Head of Religious Education
Penwortham Girls' High School, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 0SR12 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2025
Closing date
24 March 2025 at 3pm
Date listed
11 March 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Subjects
- Citizenship, PSHE, Religious education
Working pattern
- Full time: Monday to Friday, full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- M1 to UPR3 plus TLR 2.2
Additional allowances
TLR 2.2
What skills and experience we're looking for
The person appointed will:
Be qualified to degree level in RE or a subject related to RE.
Have a recognised teaching qualification and hold QTS.
Have a clear and well-articulated philosophy of education. Have a clear understanding of the significance Religious Education contributes to a young person’s development.
To have an inspiring vision for a thriving RE department.
Have experience of resources and people management and involvement in managing performance and/or monitoring and evaluation.
Have the necessary personal and interpersonal skills to be an innovative team leader.
Have experience of teaching RE / Life Skills at Key Stage 3 and 4.
Have expert subject knowledge and pedagogical understanding.
Work collaboratively with colleagues from other departments.
Be an excellent classroom practitioner with a proven record of success at all levels.
Have excellent classroom management skills and be committed to enhancing his/her professional development.
Be committed to high standards and able to engage and motivate students.
Take every opportunity to promote the school’s core values.
Promote Fundamental British Values.
Be willing to maintain and further develop the present commitment to extra-curricular and personal development opportunities in Religious Education, especially work with the community.
Be organised, with the ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
Have enthusiasm, passion, drive, initiative and imagination.
Be determined and ambitious but sensitive to the needs of others.
Be a strong advocate of single sex education.
Have an outstanding attendance and punctuality record.
Be smart, articulate and presentable
What the school offers its staff
Penwortham Girls’ High School has consistently achieved outstanding academic results, ranking among the top-performing schools in Lancashire.
Our most recent GCSE results reflect our dedication to excellence, with 72% of students achieving Grade 5 or above in English and Maths and an exceptional Progress 8 score of 0.6 in 2024. These achievements are a testament to the hard work and commitment of both our students and staff. Our reputation for excellence ensures that the school is consistently oversubscribed each year, with 800 students currently on roll. In addition, we are delighted to share that we are embarking on an exciting new chapter, with the construction of a state-ofthe-art school building, scheduled to open in Autumn 2026. This development represents a fantastic opportunity to bring our strong traditional values into a modern and inspiring learning environment.
The strength of our school has been affirmed by our most recent OFSTED report (May 2024), where we were once again judged as outstanding. Inspectors described Penwortham Girls’ as a place where, “Pupils are very proud to be part of this welcoming and happy school community. They develop strong and trusting relationships with staff and their peers.” As a single-sex school, we are uniquely placed to focus on empowering girls to succeed in every aspect of their education and personal development.
We are currently inviting applications for the position of Head of Religious Education, an exciting opportunity for an individual who is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of young people. Religious Education is a central part of our curriculum, and as Ofsted noted, “Diversity is celebrated well. Pupils relish the opportunities to learn about cultural traditions and different faiths.”
As a member of our team, you will join a vibrant, high-achieving, and supportive environment where staff are highly valued and encouraged to grow professionally. Collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on student success are at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for an individual who shares our vision of providing high-quality teaching first, ensuring that all students achieve their potential. We are particularly proud of our inclusive and multicultural school community, where diversity is celebrated, and every student is supported to excel.
In return, we offer:
A supportive and welcoming workplace with a focus on staff well-being.
Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
A chance to make a real impact on the lives of our students.
The opportunity to work within a school with a proven track record of success and an exciting future ahead.
We warmly invite you to visit our school to experience first hand what makes Penwortham Girls’ High School such a special place to work. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to arrange a tour.
Commitment to safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and well-being of our students and expect staff to share this commitment.
We have created a culture of safe recruitment and adopted procedures that help deter, reject or identify people who might pose a risk of harm to children. The school will act reasonably in making decisions about the suitability of the prospective employee based on checks and evidence including: criminal background (via the Disclosure and Barring Service), barred list, prohibition status (in the case of teachers), Disqualification Declaration (where required) and other necessary checks together with references and interview information.
Applying for the job
Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to bursar@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk
CVs are not accepted.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Penwortham Girls' High School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 801 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Penwortham Girls' High School website
- Email address
- s.herbert@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 01772 743399
Penwortham Girls’ High School enjoys a unique status, as the only non-selective, non-fee paying girls’ school in Lancashire. We welcome girls of all abilities, interests and aptitudes, and pride ourselves on our long-standing reputation for academic success. We are a successful school because we have high expectations, promote learning for its own sake and provide every opportunity for personal growth and development.
Importantly, we are specialists in girls’ education, providing a nurturing, supportive and challenging environment where girls excel. At our school, traditional values meet with modern, innovative approaches to learning. We are a forward thinking school that has invested considerably in new technology, ensuring that when they leave us, our pupils are fully equipped for the future. However, equally important are the qualities we instil in the girls. We have developed an environment that supports them as individuals, enabling them to progress to the next stage of their life equipped with a sense of achievement, maturity and self-confidence.
OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE: Articulate, Questioning, Tolerant, Independent Women for the future
Arranging a visit to Penwortham Girls' High School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email s.herbert@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk.
School location
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