Drama Teacher (Fixed Term – Maternity Leave)

The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School in Stevenage is seeking a full-time Drama Teacher to cover a maternity leave from November 2026. You will teach Drama across KS3 and KS4, with the possibility of KS5 for suitably experienced staff, contributing to a vibrant department and school community.

We welcome both new teachers and experienced colleagues who are passionate about drama, committed to high-quality learning, and eager to engage students through productions and extracurricular

Qualifications

• Teach Drama across KS3 and KS4, with KS5 possible for experienced staff.
• Passionate about Drama with high expectations and engaging lessons.
• ECTs welcome or experienced teachers; strong PD culture.
• Commitment to equal opportunity and inclusive practices.
• Willing to undergo safeguarding checks and DBS.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality drama lessons and assess students.
• Contribute to extra-curricular productions and performances.
• Support department with resource sharing and collaboration.
• Support safeguarding and promote welfare.

Job description

Drama Teacher - Maternity Cover at The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School

Are you passionate about Drama and committed to inspiring young people through creativity, performance and academic excellence? The Saint John Henry Newman School is an outstanding school in which to develop your teaching career and make a real difference to our students.

• Top 6% nationally for progress in 2026 - KS4 Progress of 8 score of +0.73
• Strong academic achievement in 2026 - KS4 Attainment 8 score of 5.56
• 84% of students achieved 5 or more grades at 9-4, with 74% achieving this including English and Maths
• July 2024 very successful ungraded Ofsted inspection
• Outstanding Catholic Schools Inspection (CSI) report, January 2026
• A school where behaviour is excellent. Ofsted (July 2024) commented on our students: “They are confident, courteous and their behaviour is exemplary.”
• A vibrant and successful Drama Department with a strong commitment to developing students’ creativity, confidence and performance skills
• Opportunities for students to participate in productions, performances and extra-curricular Drama
• Excellent support for teachers, with shared resources and a strong culture of collaboration
• A school with a strong community, as noted by Ofsted: “Whoever you are, wherever you come from and whatever you believe, you are given a warm welcome here.”
• In a recent staff survey, 100% of staff agreed that they were proud to be a member of staff at the Saint John Henry Newman School

We are looking to appoint a full-time Drama Teacher to join our successful and supportive Drama Department from November 2026 on a fixed-term maternity cover basis. The successful candidate will teach Drama across KS3 and KS4, with the opportunity to teach KS5 for a suitably experienced teacher, subject to experience and timetable requirements.

We are looking for a teacher who is passionate about Drama, has high expectations of students and is committed to providing engaging and challenging lessons. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the wider life of the department through extra-curricular activities, productions and performances.

Whether you are an ECT or an experienced teacher, you will be supported as part of our strong culture of professional development and collaboration. We are committed to ensuring that all teachers have the opportunity to develop their practice and make a positive contribution to our school community.

We fully embrace the principles of equal opportunity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all sections of society and will consider flexible working.

The Saint John Henry Newman School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers, the DBS and a ‘prohibition from teaching’ check. Following the shortlisting stage, and prior to making a final decision, the School will collect and process information publicly available about you by conducting a brief online search using an internet search engine. This is to ensure the school acts in accordance with its obligations set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.