Teacher of Geography

The Sir Robert Woodard Academy an Ofsted good rated academy one of the happiest schools in the country (The Sunday Times 2025) and part of the Woodard family of schools is a dynamic and popular 1118 academy located between Worthing and Brighton serving the students of Lancing Sompting and Shoreham. Our aim is that every student is known and nurtured and is provided with teaching and learning experiences enabling them to fulfil their potential. We believe that students succeed when the environment is caring and orderly with teaching that fires the imagination and brings learning to life.

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic Geography Teacher with thorough subject knowledge to join the Humanities department from September 2025. This is an incredible opportunity to join an excellent team of practitioners who are very excited about the future outcomes of their students. We welcome applications from colleagues with QTS particularly ECTs who are committed to raising achievement in Geography. This is a permanent and full time position.

About the Geography department

At SRWA we value our broad and balanced Aspire to Achieve curriculum. We teach a diverse Geography curriculum that aligns with the national curriculum at KS3. The units are diverse and aim to encapsulate the awe and wonder of our changing environment.

Examples of units studied include population tectonics extreme weather a place study of Kenya biomes physical landforms and migration. Our lessons focus on students becoming knowledgeable skilful and literate and are designed to encourage independence and a lifelong love of Geography. We have embedded reading strategies into the curriculum for example paired reading. The Geography classrooms are filled with interactive whiteboards and visualisers and we have access to laptops for students.

Exam results

We teach AQA Geography at GCSE and Edexcel at A Level. The Geography department has maintained a strong trend of positive results in recent years. In 2024 71% of students achieved Grade 4 plus at GCSE (7% above the National Average) and 25% of students achieved Grade 7 plus (3% above the National Average).

Trips and fieldwork

There is a bi-annual international Geography trip to Iceland. We conduct annual fieldwork in all key stages. KS3 students visit Wakehurst Place KS4 visit Birling Gap and Brighton and KS5 students undertake a 4-day residential trip at an FSC Centre.

Our Academy is purpose-built with outstanding facilities. The Humanities team as a whole is firmly established and has a collaborative ethos built around sharing best practice and discussing the latest research. They have been praised for inspirational teaching and leading initiatives in active learning. The Academy enjoys strong links with local universities that we are keen to develop through supporting trainee teachers.

At SRWA our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with wellbeing support coaching mentoring and a wide range of top-quality training and CPD programmes delivered at every level up to senior leadership.

SRWA teaching staff benefit from the following:-

a collaborative approach and strong collegial relationships;

the opportunity to join and/or benefit from Action Research Groups;

proven student progress and excellent student behaviour;

an extensive CPD programme tailored to skills and experience;

strong links with Brighton and Sussex Universities;

free employee assistance programme dedicated staff wellbeing space and 1-1 mental health booster sessions available;

free use of the Academys fitness suite;

free on site car parking and easy access to local public transport;

cycle to work scheme;

free flu jabs.

Quotes from full Ofsted inspection report October 2021: Rating of Good in all areas:

The culture at this school is summed up by its motto Aspire to Achieve. From Year 7 through to the sixth form pupils learn to think ambitiously about their futures.

The school is a calm and orderly place for pupils to treat each other with respect low-level disruption is rare.

Pupils parents and carers feel proud of their schoolone parent told us we are really impressed with the school the ethos and the staff.

A Staff Well-being survey in June 2024 revealed our staff consider these areas outstanding:

Staff morale workload and job satisfaction

Appreciation of staff achievement/contribution

Opportunities for staff to develop.

The successful candidate will:-

demonstrate the skills of a good teacher

be able to interest encourage and engage students

provide appropriate levels of challenge so that all students make good progress

use methods and resources that enable all students to learn effectively

use assessment information effectively to plan the next steps in students learning

make effective use of their time

secure consistently high standards of behaviour from students

be able to demonstrate a proven track record of recent and successful class teaching in mixed ability classes of aged 11-18 students (or of successful completion of initial teacher training if applying as an ECT).

Safeguarding Recruitment Statement and Commitment to Equality of Opportunity

The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff including volunteers to share in this commitment.

All applicants are required to fully complete the Academys standard application form giving declarations a full employment history with gaps explained and details of professional referees for current and most recent posts. CVs alone will not be accepted.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal record self-declaration form and to consent to an online search carried out against their name.

All offers of appointment are conditional upon satisfactory pre-employment checks including an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check incorporating a Barred List Check. Therefore individuals on the Childrens Barred list (and Adults Barred list where relevant) should not apply.

The Academy is fully committed to equality of opportunity. We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Closing date: 22/6/25*

*Please note we reserve the right to interview and appoint any strong candidates applying before the deadline has passed and to close the advert at any time before the deadline date should a strong applicant come forward If you are interested then you are advised to apply early.