Head of Religious Education (RE)

Location: Cottenham Village College, Cambridgeshire
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (Part-time considered)
Start Date: April or September
Salary: MPS/UPS + TLR (dependent on experience)

Head of Religious Education 

Cottenham Village College is on an ambitious journey to become one of the highest-performing schools in the country. We are building a culture of excellence: calm, scholarly, and relentlessly focused on great teaching, strong curriculum, and exceptional outcomes for every student.

We are now seeking an outstanding Head of Religious Education to work directly with the Principal and senior leadership team to make RE a defining strength of the school.

This is not a head of subject role. This is a chance to build something exceptional.

The Vision for RE at CVC

At CVC, Religious Education will sit at the heart of our curriculum offer:

• RE will be a core GCSE subject
• It will be intellectually rigorous, knowledge-rich and beautifully sequenced
• It will develop scholars who can think critically, write precisely, and engage deeply with philosophical, ethical and theological ideas

We want RE to become one of the subjects CVC is known for nationally.

The Role

As Head of RE, you will:

• Design and lead an ambitious, coherent RE curriculum from KS3 to GCSE
• Make RE one of the strongest departments in the school — academically and culturally
• Galvanise and develop a team of RE teachers around high expectations and excellent classroom practice
• Drive outstanding outcomes for all pupils, regardless of starting point
• Work closely with senior leaders to shape whole-school culture and curriculum quality

You will have genuine influence, strong support, and the opportunity to build a department that sets the standard.

We Are Looking for Someone Who:

• Is an exceptional classroom teacher with a deep passion for RE
• Believes RE should be academically powerful, not a bolt-on subject
• Has the ambition to build a nationally respected department
• Sets uncompromising standards for behaviour, scholarship and outcomes
• Can inspire both staff and students with clarity, warmth and purpose
• Is excited to work as part of a driven, united leadership team

Leadership experience is welcome but not essential — what matters most is excellence, ambition, and the ability to lead others to it.

Why Join CVC?

• A school with a clear, bold vision and high expectations
• Strong leadership support and real opportunities for impact
• A knowledge-rich curriculum and calm, focused classrooms
• Investment in staff development and leadership growth
• The chance to shape something special from the ground up

Questions?

• If you are interested and would like an informal conversation with Adam Scourfield - the incoming Principal then please contact Sharon O’Mullane - sharon.omullane@astreacottenham.org to arrange a phone call/team meeting.

Closing Date: 22/02/2026

We welcome early applications and may close the vacancy once we have appointed the right candidate—apply today!

Interested in Applying?

If you are passionate about education, looking for a fresh opportunity, or simply want to make a positive impact, we would love to hear from you. Take a look at the job description and candidate pack to find out more about the role and how to apply or contact our recruitment team at recruitment@astreaacademytrust.org.

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and enhanced DBS checks. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in our workforce. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to promoting a culture that ensures there are no barriers to the recruitment, development, and progression of disabled staff across the trust. We provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

Flexible Interview Dates:

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window. Apply today to avoid disappointment and become a part of our mission to create a positive impact!

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!