Teacher of Religious Education

Part time

September 2023

We are seeking to appoint a part-time Teacher of Religious Education working approximately 12 hours per week, 0.54 of a timetable in our thriving all-through school community. Our school has a strong Christian Catholic ethos which puts the development of children’s talents at the centre of all we do, and we are looking for a teacher who enjoys helping pupils to develop their potential in and out of the classroom. The successful candidate will be passionate about their subject area, sharing this with pupils in lessons, and through the organisation of other activities as part of the school’s vibrant enrichment programme.

In our 92nd year of educating the individual at Rye, we are continuing to build a diverse, enthusiastic, and highly supportive community of teachers with a commitment to academic excellence. Our school is made up of academic staff who are fully committed to the teaching process and who want to make a real difference to children's lives. Every teacher has both academic and pastoral responsibilities and will be expected to contribute actively to the extra-curricular programme. We are fully committed to the professional development of all members of our school community.

The successful candidate will be able to teach A Level Religious Studies (Philosophy, Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought) and GCSE Religious Education.

The Teacher of Religious Education is accountable to the Head of Religious Education.

Teaching and learning

• Promoting excellence in teaching and learning, embedding The Rye Way in all lessons, and ensuring that pupils develop their potential, are ambitious in their learning, and are equipped for life beyond school.

• Exemplifying in own practice outstanding skills of teaching and learning which enable pupils to make excellent progress and further build on the culture of success.

• Monitoring pupils’ work, tracking and analysing pupil progress to ensure high levels of attainment for all pupils.

• Ensuring that schemes of work are followed, reviewed, and modified to enable the development of high standards of teaching and learning.

• Keeping up to date with developments in teaching Religious Education to ensure that best practice is adopted within teaching.

• Initiating and leading opportunities to develop pupil progress outside lessons.

• Organising and leading field trips and overseas visits to develop pupils’ understanding of Religious Education outside the classroom.

• Contributing to the broader life of the school by supporting and leading curricular and extra-curricular events such as school productions and activity days.

• Preparing written reports and data for Snapshots for all pupils in line with the school’s assessment policy and writing other reports as required.

• Attending weekly departmental meetings.

Whole School

All staff share responsibility for the good running of the school by:

• Setting an excellent example to all pupils and maintaining high professional standards at all times.

• Maintaining and promoting the reputation of the school and its Christian Catholic ethos.

• Understanding and demonstrating an active commitment to the safeguarding of pupils and staff through adherence to and development of policy and practice.

• Providing cover for absent colleagues.

• Participating actively in the rota of duties.

• Maintaining high standards of pupil behaviour and discipline at all times.

• Invigilating internal and public examinations as appropriate.

• Setting, marking and invigilating Entrance Exams, meeting with prospective and current parents to promote the school and discuss the curriculum and approach to learning.

Extra-Curricular Activities

All staff play an active role in extra-curricular activities and are responsible for:

• Leading two clubs a year.

• The administration of the activity including co-ordination of dates with the Deputy Heads.

• Ensuring that all safety requirements are met, and proper procedures are followed in conjunction with the EVC Co-Ordinator and the Bursar.

• Ensuring that all pupils are able to contribute to and benefit from the activity.

Early Career Teachers (ECT)

We run a full programme to support ECTs during the first years in school. Subject and ECT mentors have much experience in supporting ECTs through a robust programme which enables staff to flourish and become excellent practitioners in the classroom and active participants in our school community.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Excellent academic credentials

• A highly successful teacher

• Understanding of and support for the Christian and Catholic ethos of the school

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Diplomatic and patient

• Well organised, efficient, and able to manage competing priorities

• Collaborative, reliable and resilient

• A willingness to start new initiatives and contribute to the wider needs of the school community

• Highly effective communication skills, in person and in writing

• Integrity and discretion

• A willingness to learn and embrace new pedagogical practices

• inspiring confidence in others

Desirable:

• Practising Catholic

How to apply

Applications (application form with contact details for two referees, full curriculum vitae and an accompanying letter addressed to the Head, Miss Joanne Croft) should be emailed to hrmanager@ryestantony.co.uk or post to Rye St Antony Pullen’s Lane Oxford OX3 0BY. Telephone number 01865 229227

For an application form, please visit the Staff Vacancies page of the school’s website. Applications will be accepted only from candidates who have completed the application form in full.

The closing date for application is 4pm on Wednesday 14 June 2023. If a suitable candidate is sourced prior to this date, we reserve the right to close earlier. Interviews will take place shortly after receipt of selected applications.

Safeguarding

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and the School expects all staff to share this commitment. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Amended), and therefore all relevant convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as ‘spent’, must be declared. The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. Candidates must not have been disqualified from working with children, and must not be named on the Children’s Barred List or be subject to any sanctions imposed by a regulatory body. An overseas police check may also be required.