Head of Religious Studies

Location

Epsom, Surrey | United Kingdom

Job description

Head of Religious Studies

Start Date: September 2024

Teaching Department: Religious Studies

Reporting to: Deputy Head, Academic

Overview of Epsom College

Epsom College is an inspiring place to work, renowned for delivering an excellent all-round education to 1,100 girls and boys aged 11-18. We are proud to have been judged ‘Independent School of the Year 2023’ and named by The Sunday Times as the “UK’s Most Improved School” in its 2024 Parent Power league tables.  

The College has grown significantly in the past 7 years, with pupil numbers rising 38% as the result of the opening of our Lower School in 2016, and strong growth throughout the rest of the College. We admit pupils into Years 7, 9, and 12, with an average of five applicants for every space.  

Epsom is a happy school. The College values of kindness, ambition and integrity are at heart of all that we do. Almost all our pupils remain with us for their A-levels, and staff retention is equally strong. Around 60% of staff live onsite, which lends the College a sense of community and togetherness.  

From 8am until 6pm, our 72-acre campus is alive with learning; academic lessons also take place on Saturday mornings meaning that pupils have time each day to learn and develop outside the classroom. Our co-curricular programme – which features a vast array of clubs, societies and activities each week – is award-winning (picking up the ‘Best of the Best’ accolade from The Week for six consecutive years); our CCF is one of the largest in the UK; and our Duke of Edinburgh programme currently has over 100 pupils completing their Gold or Silver award.   

In addition, our timetable features wellbeing lessons, an award-winning Personal Social Development offering, and an hour each week for volunteering in the community. Last year Epsom pupils gave 8,500 hours of their time to help local charities, schools, and community groups.  

When pupils aren’t busy with all of the above, they can relax and catch up with friends in their House. We have 13 single-sex Houses for all our pupils from Year 9 upwards (whether they are day pupils or boarders). This combination of single sex accommodation within a co-ed environment provides pupils with the best of both worlds.

The fact our Houses are physical buildings, where pupils can step through the door into a space that’s entirely their own, is key to the success of our pastoral programme. The Carnegie Centre for Excellence in Mental Health in Schools honoured us with their Gold Award – making us one of just four UK boarding school to receive their top accolade – and in 2023 we were judged Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing. 

Sport is central to the College. Last year, we won national titles in Squash, Tennis, Rugby and Shooting; and reached the national finals in Hockey, Golf and Swimming. Over 22 sports are offered to our pupils, and the aim is to encourage participation for all – we regularly field D and E teams, and see an average of 90% of pupils playing competitive fixtures. 

Our focus on delivering an all-round education that develops the whole child, is regularly celebrated. In the past four years, in both the TES and Independent School of the Year Awards, we have been a finalist in the categories of Boarding School of The Year, Co-Ed School of the Year, SLT of the Year, Creativity in Teaching, Student Wellbeing, Community Initiative, and Sporting Achievement.   

It is an exciting time to be joining the College, with Mark Lascelles taking up the Headship from September 2024.   

We hope that you will want to come and join the fantastic teachers and support staff who work here.   

Head of Religious Studies

An inspirational Head of department is required for our flourishing department of 4 teachers for September 2024. This is an exceptional leadership opportunity for an inspirational and ambitious Head of Department. Epsom is strongly committed to staff development and this significant middle management role would suit a candidate wishing to progress to a Senior Leadership post in the future. 

Characteristics of the Department

A highly skilled and passionate team of teachers promote the study of Religious Studies throughout the school. Within the team, the Chaplain and Assistant Chaplain are fully involved in the teaching of Religious Studies up to and including A level, contributing fully to the life of the department and outstanding academic outcomes. As you can imagine, Religious Studies is embedded throughout the College and is very much at the heart of the College’s values. An exciting and varied total curriculum contribution is provided by the department which includes international trips to Rome and Amsterdam along with other UK destinations, the publication of an annual magazine that is written and edited by students, Philosophy Society (which enjoys great success across all age ranges), and the Religious Studies Film Club. The department also contributes strongly to the Oxbridge preparation of pupils, enjoying regular success.

The department teaches Edexcel A level Religious Studies and currently opts for the Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics, and New Testament Studies papers. Each year approximately 20-25 pupils opt for the subject at A level, with our current total Religious Studies Sixth Form numbers standing at 46 students across Year 12 and Year 13. In 2023, 95% of students achieved A* to B.

At GCSE, students follow AQA Specification A in Years 10 and 11, opting for Christianity and Judaism in Component 1A and Religious Themes (excluding textual studies) in Component 2A. The 2 themes that are not taught in GCSE Religious Studies classes are taught as part of the statutory Religious Education for these year groups (please see below). On average, between 70 – 80 pupils opt to study Religious Studies GCSE each year which is testament to the support they receive and the excellent academic gained at the end of the course. In 2023, 91% of pupils achieved a 7 or higher at GCSE.

In addition to this, the department teaches statutory Religious Education from Year 7 to Year 11 with provision in Year 10 and Year 11 supplementing the optional GCSE AQA Religious Studies course.

Epsom College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment . 

Anyone wishing to discuss these details further may contact Rebecca Brown, Deputy Head: Academic, by email: [email protected]

Candidates are asked to complete an online Application Form available from our website along with a letter of application and submit these as soon as possible. Applications will be assessed in order of receipt and interviews and subsequent offer may occur at any stage after applications are received. We therefore invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. 

Please contact Vikki Stroud, Recruitment and HR Manager, with any queries regarding the application process on 01372 821000 [email protected]

The closing date for applications is 9am 18th March 2024

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