Why You Should Join Our St. Bede’s community

At St Bede’s we believe that all things are possible. Working at St. Bede’s is an exciting opportunity for anyone passionate about education and joining community that aligns with your professional goals, values, and overall well-being. St Bede’s provides a vibrant, supportive environment that creates a nurturing space where both students and staff can grow personally and professionally.

Here’s why you should consider joining the St. Bede’s community:

Strong Ethos and Values

Our pupils are guided and encouraged to fulfil their God-given potential and are inspired to become the best versions of themselves; the people that God created them to be. Our school is built on respect, inclusivity, and a drive for excellence. We celebrate diversity and foster supportive relationships, creating a collaborative culture where everyone’s voice is valued.

When you join our school, you become part of a close-knit community that values teamwork, collaboration, and shared goals. Together, we work toward providing the best education for our students to achieve their God-given potential.

Continual professional development

We offer a wide range of professional development programs, from tailored training sessions to mentorship opportunities. Whether you’re a new or experienced educator, our continuous professional development programmes and career growth initiatives will help you advance and thrive.

1. Teaching & Learning development
   • Subject specific T&L: Teachers receive ongoing support to develop subject-specific teaching strategies, stay updated on curriculum changes, and engage in collaborative planning with subject teams to ensure consistent, high-quality instruction and student mastery
   • Teaching Pedagogy: Teachers are supported in adopting evidence-based, student-centred teaching methods, with ongoing professional development in strategies such as AFL, differentiation, literacy and challenge.
   • SEND: Teachers receive training and support to differentiate instruction for students with SEND, stay informed on best practices and legal requirements, collaborate with SEND specialists, and engage in reflective practices for continuous professional development
   • Behaviour for Learning: teachers are trained in positive behaviour management strategies, including restorative practices and proactive classroom techniques, to establish clear expectations, build strong teacher-student relationships, and address behavioural challenges for a productive learning environment
   • Opportunities for regular peer observations: structured peer observation program promotes teacher collaboration, shared feedback, and learning from each other in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
2. Leadership development
   • NPQs are available for teachers and leaders who want to develop their knowledge and skills in specialist areas of teaching/leadership practice. There are:
     • Senior leadership
     • Leading teacher development
     • Leading teaching
     • Leading behaviour and culture
     • Leading literacy
   • Academic Leaders Development Sessions providing targeted professional development that focuses on enhancing leadership skills, such as strategic planning, decision-making, and fostering a positive school culture. We support leaders in refining their ability to manage teams and lead change effectively. Additionally, academic leaders engage in collaborative networks to share best practices, learn from peers, and stay informed on the latest educational trends, ensuring they are well-equipped to lead with confidence and impact
   • Curriculum review process: All staff are invited to be involved in the curriculum review process to enhance their leadership skills by collaborating with colleagues, gaining insights into curriculum design, and contributing to school-wide improvements.
3. Robust & supportive ECT programme including:
   • Strong mentorship: pairing ECTs with experienced mentors who provide guidance, feedback, and emotional support throughout the transition into teaching
   • Structured induction: offering a well-organised induction program that includes orientation, classroom management techniques, and a deep dive into school culture and expectations
   • Ongoing professional development: providing continuous opportunities in areas of pedagogy, assessment strategies, and inclusivity.
   • Regular observations and feedback: scheduling frequent classroom observations by mentors and induction tutors, followed by constructive feedback to support professional growth.
   • Wellbeing and resilience: focusing on teacher well-being with strategies to manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain work-life balance
   • Collaboration and peer learning: encouraging collaboration with fellow ECTs for sharing best practices, challenges, and successes through peer support groups or networks.
   • Reflection and growth: Creating a culture where reflection on practice is encouraged, helping new teachers to evaluate and refine their teaching approaches.
4. An appraisal process designed to be developmental and collaborative including:
   • Individualised approach: each appraisal is tailored to the teacher’s specific career stage, strengths, and areas for growth, ensuring that the process is relevant to their professional journey.
   • Clear, developmental objectives: appraisal goals are centred on fostering professional growth, with objectives aligned to both the teacher’s personal aspirations and the school’s broader vision.
   • Ongoing, collaborative conversations: appraisals are not one-off events but an ongoing dialogue between the appraisee and their line manager or mentor, encouraging open feedback and mutual goal-setting throughout the year.
   • Focussed on professional development: professional learning is at the heart of the appraisal, with objectives designed to directly inform and support continuous improvement through relevant training, courses, and opportunities.
   • Celebration of achievements: recognizing milestones, achievements, and progress during the appraisal process, reinforcing motivation and commitment to continuous improvement.

Prioritising Well-Being

The well-being of our staff is prioritised. We promote work-life balance, offer mental health and wellness support, and encourage physical wellness.

• Well-being window – a 2-hour window all staff can book off on their choice of day in the year
• Overhauled marking and feedback policies to reduce workload
• Strong links with teaching unions to support positive change for teachers and pupils
• Staff bulletin to reduce email messages, in addition to email curfew to avoid infringement on personal time
• Reduction of dual meetings per week
• Collective worship/congregations for staff
• Cross department collaboration
• Ethos Day for students and staff
• INSET days which are planned in with the well-being of staff in mind
• A high quality and supportive induction programme
• Staff fitness sessions
• Coffee mornings/charity bake sales
• Mental health support, including counselling services and stress management resources, is readily available

Making a Lasting Impact

Perhaps the greatest reason to join our school is the opportunity to make a real, lasting impact on the lives of young people. We believe that teaching is one of the most important professions in the world, and we are committed to helping you be the best educator you can be. Whether you’re helping a student unlock a new passion, guiding them through a difficult concept, or simply being a supportive presence in their life, your work here will have a profound impact.

Join Us:

Guide

Inspire

Shine

If you’re looking for a place where your professional growth is nurtured, your values align with a culture of excellence, and your well-being is supported, our school is the perfect place to build your career. We invite you to be part of our vibrant community.