Head of Religious Education (Full Time)
St Mary's Catholic School, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2NQ38 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
4 May 2026 at 9am
Date listed
27 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
- £46,912.00 - £67,004.00 Annually (Actual) MPS/UPS (Fringe) £34,398 - £52,490 + TLR1c £12,514
Head of Religious Education (Full Time) job summary
Head of Religious Education - Full Time, Permanent
MPS/UPS (Fringe) £34,398 - £52,490 + TLR1c £12,514
“Love, Respect, Flourish”
Start date: September 2026 Location: St Mary’s Catholic School, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 2NQ
Trust: St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust Diocese: Diocese of Westminster
“A Catholic Community dedicated to achieving excellence for all”.
Introduction:
We are seeking to appoint a knowledgeable, inspiring and highly committed Head of Religious Education to be the next leader of our successful and vibrant RE Department within our high‑performing Catholic secondary school.
St Mary’s Catholic School is a vibrant, ambitious and faith‑filled Catholic community, in a flourishing Catholic Multi Academy Trust, where the Catholic Life is strong and well‑established, rooted in Gospel values and dedicated to the holistic formation of every young person—academically, spiritually, socially and personally.
St Mary’s has a long established reputation for excellence in Catholic Education, paired with the advantages and support of being part of a young and growing Trust. With more than 130 years of Catholic education at St Mary’s and 5 years as part of a growing Trust, we have both youth and experience on our side.
The ‘Catholic life of the school’ is not an ‘add-on’ or ‘optional extra’ but is fundamental to our identity as a Catholic school. Our vision and values of “Love, Respect, Flourish” underpin all that we do.
As part of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, we are inspired by the teachings of Christ and the example of St Francis, we strive for excellence, cherishing every child in our care as a unique thumbprint of God, enabling all to realise their full potential. We are proud to have strong links to all of our Trust Primary schools and local Parishes, in particular the Parish of St Joseph’s and the English Martyr’s Bishop’s Stortford, and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Bishops Stortford, which are situated within a few minutes walk.
As Head of Religious Education at St Mary’s you will also have the opportunity to work with the primary school Headteachers and RE leads in securing the RED effective transition from KS2 to KS3. You will also be working alongside the Trust Lead on Catholic Life for developing whole Trust celebrations and collective worship opportunities.
We are proud to serve within the Diocese of Westminster and share fully in its vision for nurturing flourishing, faithful and outward‑looking school communities. Our strong partnership with the Diocese is reflected in our recent celebrations of 130 years of Catholic education at St Mary’s.
Reserved Post:
This position is a reserved post, in accordance with the Bishops’ Memorandum on the Appointment of Teachers to Catholic Schools. It must therefore be filled by a practising Catholic who can offer authentic witness to the faith and actively promote the Church’s teaching, ensuring that the Catholic ethos shapes every aspect of school life. This requirement reflects the centrality of Religious Education in our curriculum and the significant influence the Head of RE has on the Catholic life and mission of the school.
About the Role:
The Head of RE will in addition to classroom teaching, lead the RE department and provide strategic, theological and pedagogical leadership, ensuring consistently excellent teaching across all key stages in line with Bishops’ Conference requirements. They will also work collaboratively with the Trust Lead on Catholic Life and Ethos, the Senior Leadership Team, chaplaincy and wider Trust to strengthen and develop the Catholic life of the school.
In our most recent S48 inspection, inspectors highlighted the strength of our Catholic identity and the quality of RE provision. The Head of RE will play a key role in maintaining and further developing this excellence.
About You:
You will teach and lead the RE department and the ongoing development of the RE curriculum, ensuring rigorous monitoring and evaluation, strong progress for all learners, and continued excellence in standards.
We are looking for a candidate who:
Is a practising Catholic, committed to the Church’s teaching and the sacramental life of the faith community.
Has a strong record of excellent RE teaching and demonstrable leadership experience.
Can motivate and inspire both staff and students, modelling faith‑filled leadership and fostering a culture of high expectations.
Is committed to forming pupils as compassionate, reflective and responsible members of society, grounded in Gospel values.
Has a deep understanding of the national curriculum framework for Religious Education in Catholic schools.
Embraces and champions the Trust’s values.
The St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust:
St Mary’s is part of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, a family of nine Catholic schools across the Lea Valley Deanery. Currently the Trust comprises of one secondary school (St Mary’s) and eight primary schools. The Trust is at an exciting stage in its growth as a number of Secondary and Primary schools are expected to join in the years ahead.
Established in September 2021, the Trust is now within it’s 5th year and the advantages of being part of a growing Trust continue to increase, whether that is educational, financial, organisational or on a personal level knowing that there are senior leaders and Headteachers around the Trust who support you and share your Catholic vision.
How to Apply:
In accordance with the Catholic Education Service, Bishop’s Memorandum on appointing staff in Catholic Schools (“the Bishop’s Memorandum”), applications for this role are open to Practising Catholics only. Candidates should familiarise themselves with the Bishop’s Memorandum which can be accessed here: https://www.catholiceducation.org.uk/ . Candidates are advised that a priest’s reference will form part of the recruitment process.
Please apply via MyNewTerm (preferred route) or alternatively complete the Application Form (Senior Leadership) and ancillary documents (Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, Recruitment Monitoring and Consent to Obtain References forms), which are available www.stmarys.net and submit to Deirdre McHugh, Headteacher c/o recruitment@stmarys.net, CVs will not be accepted.
Visits to the school are warmly encouraged. For an informal chat, further information or to arrange a visit please contact recruitment@stmarys.net
Interviews:
Closing Date: 4th May 8.00 a.m.
Interviews: 6th May 2026
Start Date: September 2026
We reserve the right to interview on a rolling basis, therefore an early application is advisable.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A DBS disclosure is required for all successful applicants. St Mary’s is committed to the equality of opportunity for all applicants, and we reserve the right to interview on a rolling basis, therefore an early application is advisable.
Details of the standard terms and conditions of a Catholic Education Service contract of employment can be found here: https://www.catholiceducation.org.uk/resources/issuing-employment-contracts Candidates are advised to familiarise themselves with the terms prior to interview.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
St Mary’s Catholic School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will require an enhanced disclosure from the DBS.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Miss Deirdre McHugh, Headteacher
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 St Mary's Catholic School
- School type
- Academy, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1121 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- St Mary's Catholic School website
St. Mary’s has a strong tradition of providing an authentic education which aims to deliver excellence for every member of our Catholic community. Our three core values of 'Love, Respect, Flourish' permeate through all aspects of our work.
Our school is built upon an ambitious mission for each and every young person:
To fulfil academic potential
To be fully developed in the personal, social and spiritual areas of life
To achieve excellence in every area of life
To be underpinned by Gospel Values, enabling each person to value individuals and contribute positively to society.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Teacher of Religious Education
Quick Apply
Trinity Catholic High School
Mornington Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 0TP
Head of Department – Religious Studies (Maternity Cover)
Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy
Victoria Park Road, London, E9 7HD
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Hertfordshire