Overview Head of Religious Studies at Outwood Grange Academy Start Date: 01/09/2026 Salary: Main Pay Scale 1 to Upper Pay Scale 3 - £32,916 to £51,048 with TLR 2.1 of £3,527 per annum. 32.5 hours per week. Full Time with part time applications considered. About The Role Outwood Grange Academy is seeking to appoint a committed and enthusiastic Head of Religious Studies. This is a unique opportunity to shape and strengthen our RS provision, and lead a team delivering an inspiring and engaging curriculum. The successful candidate will be an outstanding practitioner ready to take the next step in their career. Our RS curriculum spans KS3 Religious Studies and KS4 AQA GCSE, with opportunities to develop a KS5 offer. It is delivered by colleagues across various departments, offering students a rich and varied experience. As Head of RS, you will ensure that best practice is embedded and shared across the team. Alongside your own high-quality teaching, you will utilise data, monitor progress, and drive student achievement. You will engage with senior leaders, quality-assure classroom practice, and support the strategic vision of the academy. We are looking for a candidate with strong leadership skills and a genuine passion for delivering a rich curriculum in religion, philosophy, and ethics. Excellent subject knowledge, a commitment to student success, and the determination to make a lasting difference are essential. Above all, you will share our single goal: ‘students first.’ About The School Outwood Grange Academy is a Good rated, 11-18 academy based in the cathedral city of Wakefield, near Leeds from where the successful Outwood Grange Family was born; a Trust that has supported 41 schools across phases in the North of England. We have nurtured a school community that is welcoming and friendly, where students and staff can make excellent progress together, with a focus on creating a culture of success, a positive climate for learning, and increased attainment, achievement and social and emotional development. We believe our success speaks for itself as we are well above the national average for the number of students achieving at a Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. We are also proud to have been awarded Gold Status by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health Award. The successful candidate will be able to make a significant difference to the lives of our students and share our single goal of ‘Students First Raising Standards and Transforming Lives’. We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community, who love Religious Studies and have a passion to develop this in others.

If you have any further queries regarding the role, please contact the HR team at hr@grange.outwood.com

Responsibilities The Head of Department is responsible for communicating a clear purpose and vision while providing cohesive leadership and direction to the Department/Faculty. This leader models the Academy's values, promotes high standards through effective teaching, and is accountable for implementing the Department Development Plan/Self-Evaluation Form (SEF) to secure continuous improvement. They develop and sustain DEEP LEADERSHIP through line management of staff, overseeing department resources and budget, reviewing syllabuses, and conducting Performance Management Reviews.

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Qualifications Essential qualifications required are a Degree in the relevant subject and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Candidates must demonstrate a good understanding of their subject's secondary curriculum (Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5), knowledge of current departmental issues, and understanding of school improvement and Ofsted inspection programmes. Essential experience includes leading or supporting the leadership of a department, successful teaching across all key stages, and evidence of managing/leading a new initiative. Required skills encompass being an outstanding classroom practitioner with a clear vision, possessing outstanding relationships with students and staff, and the ability to analyze data to develop rapid improvement intervention strategies.

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About Us Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) places staff development at the heart of its strategy to deliver excellence, aiming to recruit, develop, and retain the best staff through the Outwood Institute of Education (OIE). What will we do for you? We offer a comprehensive package focused on career development, fair pay, and well-being:

Competitive Pay & Pension: Competitive salary, automatic pay progression, and enrolment in the Teachers' Pension Scheme. Professional Growth: Access extensive CPD, progression to Masters level, and development via the Outwood Institute of Education and National Institute of Teaching. Workload & Support: Committed to a manageable workload via our Workload Charter and guarantee a minimum of two hours of CPD each week. Wellbeing & Flexibility: Enhanced occupational leave, flexible family policies, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Take the next step in your professional journey and apply now to access these exceptional development and system-wide impact opportunities.

Further Information on employee benefits can be found Click Here To find our more about working for Outwood and to read a message from our CEO please Click Here

Note: If applying from an external job board, please click 'Apply' to access the working links on the Outwood Careers page Please note, we reserve the right to close advertisements early, either on the advertised closing date, or sooner if required. Outwood Grange Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children. #J-18808-Ljbffr