Acting Head of Religious Studies

Classroom Talent; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Classroom Talent is partnering with a Buckinghamshire secondary school in Aylesbury to appoint an Acting Head of Religious Studies. The maternity-cover role runs from January 2027 and combines leadership with teaching across KS3 and KS4, with KS5 delivery.

The successful candidate will shape curriculum, monitor pupil progress, support colleagues and collaborate with senior leaders to raise standards in RE. Strong KS5 experience and QTS/QTLS are essential.

Qualifications

• Must hold QTS/QTLS and be able to teach Religious Studies at secondary level.
• Experience leading a RE department or significant leadership responsibilities.
• Strong KS5 experience and ability to lead curriculum delivery across KS3 KS4 KS5.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for Religious Studies.
• Teach high-quality RE across KS3 KS4 KS5.
• Lead planning and delivery of the RE curriculum.
• Monitor pupil progress and intervene where needed.
• Support and develop colleagues within the department.
• Oversee assessment, curriculum sequencing and resources.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to advance school priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum planning

Staff development

Religious Studies teaching

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS/QTLS)

Job description

Classroom Talent is partnered with a secondary school in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, who are seeking an Acting Head of Religious Studies to join them from January 2027 to provide maternity cover for a year.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced RE Teacher or current middle leader who is looking to take on departmental responsibility and gain valuable leadership experience.

The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching RE across KS3 and KS4, alongside leading the department and supporting the continued development of the subject.

Strong KS5 experience is also key for this position. Candidates must be confident in their ability to deliver Religious Studies at Key Stage 5, with the subject knowledge and experience required to support students studying at this level.

The role would particularly suit an ambitious Religious Studies practitioner ready to take the next step into subject leadership, as well as an existing Head of RE, Subject Leader or experienced RE Teacher looking for a new opportunity from January.

What the school offers – Acting Head of Religious Studies

• Opportunity to lead RE within an established secondary school
• Valuable Head of Department leadership experience
• Teaching across KS3 and KS4, with the ability to deliver KS5
• Support from an experienced senior leadership team
• Well-structured behaviour and pastoral systems
• Access to professional development and leadership CPD
• Opportunity to shape curriculum delivery and teaching standards across RE
• A supportive environment with clear expectations for teaching and learning

Key responsibilities include – Acting Head of Religious Studies

• Providing leadership and direction for Religious Studies
• Teaching high-quality RE lessons across KS3, KS4, KS5
• Leading the planning and delivery of the RE curriculum
• Ensuring high standards of teaching and learning across the subject
• Monitoring pupil progress, attainment and intervention
• Supporting and developing colleagues within the department
• Overseeing assessment, curriculum sequencing and departmental resources
• Using progress data to identify areas for improvement
• Maintaining high expectations for pupil achievement and engagement
• Working closely with senior leaders to support wider school priorities

The successful candidate will:

• Hold QTS/QTLS
• Have strong experience teaching Religious Studies at secondary level
• Be confident teaching KS3 and KS4
• Have experience of delivering RE at KS5 – this is a key requirement for the position
• Demonstrate excellent RE subject knowledge and classroom practice
• Have experience of, or demonstrate clear readiness for, subject leadership
• Be confident leading curriculum planning, assessment and pupil progress
• Can support, motivate and develop other teachers

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to step up into an Acting Head of Department position and strengthen their leadership experience, or for an existing RE leader looking for a maternity-cover opportunity from January 2027.