Hylands School

Description

Thank you for your interest in Hylands School. We are an ambitious and inclusive secondary academy located in Writtle, Chelmsford. As a proud member of The Kemnal Academies Trust, we belong to a wider family of 45 schools, a partnership that enables us to retain our unique local identity while drawing upon a vast network of expertise and support. This collaboration ensures that our staff are never isolated, benefiting from the guidance of trust lead practitioners and a shared commitment to excellence across the trust.

We are committed to the belief that a child’s background or starting point should never define their destination. This vision is underpinned by our Hylands Habits, which see our students strive to be responsible, respectful, and resilient in every aspect of their life. These habits are the guiding principles that shape our daily interactions and our high expectations for every member of our community, ensuring that Hylands is a place where every individual is valued and supported to reach their full potential.

The school is currently on a significant journey of transformation and sustained improvement. Recent monitoring inspections conducted by Ofsted in October 2024 and July 2025 have recognised this positive momentum, noting that leaders’ actions continue to improve the school and that there have been discernible further improvements in how pupils engage with their learning and how well they behave. We have consciously avoided short term solutions in favour of building robust, evidence based systems that ensure our staff have the knowledge and support required to be exceptional practitioners. This trajectory of improvement makes Hylands an exciting and rewarding place to work if you are looking to make a genuine impact.

At the heart of our school is a research led approach to teaching and learning. Our instructional framework is based on a direct instruction model, valuing our teachers as subject experts who can explain complex concepts with clarity and precision. We invest heavily in the professional growth of our staff, providing bespoke training every Tuesday afternoon and hosting regular pedagogy breakfasts where colleagues collaborate to discuss educational research and refine their craft. We believe that all teachers can improve, and we provide the time and safety net required for staff to take risks and develop their practice.

Our curriculum is designed to be broad and inclusive, providing students with a legacy of knowledge that prepares them for the challenges of the modern world. We place a particular emphasis on reading, oracy, and the creative arts, recognising their power to build confidence and emotional intelligence. By fostering a calm and purposeful environment where teachers can teach and pupils can learn, we ensure Hylands' place as a cornerstone of the local community. We look forward to receiving your application and potentially welcoming an exceptional candidate to join our forward facing team.

Christopher White, Headteacher

Map to School