Required from January 2026, a dynamic and talented teacher to work in a well-resourced and flourishing department with an impressive record of success at GCSE.

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic and committed teacher of Religious Studies, capable of meeting the rewarding challenge of inspiring our able and highly motivated pupils, both inside and outside the classroom. They will be a graduate with a good honours degree who has flair and vision together with the necessary academic, educational and organisational experience to thrive in an intellectually stimulating environment. They will be able to deliver the curriculum with confidence at all levels, up to and including A Level and be committed to the welfare and individual development of all the pupils in their care.

The successful candidate will be fully computer literate; all teaching staff and pupils in the school have their own iPad to enhance teaching and learning. Good communication skills, oral and written, are also essential. A detailed person specification is included with the application pack.

The Religious Studies Department is a thriving department which encourages pupils to explore ultimate questions and develop their critical thinking skills. In Year 7, pupils consider the question of God’s existence and issues for believers, such as the problem of evil and the relationship between religion and science. Pupils are then introduced to the key principles of the Abrahamic faiths, and of Hinduism and Sikhism. Pupils in Year 8 undertake an in-depth study of Islam and Christianity, focusing on beliefs, practices and the impact of faith on believers’ lives. In Year 9, pupils explore the ethical and religious issues raised by the Holocaust, followed by a study of Buddhism. Visits to a range of places of worship support pupils in their learning.

In Key Stage 4, students follow Pearson Edexcel’s ‘Beliefs in Action’ Specification B. The religions studied are Judaism and Christianity. Religious Studies GCSE is an increasingly popular option, with three classes in Year 10 and in Year 11.

With some 2,500 pupils, Bolton School is a large, thriving, academically selective day school. It is situated a mile or so from the town centre in a stunning 32 acre campus and is within easy reach of some of the nation’s finest cities and countryside.

In Autumn 2021, significant changes were made to the leadership structure of the School Foundation, investing the newly created position of Head of Foundation with overall responsibility. Within the new structure, there are three sections: Girls’ Division, Boys’ Division and Primary Division. A Head of each Division and the Head of Foundation, together with the Clerk and Treasurer, are the Foundation’s Senior Officers; they are directly accountable to the Governors.

Two adjoining and similar buildings, now attached by a state-of-the art Sixth Form Centre, house the Boys’ and Girls’ Senior Schools, each of which provides a traditional academic education from the age of 11 years. The Primary Division includes separate Junior Schools for boys and girls from the age of 7 and a co-educational Infant School and Nursery.

Academic results at GCSE and A Level consistently place Bolton School amongst the top schools in the North of England and often within the top 100 nationally. The School is also renowned for its provision of a wide range of enrichment activities, which take place both during and after the school day. It serves a wide area of the North West, collecting pupils on over 20 coach routes, and provides fee assistance to a substantial proportion of the student body - one in five Senior School pupils currently receives a bursary.

The vast majority of students progress to their first choice university and the School provides a regular supply of Sixth Formers to highly competitive courses and universities. Whilst the academic work of the two senior schools is largely separate, there are occasionally joint Sixth Form classes and there is considerable collaboration in extra-curricular activities.

Entry to the Junior and Senior Schools is by competitive examination and interview. Interest in the School remains robust and numbers on the school roll have increased in recent years.

Since 2022, the school has formalised its approach to evidence-based practice with the formation of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI). The Centre facilitates both research engagement as well as supporting action research.

Our aim is to ensure Bolton School is at the forefront of educational and pedagogical development. The CERI has a pivotal role in working alongside teachers to investigate the impact of innovation in the classroom. Foundation wide, we are well equipped to test emerging theory and to understand what will give the greatest benefit to students.

The Centre works with staff across our Primary and Senior Schools but also looks beyond to collaborate with external institutions, both universities and other schools seeking to share and develop knowledge and understanding of what helps children and young people to learn.

How to Apply

We ask candidates to apply online for the position via the School’s website.

The closing date is Thursday 08 May 2025 at 12.00 noon. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 13 May 2025. A lesson will be taught as part of the interview process, details of which will be forwarded to those short-listed.

Bolton School is a warm and friendly community. We believe it provides an unusually rich experience for everyone involved and we are sure that you will find it to be a fulfilling place to work.

A generous level of PPA is provided which allows members of staff, as valued professionals, to manage their time appropriately and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace to reflect the diversity of our pupils and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and to join Bolton School. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees. We do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Bolton School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced Criminal Records Check for Regulated Activity.

We look forward to receiving your application.