Lead Practitioner Of Religious Education & Philosophy – Secondary Academy In Exeter (January Start)

Marchant Recruitment; Exeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Marchant Recruitment seeks a Lead Practitioner of Religious Education & Philosophy for a progressive secondary academy in Exeter. Start in January, full-time, permanent, teaching KS3-5 and leading faculty pedagogy.

You will coach teachers, design evaluative essay frameworks, train staff in non-confessional ethics, and drive strong GCSE/A-level outcomes. Applicants should have QTS and a relevant honors degree, with proven track record in religious studies or philosophy.

Qualifications

• QTS and a relevant honors degree are required.
• Proven record of delivering GCSE and A-Level outcomes.
• Experience with curriculum design and assessment moderation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and mentoring ability.

Responsibilities

• Teach RS, Philosophy, and Ethics across KS3-5 with rigor.
• Lead whole-faculty coaching on essay design and textual analysis.
• Audit schemes of work to embed critical thinking and global worldviews.
• Analyze assessment data to plan revision sessions and mock exams.
• Mentor early-career teachers and conduct peer lesson reviews.
• Oversee extra-curricular philosophy clubs and inter-faith dialogue.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Essay mentoring

Peer mentoring

Curriculum design

Assessment moderation

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Honours degree in Philosophy/Theology/Religious Studies

Job description

A progressive secondary academy in Exeter, Devon, is seeking an engaging Lead Practitioner of Religious Education & Philosophy to drive evaluative essay writing, ethical debate, and academic rigor starting in January.

Job Overview

The Lead Practitioner will combine expert classroom delivery with strategic responsibility for whole-faculty pedagogy across Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Ethics. You will teach Key Stage 3 RE, GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics), and A-Level Religious Studies / Philosophy.

Working alongside senior leadership and humanities staff, you will model evidence-based teaching strategies, train teachers in non-confessional ethical instruction, and design whole-school moral and philosophical debate frameworks. This is a full-time, permanent position.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach intellectually rigorous Religious Studies and Philosophy lessons across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5

• Lead whole-faculty coaching on structured 12-mark and 20-mark evaluative essay design and textual criticism

• Audit schemes of work to embed critical thinking, contemporary moral dilemmas, and global worldviews

• Analyze assessment data across key stages to implement targeted revision sessions and mock exam interventions

• Mentor early-career humanities teachers, conducting peer lesson reviews and curriculum checks

• Oversee extra-curricular philosophy clubs, inter-faith dialogues, and regional ethics competitions

Role Overview & Specifications

• Start Date: January

• Contract Type: Full-time, permanent contract

• Location: Exeter, Devon

• Key Curriculum: AQA / Edexcel Religious Studies & OCR Philosophy

Candidate Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with an honors degree in Philosophy, Theology, or Religious Studies

• Proven history of delivering top-tier GCSE and A-Level Religious Studies or Philosophy outcomes

• Experience in peer mentoring, curriculum design, or humanities assessment moderation

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with strong essay-mentoring capability

• An active enhanced DBS check on the Update Service (or willingness to apply)