About the Role

Join St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School

Rather than simply telling you about our school, we invite you to hear from those who know us best:

“All the staff go above and beyond… they inspire children to be the best that they can be.”
(Parent)

“A warm, welcoming and inclusive school… you can feel the positive atmosphere as soon as you walk in.”
(School Improvement Partner)

At St Catherine of Siena, we are blessed with a thriving, diverse and deeply supportive community where children, staff and families work together to ensure that every child experiences “life in all its fullness” in a happy, safe and aspirational environment.

Visitors consistently comment on the strong sense of belonging, the warmth of relationships and the palpable commitment to every child flourishing both academically and spiritually.

Why Join Us?

St Catherine’s is a popular, oversubscribed one-form entry primary school with a growing Key Stage 2 cohort, with bulge cohorts (two classes in Years 5 and 6 for the next academic year). Rooted in a strong Catholic ethos, we nurture the whole child—spiritually, emotionally and academically—ensuring pupils are confident, compassionate and well-prepared for the next stage of their journey.

Our pupils learn within an encouraging environment with a rich and broad curriculum, where they are supported to grow, achieve and develop into well-rounded individuals.

Set within extensive and beautiful grounds, our unique learning environment includes a chapel, library, school farm and school dog, all of which enrich the daily experience of both pupils and staff.

Conveniently located on the outskirts of Watford, we benefit from excellent transport links to London and surrounding areas.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional, enthusiastic and ambitious Key Stage 2 teacher to join our vibrant and forward-thinking team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a teacher who:

• Is passionate about delivering high-quality teaching and learning
• Has, or would like to develop, expertise in Upper Key Stage 2
• Is motivated to take the next step in their career

For the right candidate, there is significant scope for leadership and career progression, including:

• Core subject leadership
• Phase leadership
• Opportunities to contribute to whole-school improvement
• A clear pathway towards Senior Leadership

Whether you are an aspiring leader or ready to take on wider responsibility, we are committed to investing in your development and supporting your professional ambitions.  Although a fixed-term contract, there is scope for this to become a permanent contract for the right candidate.

A Culture of Excellence and Care

At St Catherine’s, we are deeply committed to providing:

• Excellent teaching and strong pupil outcomes
• A rich, ambitious and inclusive curriculum
• A focus on personal development, wellbeing and enrichment

Our children benefit from hands-on learning, outdoor provision and a breadth of experiences that extend far beyond the classroom, supporting their curiosity, confidence and love of learning.

Staff Wellbeing and Benefits

We truly value our staff and recognise that they are at the heart of our success. We offer:

• A highly supportive and collaborative team culture
• Protected and purposeful PPA time – Friday afternoons, with an early finish for pupils
• Opportunities for collaborative working and shared planning
• A strong focus on staff wellbeing, including:
• ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’
• Flexible PPA arrangements (including off-site opportunities)
• A positive, trusting and respectful working environment

All staff are paid at least the Living Wage Foundation National Living Wage, reflecting our commitment to fairness and valuing our team.

Part of a High-Performing Trust (DOWAT)

As a member of the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust (DOWAT), you will benefit from being part of a high-performing, values-driven network of schools.

DOWAT is recognised for:

• A strong commitment to professional development at every career stage
• Extensive opportunities for CPD, leadership development and career progression
• Collaboration through subject and leadership networks across the Trust
• A clear moral purpose: achieving excellence while developing the whole person

This means you will be supported not just within our school, but across a wider community of professionals dedicated to excellence in Catholic education.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At St Catherine of Siena, diversity, equity and inclusion are central to who we are, as exemplified by our Equity, Diversion and Inclusion Quality Mark (EDIQM) award. We celebrate the richness of our community and are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.

We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all faiths or none.

Come and Visit Us

The best way to experience St Catherine’s is to visit us. We would be delighted to welcome you and show you our wonderful school in action.

Please contact:
g.phipps@st-catherine.herts.sch.uk
or call 01923 676022 to arrange a visit or request further details.

Additional Information

• We reserve the right to close this advertisement early should strong applications be received
• Applications must be made using the CES application form
• Non-Catholic applicants are not required to provide a priest’s reference