Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages

• Thurston Community College
• Address: Norton Road, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 3PB
• Salary: MPR/UPR
• Hours: Part time (0.6 FTE)
• Contract: Permanent, required to start January 2027
• Reference: 5665

Thurston Community College are seeking an inspiring, ambitious, and vibrant Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) to join our well-established department. You will be required to teach French and Spanish at Key Stage 3, French at Key Stage 4 and with the opportunity to teach A-Level French available for a suitably qualified candidate.  

You will join an outstanding Modern Foreign Languages Department who pride themselves on their approach to supporting every student to achieve their full potential. You will benefit from entering a collaborative team who welcome forward thinking initiatives and are able to offer new colleagues’ advice, support and professional development opportunities in a friendly, positive and creative environment. The department benefits from excellent centralised resources which are strategically designed to equip students with the core linguistic skills needed for success at GCSE and beyond. The department’s pedagogical approach is rooted in evidence-informed practice. Teaching centres around rich core texts, explicit and systematic grammar instruction, and a strong emphasis on developing productive skills, particularly speaking and writing, to ensure students can communicate fluently and authentically. This approach consistently delivers outstanding results. Student progress at Key Stage 4 is exceptional, with learners routinely meeting or exceeding their target grades across all languages.

This post would be equally appropriate for an experienced or a newly qualified early careers teacher.

Who we are

Thurston Community College is a large popular mixed comprehensive school. It comprises two distinct and specialist sites. Our Thurston Campus, for students from year 7 to year 11 is situated four miles east of Bury St Edmunds. Thurston Sixth is located in the nearby village of Beyton, offering a bespoke centre of excellence for students in year 12 and year 13.  

Our purpose is simple; to inspire a love of learning, empower our college community with the knowledge and skills to help them make meaningful choices and contribute positively to the world in which we live to achieve excellence in all aspects of school life.

It was recently announced that the school will be part of the School Rebuild Programme and we have entered the feasibility phase. This will mean we will be a part of shaping a new school over the next few years.

In return we will provide:

• an opportunity to help shape the future of the department and develop the subject across the curriculum
• opportunities to develop both professionally and personally.

We offer the opportunity to:

• join a talented and supportive team, dedicated to working effectively together to secure positive outcomes for our students
• benefit from ongoing Professional Development
• make a difference to our talented and creative students
• benefit from our Employee Assistance Programme.

If you are excited by this post, its challenges and opportunities; if you relish the prospect of joining our team of committed and excellent staff we very much look forward to hearing from you. 

Thurston Community College enjoys a rural location with free parking and convenient transport links to Cambridge, Ipswich and London.

For more information

Please read the Job Description (pdf) and Application Guidance (word) or alternatively, please visit our website.

Please contact the college by calling 01359 230885, or by emailing: [email protected]

How to apply

Please submit your completed Application Form (word)via email to: [email protected]

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and the advert may close early, interview date to be confirmed.

Closing date: 1 pm, 31 October 2026.

Thurston Community College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check as well as other pre-appointment checks outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education.