Head of Department Religious Studies

Mossbourne Community Academy, London, E5 8JY

34 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  14 April 2026 at 12:59am

• Date listed

  10 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Subject: Religious education
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Teachers’ Main Pay scale + Mossbourne Allowance £1600 + TLR2c / UPS + TLR2c
• Additional allowances:

  Teachers’ Main Pay scale + Mossbourne Allowance £1600 + TLR2c / UPS + TLR2c

Head of Department Religious Studies job summary

Mossbourne Community Academy seeks to appoint a Head of Religious Studies

Mossbourne Federation is the realisation of Sir Clive Bourne’s dream to provide the children of Hackney with an outstanding education. Built on a formula of high expectations, doing the simple things right, and the belief that all children can succeed, Mossbourne offers an environment where all learners, regardless of ability, benefit from innovative and enlightened approaches to teaching and learning. Our calm working atmosphere creates well-rounded individuals who excel in the arts, on the sporting field, and academically.

Since the federation was formed in 2004, we are delighted to have expanded to include three Thurrock schools. We now consist of seven academies:

• Mossbourne Community Academy (MCA) secondary and sixth form, Hackney

• Mossbourne Fobbing Academy (MFA) secondary and sixth form, Thurrock

• Mossbourne Herd Lane Academy (MHLA) primary, Thurrock

• Mossbourne Parkside Academy (MPA) primary, Hackney

• Mossbourne Port Side Academy (MPSA) secondary, Thurrock

• Mossbourne Riverside Academy (MRA) primary, Hackney

• Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA) secondary, Hackney

The successful applicant will be passionate about Religious Studies. They will be well organised and willing to go the ‘extra mile’ and will be focussed on the attainment of all pupils. They will manage a team of around 5 RS specialists and lead the team in teaching KS3, KS4 to the whole year group and KS5 where Philosophy and Ethics is taught, often to two classes, due to the popularity of the subject. They will hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or have a proven track record of successful Religious Studies teaching across all key stages.

Working for a Mossbourne Federation Academy means being part of a community of exceptional practitioners. Colleagues are warm, welcoming, and supportive of each other. As one of the country’s leading federations, staff expectations are high. The Mossbourne Federation engages with, and supports its workforce, thus creating an inspirational working environment which nurtures the development of personal and professional excellence.

Federation staff are rewarded through the comprehensive package of benefits listed in our Federation Recruitment Brochure, including:

Private healthcare, to support health and wellbeing, fully paid by the Federation

Early finish on Friday - secondary academies

Hybrid working for planning and preparation time - primary academies

The Mossbourne Allowance*

Free lunches*

Free staff fitness classes and/or use of onsite gym - secondary academies

Cycle to work and season ticket loan schemes

Discounts at local restaurants

Discounted gym membership with the ability to spread membership costs

Saturday and holiday paid programme

Special leave scheme (additional paid time off)

Staff appreciation awards and events

First rate professional development and career opportunities

Financial support for career development*

‘Introduction Bonus’ for current staff*

Remuneration for exam board marking*

Tea, coffee and refreshments provided for staff throughout the week

*Terms and conditions apply for some benefits

If you are passionate about innovative education, have a commitment to personal excellence and are ready for a new challenge, we welcome your application.

Please note that CVs or incomplete application forms will not be considered. All other applications will be considered; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Mossbourne Federation reserves the right to close adverts earlier than the stated deadline.

At Mossbourne Federation, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We do not discriminate in recruitment or during employment based on any protected characteristic or aspect of individual identity. We are committed to anti-racist principles and practices, and we welcome individuals with the ethos and energy to help us achieve this goal.

The Mossbourne Federation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

You can follow us on LinkedIn at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mossbourne-federation/

Find more about working with Mossbourne Federation in our Federation Recruitment and Employee Experience Brochures.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Mossbourne Federation reserves the right to modify job descriptions to ensure the needs of the Federation & students are met. Mossbourne Federation provides equal employment opportunities to all employment applicants and employees without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status. The document is not a comprehensive list; it simply outlines expectations of the role. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure. The post holder must be committed to safeguarding the welfare of children.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Mossbourne Community Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1441 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Mossbourne Community Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/mossbourne-community-academy

The Mossbourne Federation’s flagship academy, Mossbourne Community Academy (MCA) is built on high expectations and doing right by the pupils in our care. We are driven to ensure that MCA pupils have future choice and opportunities, succeed in their chosen career pathway and make positive contributions to society. MCA has not only changed the face of education in Hackney, but has also raised the bar in educational expectations to the highest level; we achieve recognition, nationally, and annually, for setting a new benchmark for non-selective comprehensive education. All pupils, regardless of race, gender, background or ability, are encouraged to achieve their true potential and the behaviour of our pupils is exemplary. With outstanding GCSE and A-level results, year on year, Mossbourne Community Academy is placed within the top 1% of schools in the country. We are tremendously proud that our most recent Ofsted Inspection, dated November 2021, judged the academy as ‘outstanding’ and starts with the sentence ‘Mossbourne Community Academy changes pupil’s lives for the better’, because that is what we do, year on year. In 2023, Mossbourne Community Academy was named the top comprehensive school in London in The Sunday Times ‘Good Schools Guide’, the 5th most oversubscribed school in England and the most oversubscribed school in London. Such recognition is testament to the pride, hard work and dedication of our staff body, pupils and parents.

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