Head of Religious Studies
Monkton Wood Academy, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8PD14 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
12 March 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
26 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Subject
- Religious education
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £32,916 - £51,048 + TLR 2B - £5,873
Head of Religious Studies job summary
Job Title: Head of Religious Studies
Actual Annual Salary: £32,916 - £51,048 (M1 – UPS3) + TLR 2B - £5,873
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time, 32.5 hours per week
Start: 1 September 2026
Your opportunity to lead Religious Studies and inspire the next generation of students.
As the Curriculum leader of Religious Studies, You will lead our department across Key Stages 3 and 4, overseeing the curriculum, teaching, and assessment strategies to ensure high standards of student achievement. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership skills and the ability to inspire and support a team of dedicated teachers. If you are passionate about Religious Studies and committed to fostering a positive learning environment, we would love to hear from you.
About you:
You will have:
• experience of working with children and young people.
• experience of assimilating information to facilitate the delivery of lesson plans effectively.
• a basic knowledge and understanding of the curriculum.
• excellent standard of oral and written communication skills and ability to understand and convey information effectively.
• good organisational and efficient administration skills.
• the ability to build effective working relationships with teachers and other academy staff.
• the skills to participate in class discussions in an informed and sensitive manner.
Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.
About the Academy:
Monkton Wood Academy is an 11-18 school located in Monkton Heathfield, near Taunton. We are currently going through a period of change and rapid improvement as we seek to make Monkton Wood a place of academic excellence, where children can progress and thrive. We are developing a culture of high expectations and mutual respect, where students and staff can be successful in our roles and become the best possible version of ourselves.
Monkton Wood has long been proud of its strong connections with the local community; our parents and our partners at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre are highly engaged in school life. It is incredibly important to us that our students develop a strong sense of belonging and confidence in their own ability to achieve well and to go on to serve their community.
Why work at CLF?
We are a diverse and inclusive community of 365 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.
We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
What we can offer you:
• Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing support for career development and wellbeing.
• Sector-leading professional development entitlement and opportunities.
• Collaboration with colleagues across the trust through subject communities and specialist networks.
• Shared CLF curriculum, written and curated by trust experts, reducing individual teacher workload.
• Career enhancing and progression opportunities within the trust and through the CLF Institute.
• A collaborative culture which supports workload.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking and many more!
Recruitment timeline:
Closing Date: 12 March 2026
Shortlisting Date: 13 March 2026
Interviews: 23 March 2026
We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment.
As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.
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 Monkton Wood Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1266 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Monkton Wood Academy website
School location
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