Head of Religious Education (RE)
King Edward VII Academy, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 2QB8 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
14 May 2026 at 1am
Date listed
6 May 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
- Salary: Qualified Teachers Pay Scales: Main Pay Scale (MPS) to Upper Pay Scale (UPS) and TLR2 of £5200 per annum
Head of Religious Education (RE) job summary
Salary: Qualified Teachers Pay Scales: Main Pay Scale (MPS) to Upper Pay Scale (UPS) and TLR2 of £5200 per annum
Start Date: September 2026
King Edward VII Academy is seeking to appoint an outstanding Head of Religious Education (RE).
We are looking for an exceptional classroom practitioner with a proven track record of excellence outcomes and someone who has had a clear impact at a subject level. The successful candidate will demonstrate the drive and commitment to go above and beyond for our pupils to ensure the succeed. In this role, you will be able to engage with our raising achievement strategy to ensure religious education outcomes at the school are significantly better than national benchmarks.
This key role will give you the opportunity to collaborate with senior leaders and the subject team on curriculum approaches, embedding effective pedagogical approaches and driving standards in religious education. Through collaboration with the wider Inspiration Trust RE team, you will ensure the delivery of our exceptional knowledge rich curriculum.
What You’ll Be Doing
- To have a clear vision for religious education teaching across the school.
- To be a role model to the department and beyond
- Align classroom practices with the school’s improvement plan and national standards.
- Lead initiatives that promote innovative and evidence-based teaching strategies.
- To lead on the development of new ways of thinking about the curriculum and teaching and learning to develop pupil mastery in the subject.
- Curriculum planning, sequencing, and assessment to maximise pupil progress.
- Maintain professional conduct and actively engage in performance management and professional development activities.
- Conduct lesson observations, learning walks, and work scrutiny to quality assure the subject area.
- Design and deliver CPD within department meetings.
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues and the Senior Leadership Team.
- Promote and uphold the Trust and Academy’s ethos, policies, procedures, and Health & Safety standards.
- Teach the curriculum, prepare pupils for examinations, and provide additional support such as interventions and revision sessions which will include Saturdays and school holidays.
- Plan collaboratively, set homework, adapt teaching for SEND/EAL pupils, and maintain high standards of pupil work.
About You
You will be a leader who shares our belief that all pupils have the right to succeed and have access to the absolute best education. The successful candidate must have a commitment to changing lives and outcomes for young people. You should come with an existing track record of effectiveness but be keen to develop further as a member of the wider leadership team.
Essential:
- An appropriate degree and other qualifications required for the award of QTS.
- Qualified Teacher Status
- Successful subject experience as a teacher and manager in education in a secondary school.
- Successful involvement in performance management, self-evaluation process and data analysis as an aid in personal and team improvement, development and change.
- Proven practice in leading, motivating and supporting staff to achieve ambitious standards.
- Knowledge of the statutory requirements concerning Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, SEND and Child Protection.
- Ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships with pupils, parents, colleagues, and the wider community.
- Knowledge and understanding of the subject to at least undergraduate degree level and different teaching approaches.
- Experience of teaching the subject in a secondary school across the 11-16 age range.
Desirable:
- Other relevant qualifications in the sector (e.g. NPQLT, MEd, etc.).
- Existing curriculum or pastoral leadership experience (e.g. second in department).
- Experience examining the subject for an appropriate exam board.
- Experience mentoring and coaching trainee and early-career teachers.
Why Join Inspiration Trust
At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.
We offer:
- Generous annual leave, and access to the Teachers' Pension Schemes (TPS) with excellent employer contributions
- Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
- Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
- Free parking at most sites
- Personalised CPD and development programmes
- A structured and specific induction programme.
* Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.
About Us
King Edward VII Academy is a large, diverse, and comprehensive 11-18 school with a rich and prestigious history. Thousands of students have walked the halls of this magnificent building, all in pursuit of the excellence that the academy continues to strive for today.
In October 2024, Ofsted rated King Edward VII Academy and Sixth Form as Good overall, recognising the rapid positive changes across the school. Inspectors highlighted the academy’s ambition and high standards: "The school expects high standards of pupils’ work and behaviour. It reminds pupils that every minute counts in meeting these standards. Pupils are rising to this challenge. They know that they attend an inclusive school that has improved rapidly. In the past, academic outcomes have been low. Now, however, the sense of ambition is abundantly clear. Lessons are engaging and focused. Pupils learn well."
The report also praised the school’s curriculum and teaching: "The school’s curriculum is ambitious and ensures that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access learning alongside their peers. The curriculum sets out what pupils will learn and the order in which it is taught. High-quality training and support from the Trust have led to precise teaching. Teachers use their strong subject knowledge to present new concepts clearly. Staff are invested in the school and the community. They feel well supported by leaders who manage their workload with sensitivity. They want the very best for pupils and are proud to work at the school."
King Edward VII Academy is calm, orderly, and purposeful. Its culture is built around high expectations and consistent structures and routines, enabling teachers to focus on their subjects with expertise and passion.
We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.
The Inspiration Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, committed to delivering the very best educational experience for the young people of Norfolk and Suffolk, across 17 schools. We are ambitious for our schools and communities and want to create Britain’s highest performing federation of 3-19 schools and transform education in the East. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.
For information on what it is like to live and work in Kings Lynn click here.
Next Steps
Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.
If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Joanne Wiseman, PA to Principal (joannewiseman@inspirationtrust.org).
To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.
When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.
Closing date for applications: 9am on Thursday 14th May 2026
Interview date: Week commencing 17th May 2026
Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities
Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About King Edward VII Academy
- School type
- Academies, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1181 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- King Edward VII Academy website
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Norfolk