Class Teacher (KS1 or 2)

Teaching Vacancies; Southampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

St Mary’s in Southampton is seeking a KS1/KS2 teacher who would like to be Year Lead (TLR) and lead a team of three teachers and teaching assistants. The role follows a relocation in January and aims to improve life chances for the children.

The school is committed to research and development in partnership with Southampton University, invests in technology, and supports staff wellbeing and career progression with specialist coaching, PE/Music/Art teaching, and enriching experiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead Year group as Year Lead (TLR) and collaborate with a team of three teachers + teaching assistants.
• Support pupil progress and attainment through high-quality teaching and leadership.

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Due to the re-location of a teacher in January, we seek to find a KS1 or 2 teacher, who would like to be Year Lead (TLR) and a team of three teachers + teaching assistants. The role is an exciting one, in a school where we are constantly reviewing practice to become the best we can possibly be for our children.

Key outcomes of an effective teacher:

Pupils who demonstrate:

• Good progress and high attainment in the class/group
• Enthusiasm and motivation in the class/group
• Positive responses to learning
• Respect for themselves and others

Parents who:

• Are well informed about their children’s progress and targets for further improvement
• Know how to support their children in their learning
• Know about the class or group’s activities and trips

Other adults (including Learning Support Assistants) who:

• Are informed about pupil achievement in the class or group
• Can support the teaching and learning in the class

We are particularly keen to hear from:

• Colleagues interested in research and development and expanding their expertise with our close partnership with Southampton University.
• Colleagues who believe in an 'ethic of excellence' knowing that all children can give their very best
• Colleagues who are looking to become Senior Leaders in the next few years
• Colleagues who believe that where children may find themselves now does not dictate their future.

What the school offers its staff

Opportunities to join St Mary’s are rare.

Our staff stay with us because they believe in the work we do and the community we serve. When a role does become available, it is because we are looking for someone exceptional to join a team that is deeply committed to improving the life chances of the children of Southampton.

The mantra: “Every child deserves a champion: an adult who never gives up on them, understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can be.”

St Mary’s sits in the heart of Southampton’s city centre and has served the community for over 180 years. Today our mission remains clear: to accelerate the life chances of the children of Southampton.

In our most recent inspection, Ofsted judged the school Outstanding in every category. But our purpose goes far beyond inspection outcomes. We believe every child should leave St Mary’s as the best version of themselves, confident and ready to shape the world around them.

What Makes St Mary’s Different

Our people

We recruit staff for their character, determination and belief in children. Qualifications matter, but it is attitude, care and commitment that truly transform young lives.

Innovation that widens opportunity

We invest heavily in technology to level the playing field for our pupils. Virtual reality allows children to explore places and moments in history they would otherwise never experience. We are also beginning to harness AI to support teachers in designing high quality learning.

A curriculum built for excellence: Our curriculum is resourced for teachers and provides over 800 carefully sequenced lessons across the wider curriculum. This reduces teacher workload and allows staff to focus on delivering exceptional teaching. Teachers are simply required to make adaptations for the children they are teaching.

Children are taught in ability groups for reading, writing and mathematics so teachers can specialise and accelerate progress. In the afternoons pupils learn in mixed groups through rich experiences, trips and projects that broaden their horizons.

Every child visits London every year, alongside a wide range of local visits that bring learning to life.

Investing in Our Staff

We believe great schools are built by great teams. Leaders at St Mary’s are visible in classrooms and coaching is a core part of how we work.

Staff are supported through professional development including NPQs, specialist training, leadership development and opportunities across the St Mary’s Partnership of schools.

We also recognise the importance of wellbeing. All staff receive a full subscription to the CALM wellbeing app, supporting sleep, relaxation and mental health for them and their household.

From September 2026, we have invested more into our research. Working directly with Southampton University's Education Faculty, we now offer multi-phase research and development triads. Where we invest in areas you wish to improve and develop and we measure the impact on pupil wellbeing and progress.

Finally - we recognise the need and commitment to pupils experiencing the very BEST teaching. Therefore we employ two dedicated PE teachers (not coaches), alongside a Music teacher and an Art and Design teacher - enabling our children to benefit from individuals who are the best in their field. What this doesn't mean is cover - but it does mean career development alongside these individuals to give our children the best creative experiences we can.

As a school with a high EAL background, we employ a dedicated teacher of EAL who works alongside teachers to ensure rapid proficiency in English. It's one of our specialisms and what makes St Mary's so fantastic!

Further details about the role

Going above and beyond what is expected of a primary school

Every child at St Mary’s spends time gardening each week. It is deliberate, mindful and rooted in our belief that education must extend beyond the purely academic.

Our pupils also explore the wider world through technology. Virtual reality allows children to stand in Rome after lunch or walk through Machu Picchu before the end of the day.

We are unapologetically ambitious for our community and the opportunities our children experience. That includes sporting partnerships with our neighbour Saints at St Mary’s Stadium and a vertical tutoring system that builds belonging across the school so every child feels part of something bigger than their class.

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.