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Academy Riddlesdown Collegiate, Croydon

Required September 2023

Salary TCT1 £32,407 – TCT14 £48,055

Closing Date Tuesday 2nd May 2023 (at 9.00am)

Interviews tbc

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the post of Teacher of Religion and Worldviews. I hope that this information
pack will help you to learn more about our fantastic school and that you will be excited about the prospect
of joining our excellent team.

Riddlesdown Collegiate is an outstanding school (OFSTED, May 2016) with a clear vision to deliver successful
outcomes and positive futures for all of our students. They are bright, well-motivated and a pleasure to work
with, whilst our staff are talented, hard-working and ambitious for themselves and others. Our superb
facilities enable us to provide the very best learning environment and learning experiences for our students
and it is the combination of these factors that leads to the high academic standards and enviable reputation
that The Collegiate Trust is known for. I am very proud of what we do and what we have achieved at the
Collegiate and, as a World Class School, I hold the highest aspirations for what we will do and achieve in the
future. You might like to watch our Welcome, College VI and Teaching at Our School videos.

Whether you are at the very beginning of your career or are looking to develop your experience, Riddlesdown
Collegiate is a great place for professional growth. ECTs benefit from a paid induction period, prior to
appointment, and a well-established programme of support throughout the year, whilst more experienced
colleagues have many opportunities to develop skills and extend their professional learning through an
extensive and varied programme of professional development. Our aim in all appointments is to appoint
colleagues who will share our aspirations and make a major contribution to building the best life chances for
our students.

In applying to Riddlesdown Collegiate, you will need to understand our “small schools” model and your
potential role within it. Our VALUES underpin the way in which we work and describe our high expectations
and our emphasis on positive relationships across the Collegiate. Our motto, “Learners of today, Leaders of
tomorrow”, applies as much to staff as it does to students and it gives an indication of the significance we
place on nurturing talent and leadership. I shall make a presentation to shortlisted candidates at the start of
the interview day to illustrate our structure further and outline our requirements for all colleagues who work
with us.

I would be delighted to receive an application from you if, upon consideration, you feel that this role and the
Collegiate may be right for you. To submit an application, please complete the form on our website, attaching
where requested a statement of no more than two sides of A4, identifying clearly how you meet the person
specification. If you have any further questions about this post, I would be pleased to speak with you; please
feel free to telephone me at the Collegiate.

Yours sincerely

Mrs K Turner
Principal

Key Information

We operate a “small schools” model – one school made

up of a number of smaller learning communities, which

we call Colleges, each with their own staff and facilities.

Each College is led by its own Headteacher (who is an

Assistant Principal) and has its own team of

approximately 25 teachers and non-teachers, covering

most curriculum areas. Students join one of the Colleges

in Year 7 and remain there for five years before

transferring to College VI, our specialist post-16

provision. In addition, the Creative and Performing Arts

(CPA) College delivers specialist education to students

across the Collegiate in Art, Drama, Design Technology,

Media, Music and Physical Education whilst the MacKay

College co-ordinates inclusion services to students with

additional needs. Small teams, working with just 400

students each, allow us to provide even better pastoral care to all students, as well as engage with learners

and their families in more effective partnerships. They also provide teaching across the curriculum and

learning teams focusing on personalised approaches and best serving the needs of the individual students in

their care.

Information about The Collegiate Trust

Our Trust works in the Crawley and Croydon areas with a clear vision to deliver exceptional education for all.

Such an education achieves excellent outcomes in pupil progress and attainment, a rich creative, cultural

and physical learning experience, and great personal and social development for all pupils. We achieve this

by working with and developing strong teams of staff in each school, under the direction of the Principal of

the school and the Local Governing Body (LGB)

The Trust has grown out of Riddlesdown Collegiate, an outstanding (OFSTED, May 2016) secondary school

in Croydon with almost 2000 students and over 200 staff. Gossops Green, in Crawley, was the next school –

and the first primary – to join the Trust, followed by Waterfield Primary (also in Crawley) on 1st March 2018.

A second secondary, The Quest Academy (in Croydon), joined on 1st June 2018 and two further primaries,

Courtwood Primary and Gilbert Scott Primary (both in Croydon) joined on 1st September 2018. Most recently,

Kenley Primary joined on 1st September 2021.

Each school within the Trust is supported centrally by a designated Director of School Improvement on

teaching and learning issues, the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer & HR Manager on business

management and HR issues, and the CEO on wider leadership issues. This complements rather than replaces

in-school functions and allows the Principal and LGB to operate with a high level of autonomy in delivering

the highest standards in their school. The LGB works to a Scheme of Delegation approved by the Trust’s

Board of Directors.

Our Values

Our ethos is to be a community in which all members are valued and value each other. We are the leaders

of the Riddlesdown community, responsible for our learning and the Collegiate. We work together to

maximise our own achievement and those of others. In applying for a post at Riddlesdown Collegiate,

applicants should consider how they would promote our values in their day-to-day work with students,

colleagues and other stakeholders.

Value each other

Aim high

Lead by example

Use and develop our talents

Excel in our efforts

Stick at it

Our Students

The vast majority of our students join the Collegiate in Year 7 with above average attainment. Behaviour is

outstanding and our students consistently demonstrate their desire to learn and to achieve. They enjoy

coming to school (attendance is over 95%)

and enjoy lessons where they can explore,

investigate and feel challenged by their

learning. They equally value the

opportunities they have to learn outside of

the classroom and we are proud of the

extensive and varied extra-curricular

programme that our students enjoy and

benefit from. It is these additional, high

quality learning experiences, together with

a strong set of academic qualifications that

we believe provides our students with the

very best chances of success in their future

lives.

Religion and Worldviews at Riddlesdown Collegiate

Religion and beliefs inform our values and are reflected in what we say and how we behave. For this reason,
at Riddlesdown Collegiate, Religion and Worldviews (RW) remains a core subject, with all students being
taught across Key Stages 3 and 4, culminating in GCSE examination. Our aim is for students to develop moral
awareness and social understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society.
We strive to ensure that students have an understanding of religion, and actively debate challenging
questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, issues of right and wrong, and what it
means to be human.

As a subject area, the department has seen considerable advance in recent years and examination results at
GCSE have placed us amongst the best in the Collegiate. Historically, outcomes are well above the national
average and in 2022, 84% of candidates attained GCSE, with many students achieving Grade 8 or above (full
details of which can be found on the Collegiate website). There is a strong team ethos, with the department
currently housing four full-time teachers as well as a part-time member of staff. Schemes of work and
lessons are in place, alongside numerous resources, and there is an excellent cross-curricular relationship.
All programmes of study, lessons and assessments are regularly updated in line with the latest developments
in Religion and Worldviews teaching and government reform. Curriculum Development Time allows practice
to remain current and exciting. In addition, links to religion in wider society are made through extra-
curricular trips and visits from local religious leaders and outreach speakers; past events have included
Holocaust survivor talks, Diwali workshops, Muslim and Christian seminars, Humanist debates and charity
initiatives.

At KS3, Year 7 students study Religion and Worldviews through the Excellence Curriculum – an integrated
approach which also delivers Geography, History and PSHCE, and simultaneously develops strong learning
habits and approaches to support students as they progress. In Year 8, RW sees four taught lessons per
fortnight. Topics covered include beliefs and practice of the main world religions, as well as profiles of
important individuals and analysis of scriptures from the major faiths. The curriculum intent is to provide a
balanced and coherent content whilst providing students with the best possible foundation of knowledge,
understanding and skills to take forward to GCSE. Within RW, Year 8 students are encouraged to develop
links with society through a Citizenship element, which is reflective of both the ethos of the Collegiate and
the Riddlesdown VALUES. This element provides insight of social awareness and what it means to be British.

All students in Year 9 begin study for their GCSE exam, which they will sit at the end of Year 10. The GCSE
course gives students the opportunity to study two world religions in detail where students examine the key
features of Christianity and Islam, compare their similarities and differences, and consider the role they have
in the world today. Students also learn the values and traditions that form the basis of these religions and
how they approach the moral issues which are evident in modern societies. In addition to these religious
beliefs, students are required to consider non-religious and humanist views.

Through Religion and Worldviews, we seek to deliver a creative and inspiring curriculum, enabling all
students to enjoy and achieve. As the German philosopher, Karl Schlegel wrote, “religion is not only a part
of education, an element of humanity, but the centre of everything else, always the first and the ultimate,
the absolutely original”.

Job Description

Purpose of the Post: To teach a full timetable across the age and ability range of the

College, delivering agreed Schemes of Work and contributing
fully to the subject area and College.

Accountable to: Head of College

PRINCIPAL ACOUNTABILITIES

Curricular Leadership

i. To teach an agreed timetable.
ii. To prepare and deliver effective lessons, ensuring regular assessment informs all aspects of planning.

iii. To contribute fully to collaborative development and improvement within the subject area, College
and Collegiate.

Pastoral Leadership

i. To be a form tutor within the College, monitoring and supporting the academic and social
development of members of a Tutor Group.

ii. To undertake duties at the direction of the College Head.
iii. To promote and safeguard the welfare of all children and/or young people for whom you are

responsible or with whom you come into contact with.

Professional Leadership

i. To participate in all performance management processes.
ii. Through line management arrangements, ensure professional developments needs are identified

and addressed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Good honours degree

Qualified Teacher Status

Experience

Effective working with young people of a range of ages and abilities

Evidence of making an effective contribution to a team

Skills and Attributes

Ability to deliver high quality learning over time to all students in the subject area

Ability to be an effective Tutor

Capacity to work alongside colleagues, contributing effectively to a team

Ability to quickly establish and maintain positive relationships with students, staff and families

Understanding of safeguarding issues and promoting the welfare of children and young people

Well-developed communication skills, including high level of written and oral literacy and competent ICT
use

Suitability to work with children

Potential for professional progression

Commitment to extra-curricular activities

The Collegiate Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and

expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post,
including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Appointment will be dependent upon further health, medical and attendance checks.

Staff Benefits

The Collegiate Trust is an exciting, fast-paced group of schools committed to progress, collaboration and
excellence for all staff and students alike. We are a dynamic and expanding trust of seven schools (two
secondaries with Sixth Form provision, and five primaries) with numerous and diverse career opportunities
for both new and existing staff.

All staff and governors, at every level of their career, in both teaching and business support functions, have
an equal entitlement to Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This promotes, develops and supports
staff in their shared commitment to lifelong learning. Results are reviewed and evaluated regularly in order
to support further development of our CPD programme and drive constant improvement.

Through expert facilitation, Trust-wide collaboration, inter-school networking, and our extensive CPD
programme, every member of staff has the opportunity to make substantial contributions to the
development of the curriculum, pedagogy and delivery of business services, whilst improving their own
prospects of career progression. We are committed to:-

• facilitating career progression

• offering excellent professional development

• providing opportunities to lead

• extending support from Trust experts

• developing collaborative opportunities to generate new and next practice
  

Other tangible benefits of working within a TCT school include1:-

Exceptional performance rewards Two-Week October Half Term (instead of 5 INSET days) Well-equipped Staff Rooms and Work Rooms in each College Excellent learning resources in classrooms Cutting-edge technology provision Staff Diner (delicious hot and cold meals every day) Free use of Fitness Suite Other fitness and wellbeing activities, e.g. Staff Football, Yoga, Spin, Staff Choir Free Flu Vaccination available Free Microsoft Office apps Potential for rapid pay progression on The Collegiate Trust scale Contribution to cost of Masters in Education Superb NQT Induction Programme including two-week paid training in June/July A designated delivery partner for the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) In partnership with St Mary’s University, facilitating the delivery of the MA Education, Leading

Innovation and Change

Individuals who are successful in their application to The Collegiate Trust join us at an exciting time. In return
for the opportunity to be part of our Trust, we ask that all joining members of staff share in our vision of
“Exceptional Education For All” and are motivated to work continuously towards developing their own
professional excellence.

1 At the time of publication, not all benefits available at every TCT school.

How to find us

By Car
Please see the map.
M25 J6 or J7 are 10-15 minutes drive.
Parking is available on and off site.

By Train
A direct train from Victoria to Riddlesdown
station takes 24 minutes. Riddlesdown
station is a short walk from the school.
Kenley station is also a short walk from the
school, over the common. Kenley has direct
trains from Victoria and London Bridge.
More frequent trains run from Purley
Station, where a 412 bus can be taken to
Lower Barn Road, leaving a 10 minute walk.

By Bus
On routes 407, 412, 612.

A Riddlesdown Collegiate
Honister Heights, Purley, CR8 1EX
T 020 8668 5136
E [email protected]
W www.riddlesdown.org