Vacancies
Recruitment Information
To ensure that St Mary's meets its commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children and young people, the following recruitment practices and procedures are used in compliance with all statutory guidance including Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023) and Disclosure and Barring Service code of practice.
Short-listing of candidates will be against the person specification of the post.
Prior to interview, the school will:
- Seek two references, one of which must be the current/ most recent employer, for all shortlisted candidates.
- Undertake an 'online presence' check for all shortlisted candidates (KCSIE 2023 p55) - including social media and wider google searches. Shortlisted candidates will be asked for social media handles to support us in narrowing these searches. Any concerns will be addressed with candidates.
All offers of employment are conditional until the satisfactory completion of the following mandatory pre-employment checks (KCSIE 2023, p57):
- Identity check and verification
- Enhanced DBS Check
- Overseas Criminal Checks (where the candidate has lived or worked in another country for more than 3 months, since the age of 18)
- Right to Work in UK verification
- Verify candidate's mental and physical fitness to carry out their work duties.
KS1 or 2 Class Teacher (ideally a superhero!)
“Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”
St. Mary's Church of England Primary School sits in the hustle and bustle of the City Centre of Southampton - neighbouring Saint Mary's Stadium. Ours is a rich history, being one of the oldest schools in Hampshire, and we continue today to accelerate the life-chances of children within this historic port city.
For over 180 years, St. Mary's has served the community with stable, strong leaders who empower adults and children to become the very best they can be. This was evidenced clearly in our recent inspection where Ofsted graded the school to be 'outstanding' in every category. But school's are MORE than inspections, and our drive is now to take the mission of 'being the best version of yourself' beyond our school gates, and out into the City.
St. Mary's is the founding partner of 'St Mary's Partnership' - a collective of schools working together to improve the educational landscape. Across our group, we share leaders, teachers and curriculum innovation in a forum that enables teachers to deliver an education that places the child front-and-centre of their learning.
What makes us different?
Our people. Whilst some schools fixate on finding and appointing candidates with impressive qualifications, we choose new entrants based on their attitude and disposition. It is this, derived from their background and personal grit and determination that enables children under them to thrive.
Our investment in the future - EDTech. We spend every penny possible on improving the Quality of Education for our young people. In the last year, all schools in the Partnership have bought and use VR headsets. Virtual reality helps us to level the playing field. It enables children to experience trips that aren't otherwise possible: a walk around Machu Picchu or to travel to 1835 and understand what living conditions were like during the Industrial Revolution. Recently, we have begun to embrace and grapple with AI - teachers utilise it when creating models for learning and reports for children.
Our commitment to continued professional development. Leaders at our school do not sit around in offices distant from the children we serve. Every minute counts and to that end, you will notice coaching and development alive and a tenet of what we do. If teachers are to thrive - they need a champion too!
Curriculum Delivery
We utilise a curriculum called 'Lion Pathways'. A set of learning created and curated for teachers from some of the most talented and excellent subject teaching experts in their field. Over 800 lessons across all of the non-core are planned and ready for delivery. Teachers are asked to innovate and amend for classes to suit individual needs. The pathways curriculum began with our Executive Headteacher when he worked for a Trust in London. This is not an off the shelf model.
- We stream children for Reading and Writing and Maths from Year 1 to Year 6. This reduces workload for teachers and ensures that they can concentrate on developing and supporting outcomes at the ability-band a child has. It also creates experts in fields - such as SEND teachers and Greater Depth specialists.
- We teach children in mixed ability for non-core in the afternoon. Ensuring that teachers have that breadth and knowledge of a range of children within their year group.
- We plan exciting, brilliant trips. Every child goes to London, every year! We offer Arts and Music based visits as often as we see them and all children benefit from local field trips for History and Geography. Learning is connected schematically to widen children's horizons.
- Everybody is a teacher of every child. Since September 2023, we have begun 'Vertical tutoring' twice weekly. Children from Year 1 to Year 6 mix for a 1 hour session where they learn about mindfulness, vote within the Smart School Council and develop relationships and friendships with peers across the school.
Investing in PEOPLE
Whilst you've scrolled down, and hopefully liked what you have read, we are by no means perfect. We continue to evolve, develop and curate what we do to support every single person within our team.
Since February 2024, we've invested in the CALM app. Every staff member employed has the opportunity to download the full-subscription for free (and to share this with up to 5 people in their household). We recognise that there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to mental health and, since the pandemic, we all need to look after ourselves in different ways. The app isn't a golden bullet, but it does offer a mix of things to support staff in their home lives - sleeping, meditation, daily affirmations, music and more.
We encourage you to be the teacher you want to be. Whether that's through NPQ courses, Maths development you are interested in, Masters study or more! We can only be as successful as the people we have in the team.
Teacher Wellbeing at St. Mary's:
- We offer paid leave for two days during the year.
- We support staff with the CALM app and supervision.
- Every teacher is entitled to an additional 1 hour of PPA each week.
- Tea, Coffee and Milk are on us!
- We support growth - and will pay towards courses and university study.
Being a teacher at St. Mary's:
- We are a close team despite our size. Year groups have nice close-knit relationships and are very sociable.
- The team like to have down-time - there's football matches, nights out and the like. You won't be entering a distant/hostile teaching environment.
- We have a staffroom recently refurbished and a roof terrace (the school's old rooftop playground) that the governors turned into a wellbeing garden for staff - this includes seating, wifi etc for you to take advantage of during the year.
Information about your application:
- We encourage tours and for you to come and see the school and how we do things. Call Dani (School Business Manager) or email on: info@stmaryspri.org.uk
- Your interview shouldn't be a stressful experience. All shortlisted candidates receive our questions, ahead of interview, so that you can bring with you the notes and information you wish to share.
- Applications can only be received from those living in UK or with a right to work in the UK. We are a local authority maintained school and cannot support those with visa applications.
- We follow Safer Recruitment Guidance as well as Keeping Children Safe in Education updates.
Closing date for applications: 24th May 2024
Reception Year Lead & Teacher
St. Mary’s Church of England Primary and Nursery was judged by Ofsted to be 'outstanding' in all areas in October 2023: “The early years staff are highly skilled at developing children’s language and communication skills” recognising the incredible work of our team in introducing those fundamental building blocks for life.
We now seek a visionary leader to join as our Reception Lead. To manage the year group (two teachers, an unqualified teacher and our early years practioners) and to bring a new flavour to our setting so that our youngest children continue to thrive in our outstanding setting. Our vision and philosophy sits around three tenants that permeate everything we do:
- High Expectations
- No excuses
- Whatever it takes
Information about our school:
We are a large (three-form-entry) primary school situated by the city centre of Southampton. We serve a diverse community with over three-quarters of our pupils speaking English as an additional language (86%). We are exceptionally proud of the diverse nature of our pupil demographic - knowing that through an extraordinary education, we are shaping the life-chances of these children, their families and the community.
We are an aspirational school, but one that values our staff and builds capacity to develop exceptional leaders. We work across a partnership of schools, with St. Mary’s as the nucleus. Meaning that you will find yourself in the driving seat of not just your own team, but a wider group of schools too. We are a very well-resourced and a recently renovated school.
Our offer to every teacher:
- Bespoke professional development opportunities.
- Cutting-edge technology for the planning and delivery of lessons. Use of multi-collaboration platforms to simplify the process of lesson planning.
- A device to help your planning, preparation and assessment.
- A ‘Staff wellbeing charter’ with perks including, a paid days leave throughout the year for personal wellbeing. A commitment to reduce planning.
- The introduction of a new curriculum for non-core subjects that includes the sequential planning, learning resources and visuals.
How does the team work?
We have an Executive Headteacher and a Head of School, under which sits a leadership team and our Year Leads. You will join this established team who meet regularly, and who are each encouraged to have a voice for continued improvement at the school. Your role is pivotal as you bring to the table that insight into the most crucial stage of development of a child.
What is the vision for EYFS?
We are motivated by people who believe that there shouldn’t be a ceiling limit placed on any child’s potential; by leaders who are visionary and want to build a learning culture in their year team that enables our most vulnerable learners to thrive! Our setting exudes awe and wonder in a space where child development is initiated by the young person, their interests and ideas.
EYFS at St. Mary’s:
Our EYFS combines a Nursery and Reception provision. The curriculum is built around core texts which are chosen by staff, and that form the basis of captivating and bringing awe-and-wonder into the setting. We have ‘special moments’ which celebrate success and children’s work. These include moments where pupils can talk about their learning, at their level, in a way that helps to guide self-directed learning.
Our approach to assessment is bespoke and is not onerous to staff. We have moments planned in to ensure key-worker children have the opportunity to meet their next target.
Application information:
Your interview day is a mutual process aligned to helping you to decide if this is the school to advance your career in.
We aim to make the day as supportive as possible. Any questions pre or post application can be sent to Georgia Patel (Assistant Headteacher) at: georgia.patel@stmaryspri.org.uk
We welcome visits to our school and to see our unique setting.
Class Early Career Teacher
Are you looking to begin your career in an environment focused on doing whatever-it-takes to help vulnerable children be the best they can possibly be?
St. Mary’s Partnership of three schools works closely together, across the city of Southampton, changing the life-chances of over 1500 children.
St. Mary’s is a 3-form-entry primary that serves the St Mary’s ward of Southampton’s City Centre. Our demographics are very different – of 612 pupils over 81% speak English as a second language. Almost 60% of our children are eligible for free school meals. Our families travel distances across the world before arriving.
Mason Moor is a 1-form-entry primary in Millbrook – on the west side of the city. We serve an increasingly diverse population, on the doorstep of the General Hospital. Over 55% of our children receive free school meals.
Valentine is a 3-form-entry primary that sits in Sholing – east of the city. It is a large primary school of almost 600 pupils from Reception to Year 6. Over half of the pupils attending are in receipt of free school meals
The successful candidate will be presented with the opportunity to progress within the school if demonstrating the right impact.
We are very keen to receive applications from early career teachers as we know they add a dynamic to school that will support our continued growth and development.
Our offer to every teacher:
• Bespoke professional development opportunities.
• Cutting-edge technology for the planning and delivery of lessons. Use of multi-collaboration platforms to simplify the process of lesson planning.
• A device to help your planning, preparation and assessment.
• A ‘Staff wellbeing charter’ with perks including, a paid days leave throughout the year for personal wellbeing. A commitment to reduce planning.
• The introduction of a new curriculum for non-core subjects that includes the sequential planning, learning resources and visuals.
• A feedback policy that focuses on providing children with a dialogue to support improvement - not onerous marking!
Application information:
For further information on how to apply for the role and a candidate information pack please look under the vacancies section of the school websites or contact the school operations manager at k.brown@smpartnership.org.uk
Your interview day is a mutual process aligned to helping you to decide if this is the school to advance your career in. We aim to make the day as supportive as possible. Any questions pre or post application along with the application form should be sent can be sent to Kevin Brown, our school business manager. (kevin.brown@stmaryspri.org.uk).
NQTs/ECTs Interview: To be decided based on your schedule.
Start Date: July 2024
Tours with the Headteacher are welcomed and can be arranged via email.
On behalf of our governing body, and staff, we look forward to hearing from you.
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to satisfactory references, health checks and DBS clearance.
PA to the Executive Headteacher
Are you looking for a role that is both challenging and enables you to support the Executive Headteacher and leadership teams across three schools in Southampton to deliver a high quality of education to young people?
At St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, we live, work and learn through a shared dedication of striving to be ‘the best versions of ourselves’.
We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic, talented, and motivated PA to join our team.
We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with the following skillset:
- An ability to work under pressure, in an environment that demands the best from you to enable young people to be successful.
- A commitment to the school community, one where you will be present and able to impart the knowledge and skills pupils need to thrive!
- Ideally have a background in education but not essential as full training will be given.
Information about the role:
Manage the Executive Headteacher diary and input/check off weekly what needs doing.
Take minutes of meetings for SLT.
Support the leadership teams and lift the administrative workload from them.
Hold a full driving license and have their own vehicle to cover across three schools
Application information:
We warmly encourage you to visit our school to meet the children and staff. Please telephone the school to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.
For further information on the roles contact Kevin Brown on 02380 223930
Completed application and online presence check forms should be returned to: recruitment@stmaryspri.org.uk
Initial Teacher Training (PGCE)
Are you interested in training to become a qualified teacher? We regularly offer training places through our partnership with the University of Southampton Education School.
Find out more by contacting the university:
visiting their webpages:
www.southampton.ac.uk/learntoteach
or coming to an Open Evening at the university: