HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S FEDERATION
HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S KNIGHTS ACADEMY
JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION
HEAD OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Job Title:
Head of Religious Education
Responsible to:
Head of Humanities
Background information
The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Academy Federation in South East London, was established
by the Haberdashers’ Company in 2005. This served to increase the availability of the
nationally recognised Aske’s ‘brand’ of education to more students and to make wider
use of the strengths that Aske’s has to offer. The vision for the Federation is that it will
be comprised of three all-through 3-18 schools. The lead school, Hatcham College is
located in Lewisham and currently has over 1700 pupils on roll aged 3-18. Knights
Academy in Downham currently has over 1200 pupils aged 11-18 and discussions are
currently taking place to include a primary phase, possibly for 2010. The new Crayford
Academy has 208 pupils aged 3-11 and is unique in that the primary phase precedes the
secondary. The new secondary phase will be completed for September 2011 and the allthrough school will eventually accommodate over 1400 pupils aged 3-18.
The three Academies are run as separate schools within the close knit context of
Federation. Each has its own Principal who reports to the over-arching Chief Executive
of the Federation, Dr E M Sidwell CBE. The Federation has a single Governing Body as
well as a single Federation Chief Financial Officer. Extended services such as Facilities,
HR, ICT, Catering are also delivered ‘in house’ across the Federation.
Each of the schools within the Federation is distinguished by its own specialisms,
Hatcham - Music / ICT, Knights – Sport / ICT and Crayford – Technology / ICT.
The Aske’s vision is one where all students in the Federation are inspired to reach their
full potential, regardless of ability or background, where aspirations and achievements
are constantly raised through the highest quality academic, personal and vocational
teaching and guidance, and where the students and staff at the Academies benefit from
each other’s strengths.
Knights Academy is fully comprehensive and specialises in Sport. Ten percent of
students at Knights are selected for their sports aptitude
The Religious Education Curriculum
Religious Studies is taught to all students at Knights following the Lewisham Local Agreed
Syllabus: Learning Together through Faiths.
Students in KS3 have 1 period (50 minutes) a week studying the six main world religions and are
taught in mixed ability form tutor groups. Students in KS4 work towards the Edexcel Short
Courses, ‘Religion and Life’ and ‘Religion and Society’.
The department is well stocked with artefacts, books and teaching materials.
Job Description
1. To work within and contribute to established Academy and Department frameworks
for:
 lesson planning, delivery and evaluation
 student behaviour and care
 student assessment
2. To contribute to the teaching of Religious Education across age and ability ranges
3. To remain informed of current developments in the subject area; to participate in InService Training and to initiate change where appropriate
4. To demonstrate good knowledge of a wide range of teaching materials and to
implement these in the classroom
5. To develop competence in the use of Information Communications Technology as a
tool in RE teaching
6. To provide accurate information for parents as directed by the Academy and
Department policy and to attend parents’ evenings and other presentation meetings as
reasonably directed
7. to perform the duties of a form tutor.
All Staff
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To work within the Academy framework with regard to Health & Safety
To promote equal opportunities in the Academy
To promote the ethos of the Academy
To promote the Academy’s commitment to the continued professional development
of all staff
To undertake any duties as may be reasonably required by the CEO or Principal
The job description will be subject to reasonable review.
Person Specification
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a well-qualified graduate who is energetic, versatile, creative and committed to
raising standards;
ability to teach throughout the age and ability ranges
knowledge and experience of the National Curriculum at KS3 and KS4 and of Post16 courses is required;
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a willingness to be involved in Workshops and other activities which extend the
Religious Education Curriculum
an effective classroom practitioner
an enthusiasm for the subject and the ability to transmit this to students
an innovator, excited by change, able to turn innovative thinking into practical and
successful classroom outcomes;
able to perform the duties of a form tutor
September 2010