Job Title: Teacher of Dance and Drama (Maternity Cover)
Full Time Salary: £32,916 - £51,048 (M1 – UPS3)
Contract Type: Fixed until 31/07/2026 or earlier if the postholder returns sooner.
Hours: Full Time, 32.5 hours per week
Provisional Start Date: September 2026
Do you have a passion for dance and drama with a drive to inspire the next generation of confident, creative performers?
We are looking for an inspirational Dance and Drama teacher with the enthusiasm and expertise to bring movement, expression and storytelling to life for our students. This is an opportunity to use your creativity and performance skills to play a pivotal role in shaping the confidence, imagination and future opportunities of children across our trust.
With our commitment to high expectations, a vibrant and dynamic arts curriculum, and excellent teaching, you’ll help students discover the joy of performing—whether they’re exploring contemporary dance, developing character through scripted drama, devising their own work or collaborating in ensemble pieces. Together, we will create opportunities for lifelong success as our pupils grow into expressive, resilient and empowered young adults, confident in their ability to use their voices and bodies to communicate, connect and inspire.
About you:
You will be:
- a qualified teacher or hold an equivalent teaching qualification.
- able to deliver the curriculum in your chosen area and consistently teach high quality lessons across relevant key stages.
- able to meet the needs of learners from key identified groups, including pupil premium, looked after children, SEND and High Attaining students.
- a strong communicator with the ability to embrace change, motivate colleagues and build positive relationships with students, staff and parents.
- able to recognise, value and support the delivery of opportunities which extend beyond the confines of classroom delivery and seek to enrich and add value to the students experience & learning.
- empowered to develop your own expert practice and support the development of others.
- highly competent in all elements of the Teachers’ Standards and your achievements and contribution will be substantial and sustained as an Upper Pay Scale teacher.
Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.
About Monkton Wood Academy:
Monkton Wood Academy is an 11-18 school located in Monkton Heathfield, near Taunton. We are currently going through a period of change and rapid improvement as we seek to make Monkton Wood a place of academic excellence, where children can progress and thrive. We are developing a culture of high expectations and mutual respect, where students and staff can be successful in our roles and become the best possible version of ourselves.
Monkton Wood has long been proud of its strong connections with the local community; our parents and our partners at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre are highly engaged in school life. It is incredibly important to us that our students develop a strong sense of belonging and confidence in their own ability to achieve well and to go on to serve their community.
Why CLF?
We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.
We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
What we can offer you:
- Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
- Comprehensive induction and ongoing support for career development and wellbeing.
- Sector-leading professional development entitlement and opportunities.
- Collaboration with colleagues across the trust through subject communities and specialist networks.
- Shared CLF curriculum, written and curated by trust experts, reducing individual teacher workload.
- Career enhancing and progression opportunities within the trust and through the CLF Institute.
- A collaborative culture which supports workload.
- Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
- A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
- Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking and many more!
Recruitment timeline:
- Closing Date: 12th March 2026
- Short-listing: 13th March 2026
- Interviews: 25th March 2026
We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment.
As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.
The Cabot Learning Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment.
All successful candidates will undergo a comprehensive pre-employment checking process, including an enhanced DBS check (including a further check against the appropriate barred list), references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK, child disqualification (where applicable), prohibition from teaching/management and online checks. You must also tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
