Head of Religious Studies

Do you have the highest expectations for every member of the school community and believe in transformational education for all, irrespective of starting points and background? 

Are you able to win hearts and minds with your inspirational vision for school improvement, underpinned by the school’s inclusive Christian ethos and values, Love, Hope and Trust? 

Are you passionate about ensuring that students from disadvantaged backgrounds have access to a life-changing Quality of Education in Religious Education? 

Do you have the experience, skills, insights and determination to help lead the school from good to outstanding alongside an inspirational and values-driven SLT? 

We are looking to recruit an outstanding teacher and leader of Religious Studies to join our thriving Religious Studies department.

Outcomes within the department are in the top 5% of all schools in the country for Progress 8.

We are seeking to appoint a values-driven individual and leader who: 

• Will model excellent teaching and play a leading role in bringing the inclusive Christian vision to life through RS
• Has the ability to model excellent classroom practice and lead CPD for others to do the same; this is essential to this role 
• Will do everything possible to demand the highest quality of lessons and outcomes in RS 
• Will offer transformational leadership in preparation for SIAMS and the academy’s Case for Excellence  
• Will mentor, guide and support teachers that are new to the profession within the RS department 
• Is a skilful curriculum planner and understands how to sequence knowledge to transform the mind 
• Believes in building strong relationships with our students and who is willing to go above and beyond to allow them to transform and live life in all its fullness.  

Outcomes in GCSE and A Level RS have been well above the national average for the past six years because significant teaching time and prominence is given to RS within the school. Students thrive within RS lessons, making it our highest performing subject within the school. 

Joining us, you will have the opportunity to learn from an experienced Head of Department and other specialist teachers within the team.  

If you have the skills and enthusiasm to make a significant contribution to our SIAMs Case for Excellence next year then we want to hear from you. 

About us

St Mark’s C of E Academy is a vibrant and diverse 11-18 academy situated in Mitcham in the London Borough of Merton. The school was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection (November 2017) with Outstanding personal development and welfare. The Academy really does have much to celebrate. We are the first secondary school in London to be awarded the prestigious International Values Quality Mark in recognition of the manner in which our values of love, hope and trust permeate all our work. ‘The school’s provision for the personal development and welfare of pupils is outstanding. It is highly enriching and supportive and focuses on ‘values in action’. Pupils are confident, thoughtful and articulate’ (Ofsted 2017). 

Closing date: 10.00am on 10 February 2023

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and require all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the person specification and will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks which will, where applicable, include a health check, an enhanced DBS check, the Children’s Barred List check and satisfactory references.

It is an offence for an individual who has been disqualified from working with children to knowingly apply for, offer to do, accept, or do any work in a ‘regulated activity’. The position advertised is a ‘regulated activity’.