Temporary Teacher of Religious Studies

What skills and experience we're looking for

Do have a genuine passion for teaching Religious Studies and enjoy sharing your enthusiasm for the subject with students?

• Would you like the opportunity to work as part of an innovative and dedicated Humanities Faculty?

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated Teacher of Religious Studies; this role would be suitable for an Early Career Teacher.

This is a temporary role to cover a period of maternity leave.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team which continues to achieve excellent examination results. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate creativity as well as excellent subject knowledge and a commitment to developing and maintaining high standards of teaching and learning at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

What the school offers its staff

• Our students are a pleasure to teach: they are keen to learn and grasp any additional opportunities to broaden their education and experiences. Visitors to the school remark on the calm and productive atmosphere, students’ curiosity and engagement and their exceptional attitudes to learning. Above all, they are kind and they understand the importance of caring for one another as part of our family values.

Heads of Faculty lead on the curriculum in their areas because they are best-placed to do so as subject specialists; teachers are encouraged to experiment with a range of approaches to teaching. Across the school, there are consistent systems for structuring teaching and the curriculum through learning journeys, schemes of learning and the use of our WSFG Learning Principles. Our staff are subject specialists who plan collaboratively and actively develop their subject knowledge, for example through our partnership with the Princes’ Teaching Institute.

Our CPD is structured so that staff have choices about their CPD pathways. Internal CPD is bespoke. Most staff will choose from options based around our school priorities, such as Leave No Child Behind, Make Learning Magic or All About Assessment. Others will benefit from self-study such as PTI leadership and subject development courses, NPQs or National College training. We are also part of the Haringey Education Partnership which offers a wide range of CPD, ranging from pastoral support, subject-specific training to leadership development.

All new teaching staff have a comprehensive induction programme and ECTs benefit from support from experienced mentors and links to other schools through UCL / IOE and Red Kite / Haringey Education Partnership.

• One of the lowest teaching time contact ratios in London, demonstrating that we have chosen to invest in our staff
• An understanding that work-life balance is important, including a commitment to staff wellbeing in our School Improvement Plan
• In addition to making allowances for staff to have cover for family events, we have been piloting a whole school approach to flexible working which will be rolled out across the school in 2025 – 26
• Teachers have an allocated WFA - Work from Anywhere period included on their timetable
• Home and Family weeks: termly non-meeting weeks throughout the year to support with reduced workload and staff wellbeing
• No report writing
• Beautiful school grounds, including staff terrace (in summer!)
• The possibility of flexible working contracts (37% of our staff are part-time)
• Regular wellbeing surveys and wellbeing slots in staff meetings; member of SLT with responsibility for staff wellbeing
• 97% of staff say the school is a happy and enjoyable place to work; 95% feel their professional contribution is valued; 73% feel they have a good work-life balance. This compares very favourably with the TES national Wellbeing report where only 20% of staff felt their workload was manageable.
• Employee Assistance: free 24-hour confidential counselling, help and information service
• Staff organised activities including a running club, yoga and Boxfit exercise sessions
• Cycle 2 work scheme
• Staff working in schools in Waltham Forest, regularly using computers, are eligible to apply for reimbursement towards some of the costs associated with eye tests and glasses
• Free on-site parking
• Lunch or breakfast provided on INSET days
• Free tea and coffee in the staff room
• Staff benefit from preferential admission criteria for their daughters.

Commitment to safeguarding

Walthamstow School for Girls is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.