Core Purpose

As Prayer, Liturgy and Religious Education Lead, you will help shape the spiritual and academic life of our independent Catholic school. Your role is to nurture a community where prayer, worship, and high‑quality religious education sit at the heart of daily life. You will guide pupils and staff in deepening their relationship with Christ, ensure our prayer and liturgical life is vibrant and authentic, and lead a strong RE curriculum that reflects the Religious Education Directory To Know You More Clearly and the Prayer and Liturgy Directory To Love You More Dearly. Working closely with the Headteacher, clergy, staff, and families, you will help ensure our Catholic identity is lived joyfully and confidently throughout the school.

Key responsibilities – teacher of Religious Education

1. Religious Education Curriculum Leadership – Secondary RE teacher role

• Ensure the RE curriculum is faithful to the RED and sequenced for strong progression across all key stages.
• Oversee schemes of learning that are academically ambitious, creative, and accessible to all pupils.
• Ensure smooth progression from KS3 to GCSE, encouraging pupils to continue their study of RE where possible.
• Maintain compliance with exam board requirements and support excellent outcomes at GCSE
• Promote enrichment opportunities such as retreats, trips, speakers, and service projects.

2. Teaching and Learning- Secondary RE teacher role

• Promote consistently high‑quality teaching in RE by modelling lessons, sharing effective practice, and supporting staff development.
• Ensure teaching is rooted in strong subject knowledge and effective pedagogy.
• Set high expectations for pupil progress, engagement, and achievement.
• Support pupils in developing religious literacy, critical thinking, independence, and reflective skills.
• Celebrate pupils’ achievements through displays, assemblies, and wider school recognition.

3. Leading and Supporting Staff - Secondary RE teacher role

• Lead and support the RE department, ensuring clarity of roles and a shared sense of purpose.
• Run departmental meetings and professional learning sessions.
• Deploy staff effectively to meet curriculum needs.
• Provide training for staff on teaching RE and leading prayer and liturgy.
• Encourage staff engagement with diocesan networks and professional development.

Key Responsibilities – PLC role

1. Strategic Leadership

• Lead the school’s vision for prayer, liturgy, and religious education in a way that reflects our Catholic mission and the character of an independent school.
• Develop and oversee whole‑school policies for prayer, liturgy, and RE.
• Create and implement the annual plan for prayer and liturgy, alongside the RE improvement plan.
• Ensure the school meets diocesan expectations and maintains high standards in both RE and Catholic life.
• Work with senior leaders and governors to ensure RE is valued, well‑resourced, and given parity with other core subjects.
• Use school and diocesan data to monitor progress and shape future planning.

2. Prayer

• Establish a daily rhythm of prayer that is meaningful, age‑appropriate, and rooted in the liturgical year.
• Support staff and pupils in leading prayer with confidence.
• Ensure pupils learn key traditional prayers and understand their place in Catholic life.
• Provide creative and engaging prayer resources, including seasonal devotions such as the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and Marian celebrations.
• Help weave prayer naturally into the RE curriculum and wider school life.

3. Liturgy and Formation

• Plan and coordinate liturgical celebrations, including Mass and sacramental moments, ensuring they are reverent and true to Church teaching.
• Work closely with clergy to support high‑quality worship.
• Prepare pupils to take on liturgical ministries and develop their confidence in participating in worship.
• Offer formation for staff and pupils so they understand the meaning and structure of Catholic liturgy.
• Encourage pupils and staff to take ownership of worship appropriate to their stage and role.
• Attend diocesan training and share learning with colleagues.

4. Chaplaincy and Community

• Build strong relationships with local clergy, parishes, and chaplaincy teams.
• Encourage pupils to take part in chaplaincy or faith leadership groups.
• Support social action, charitable work, and care for creation as expressions of faith.
• Welcome parents and carers into the prayer life of the school and help them feel part of the community.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor the quality of prayer, liturgy, and RE through observations, pupil voice, work scrutiny, and data analysis.
• Gather feedback from pupils, staff, parents, and clergy to inform improvement.
• Report regularly to senior leaders and governors on strengths and areas for development.
• Lead self‑evaluation of Catholic life, prayer, liturgy, and RE in line with diocesan expectations.
• Use monitoring to shape training, resourcing, and future planning.

5. Personal Formation

• Show a genuine commitment to personal faith and ongoing spiritual growth.
• Model a joyful and authentic Catholic witness to pupils and staff.