Head of Drama

St James's Church of England High School, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL4 9RU

15 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  5 May 2026 at 3:30pm

• Date listed

  20 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Head of department or curriculum
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £32,916.00 - £51,048.00

Head of Drama job summary

HEAD OF DRAMA / LEAD PRACTITIONER

MPS T1-T9 (£32,916 - £51,048) + TLR 2C (£3,527)

1.0 FTE

PERMANENT CONTRACT

REQUIRED - 1st September 2026

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our exceptional, outward looking, oversubscribed high achieving school which welcomes pupils of all abilities.

St James’s is a member of the Bishop Fraser Trust, a C of E Multi Academy Trust established in 2017. This is an exciting time to join us as it provides a great opportunity to work closely with the other three schools in the MAT: Bury C of E High School, Canon Slade School and Bolton St Catherine’s Academy; sharing good practice and building on our ongoing progress.

WE ARE SEEKING A PASSIONATE CANDIDATE WHO:

·        Is a well-qualified, highly motivated and enthusiastic Head of Department/Lead Practitioner. They will require great organisational skills and demonstrate excellent subject knowledge and a passion for Drama

·        Is someone who has an excellent track record in their own work and in leading and inspiring others.

·        Is pupil centred and motivates pupils to strive for excellence.

·        Is a leader with a strong ethos and vision, who demonstrates emotional intelligence, is solution focused and has the desire to continue the development of our strong team of staff.

·        Is committed to their own professional development.

·        Is an enthusiastic and innovative team player with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to achieving high standards within a successful department.

·        Has a clear understanding of the characteristics of high-quality teaching and be able and willing to teach across the whole age and ability range.

·        Will quickly build rapport and effective professional relationships with both our young people and colleagues.

·        Understands that behaviour management starts with the quality of teaching in the classroom.

·        Demonstrates personal resilience and role model those personal qualities we wish to instil in our young people.

 

YOUR MAIN DUTIES WOULD BE:

·        To provide professional leadership and management for Drama

·        To be role model to members of the department, demonstrating excellent teaching and learning in their own practise and providing innovative curriculum thinking to drive the curriculum forwards in all linked subjects

·        To raise standards across the subject in teaching, learning and curriculum leading for better outcomes for all

IN RETURN, WE OFFER:

·        Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Access to National College training, subject-specific CPD, leadership pathways, and mentoring programs.

·        Career Progression: Clear pathways for growth, from early careers to leadership roles. We use a ‘touchbase’ informal approach to focus on professional development as well as an annual career conversation with your manager

·        Wellbeing & Support: Leadership training focused on wellbeing, mental health resources, and staff networks.

·        Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI): Commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, with ongoing EDI training and initiatives.

·        Automatic pay progression for teachers – we don’t have performance related appraisals and pay reviews

·        Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days for all year-round support staff. This increases to 28 days after 5 years

·        A paid premium to a Healthcare Cash Plan to claim back contributions towards dental, optical and other medical costs via UK Healthcare.

·        24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

·        Benefits and discounts via UK Healthcare.

·        Fantastic facilities.

·        A lunch allowance for those colleagues volunteering to assist in lunchtime duties or activities.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

For more information visit our website www.st-james.bolton.sch.uk or contact our Business Operations Team on 01204 333000 or by emailing hr@stjames.tbft.uk

To apply please complete the attached application form via the link

Head of Drama | SAMpeople Recruit

Please do not send CVs as they will not be considered.

We reserve the right to close the recruitment early should sufficient suitable candidate applications be received.

The Bishop Fraser Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to child protection screening including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and past employment checks. We are an equal opportunities employer. References will be sought prior to interview.

CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 5th May @ 9.00am

INTERVIEWS: TBC

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

The Bishop Fraser Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to child protection screening including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and also past employment checks. We are an equal opportunities employer. References will be sought prior to interview.

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 St James's Church of England High School

• School type: Academy, Church of England, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1064 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St James's Church of England High School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-james-s-church-of-england-high-school

St James’s is a Church of England Secondary School that was judged to be ‘Good’ by OFSTED in 2022 with behaviour and attitudes; personal development as well as leadership and management at the school being described as ‘Outstanding’.

Our mission is to ensure every young person, no matter what their starting point can experience ‘life in all its fullness.’ To this end we ensure every young person fulfils their full academic potential whilst also developing into happy, confident, compassionate and accomplished young adults. We are ambitious for every student and we support and encourage them to be ambitious for themselves.

We believe in the importance of teaching students that success comes from hard work and self-discipline however we also ensure that students who struggle get the bespoke support and help they need to catch up.

St James’s High School is a high performing Church of England Academy. We have high academic standards and each year our students achieve excellent results, above the national average. We recruit the best teachers and invest in their training and development to ensure every student is inspired and consequently flourishes.

We are a Church of England school that welcomes members of other Christian denominations, and of other faiths. Our Anglican beliefs, values and worship are central to everything we do. Every child is valued at St James and through the highest quality pastoral care they are nurtured and loved. Our moto of ‘Caring for others † Achieving excellence’ sums up our view that care must and should come first in order to support and enable achievement.

All staff at St James’s are absolutely committed to giving every young person the very best. We work to ensure all students go on from us as committed, caring, serving leaders that work to make their communities and our society a better place.

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