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 11–18 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 excellent subject knowledge, to join the Humanities department from September 2025. This is an exciting opportunity to join a 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. Literacy is a priority in the department and students are given access to high-quality reading across the curriculum. 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 biennial 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 Academy’s 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 learn….Pupils treat each other with respect … low-level disruption is rare."
"Pupils, parents and carers feel proud of their school…one 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 Academy’s 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 Children’s Barred list (and Adult’s 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.