Austria and Spain, as well as a Russian trip to Estonia. All colleagues in the department are expected to participate in such trips from time to time.
Results are outstanding. In summer 2024, eighty percent of all A-level Modern Languages grades were A* or A, with the same figure for summer 2023 being seventy-nine percent. More than sixty percent of GCSE Modern Languages grades were grade 9 in summer 2024 (with eighty-seven percent at grade 9 or 8).
A suitably qualified, native French speaker with recent experience of living in a French-speaking country is required for September 2025. Candidates should be academically strong, have a detailed knowledge of French grammar and literary texts, be enthusiastic, engaging, and IT literate. They should be keen to push pupils to the highest level and enthuse them about French culture and language. Being able to cooperate and interact proactively with colleagues in the department and across the school will be paramount.
The successful candidate will help Wykehamists to develop their French speaking skills from Year 12 to Year 13, with the aim of preparing them specifically for the AQA A-level French speaking examination, as well as developing their spoken expression and confidence more generally. They will be expected to give equal attention to all students. There will be weekly lessons, which will be conducted entirely in French, from Monday to Saturday inclusive. The French Assistant will also help pupils prepare for their GCSE oral examinations in Year 10.
The successful candidate will be/have:
Winchester College is a truly international community that celebrates everyone individuality, talents and potential and offers regular training and career development opportunities. We embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to promoting a fair and supportive environment for all our employees. We work hard to create a culture where different perspectives are valued and our staff feel valued for their individuality and share a sense of belonging. Our aim is to reflect the diverse nature of society and of our pupil body.
The College is looking to make an appointment to start in September 2025.
This is a term-time position teaching at least 25 lessons per week approximately.
£28,000 (gross) per annum. The postholder pay will be paid monthly in arrears to their nominated bank or building society account.
Salary levels are reviewed on 1 September annually and this appointment will be next reviewed in September 2025.
The school is fully committed to the induction, training and development of all our staff, with staff supported to grow and reach their full potential.
We deliver a range of training, run by both our own staff and external providers, varying from highly practical First Aid courses to seminars and learning lunches on many aspects of teaching and learning.
There is an annual cycle of appraisal offering the opportunity to reflect on professional practice and development opportunities.
The school also offers a wide range of apprenticeships supporting staff development and progression.
On employment, employees will be auto-enrolled into the College pension scheme according to legislative thresholds. Those who are not eligible for auto-enrolment may still elect to join the College pension scheme.
Initially, when joining the College pension scheme, employees will become a member of the College Group Personal Pension Plan (GPP). For this Plan, known as Tier 1, the employee contributes 4% and the employer 3%.
After 9 month membership of the Tier 1 plan, employees may opt to join Tier 2, which is also a GPP, where the employee contributes 5% and the employer 9%.
Employees in Tier 1 automatically qualify for a Life Cover of 2 times salary. On entry to Tier 2, Life Cover changes to 4 times salary.
The College leave year runs from 1 September to 31 August. This position will be entitled to the statutory holiday requirements. These are presently 5.6 weeks. Any Public Bank Holiday occurring during term time is deemed to be a normal working day. Holiday will be deemed to be taken during the Christmas, Easter and Summer Winchester College holiday periods.
The postholder holiday pay will be paid to them as they work on a monthly basis and any outstanding amounts paid in the September payroll.
The first four months of employment will be a probationary period. Regular reviews with line managers take place over the probationary period with the opportunity to discuss progress, identify any areas for action and ensure that there is appropriate guidance and support in place to enable successful completion of the probationary period.
The College may extend the probationary period if it is deemed to be required. During the probationary period the notice required by either party to terminate employment will be four weeks. Once employment is confirmed, the notice period will increase to one full term.
As Winchester College is an educational establishment, a condition of employment will be that the successful candidate must consent to the school obtaining an Enhanced Level Disclosure Check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This will reveal all spent and unspent convictions, warnings, cautions and bind-overs. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on the school website.
Safeguarding is one of the primary responsibilities of this role. The jobholder is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact with, and will need to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times. The postholder should be conversant with the responsibilities and procedures detailed in this policy and with the Department for Education Keeping Children Safe in Education. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the postholder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, they must report any concerns to the school Designated Safeguarding Lead, or in their absence, the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.
The appointment will be dependent upon the receipt of a successful medical check and satisfactory references. The College will usually seek references from shortlisted candidates before interview and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications. At least one referee must be the current or most recent employer. Where applicants are not currently working with children but have done so in the past, one referee must be the person by whom they were most recently employed when working with children.
Only applications completed on the school website will be accepted. Please attach a full CV with your application and email a covering letter to recruitment@wincoll.ac.uk.
Closing date for applications: 11.59pm Monday 21st April.
Please note that applications will be dealt with as they arrive. Winchester College reserves the right to appoint before the deadline passes. Interviews are expected to be held in late April or beginning of May.
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the recruitment process, please email recruitment@wincoll.ac.uk.
Winchester College collects and processes relevant personal data as part of its everyday operations and is obliged to process it in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Act 2018. The school is the Data Controller of this data under the Act and is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office. Its registration number is Z5751669.
If you have any queries or comments about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school, please contact the Bursar and his team by emailing: dataprotection@wincoll.ac.uk or by writing to: Data Protection, The Bursary, Winchester College, College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA.
Winchester College was a pioneering institution when it was founded in 1382 and continues to be a global leader in education today. Renowned for its intellectual excellence and impressive academic record, Winchester is sought after for its combination of superb teaching, outstanding pastoral care, and an exceptional breadth of sports and other activities.
Winchester currently has 735 pupils from Junior Part (Year 9) to Sixth Book (Years 12 and 13). The majority of these pupils are boarders, with around day pupils (boys and girls) in each year in Sixth Book. The first girl boarders will join in 2026.
At all levels Winchester encourages pupils to look beyond the curriculum. We are famous for Div, our unique programme of cultural studies which promotes independence and flexibility of mind and offers an excellent preparation for university study. In these lessons, pupils engage in wide-ranging inquiry across disciplinary lines, from English Literature to Ancient History to the History of Science.
Pupils in the Sixth Form study linear A-level courses and will ordinarily study three A-level subjects and Div, with the option of Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Linear A-levels are complemented by the flexibility of both Div and the EPQ where pupils are able to explore their cross-curricular research interests more deeply.
Music has been central to life at Winchester ever since its foundation, and the school is unique in having maintained its Choral Foundation to the present day. The Music Department is now one of the leading departments in the country and offers outstanding opportunities to all.
Sport is a major part of Winchester life, supported by the recent opening of a state-of-the-art Sports Centre. There are many fixtures against other schools and excellent facilities allow all pupils to enjoy and participate in a variety ofsports and enable the most talented and driven pupils to train and compete at the highest level.
Much energy is also invested in the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Community Service, and in links with local primary and secondary maintained schools. This commitment provides pupils with many opportunities to work for the benefit of others, inside and outside the classroom, developing the knowledge and skills, and the rights and responsibilities, which will enable them to grow into valuable and productive members of society.
Pupils eat all meals in their boarding houses, talking with their Housemaster/mistress, and interacting with friends, visitors and teachers. We believe that conversational ability, developed both inside and outside the community, equips pupils to talk to anyone, about anything, in practically any situation. This unparalleled combination attracts pupils from across the world, making Winchester a truly international and diverse community which celebrates every pupil individuality, passions and potential.
Winchester College is committed to maintaining the Founder original intention of offering an outstanding education to any pupil who would benefit from it, regardless of their financial circumstances, and many of the pupils in the College are being helped financially through the school with substantial bursaries.
Winchester College is committed to providing a respectful and inclusive workplace and a fair and supportive environment for all. We attract staff with a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and we work hard to recruit from the widest possible pool of talent, believing that this is for the benefit of our pupils and every member of our community.
Sustainability :You can learn more about our goal of creating a more sustainable school here.