DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
Spark Curiosity and Build Foundations: Primary Teacher (Year 1 – Year 4)
Role: Class Teacher (Year 1, 2, 3, or 4)
Start Date: September 2026
Salary: Academy Pay Scale (Outer London)
Location: Chessington, Royal Borough of Kingston
At our school, the Year 1 through Year 4 corridor is the engine room of a child’s academic journey. This is where the magic of "learning to read" transforms into the power of "reading to learn." When we recruit for these year groups, we aren't just looking for subject experts; we are looking for architects of curiosity.
While your journey with us begins in Years 1–4 - where you will shape our younger learners during their most formative years of discovery - we pride ourselves on being a school of opportunity. We look for versatile practitioners who are excited by the prospect of gaining experience across different year groups and key stages as their career evolves within our school.
At Castle Hill Primary School, we don’t just teach; we aim to "Make the Greatest Difference." We are looking for an exceptional practitioner to join our vibrant, two-form entry ‘family’ - someone who understands that these years require a unique blend of high energy, emotional intelligence, and pedagogical precision.
Why Choose the Castle Hill Family?
1. The "Castle Hill Family": Join a supportive, friendly, and collaborative environment where you are truly valued.
2. Wellbeing First: We prioritise mental health with a two-week October half-term to help you truly recharge.
3. Unique 2-Week Transition: Spend the last week of July with your new class to build relationships and hit the ground running in September.
4. Attachment Aware & Trauma Informed: We believe behaviour is communication. We provide the training and tools to manage high SEND and complex needs effectively.
5. Incredible Resources: Access our forest area and specialist rooms for music, art, and cooking.
What We Are Looking For
1. Mastery of the "Bridge
The transition from the play-based foundation of Reception to the structured rigour of Year 4 is a steep climb. We need a teacher who acts as the safety harness.
6. Fluency in Fundamentals: You don’t just "know" phonics or mental maths; you can diagnose exactly where a child’s understanding has a gap.
7. The Gift of Scaffolding: You know how to build a "temporary staircase" for a struggling pupil, removing it step-by-step as they gain the confidence to stand alone.
8. Cognitive Load Management: You understand that a young child has a finite amount of "working memory." You keep instructions punchy, visual, and sequenced to avoid overwhelm.
2. Emotional Stewardship
9. At this age, a child’s relationship with school is defined by their relationship with you. We look for "warm demanders" who provide high support alongside high expectations.
10. De-escalation & Regulation: You see a "shutdown" as a communication of an unmet need. You teach children how to breathe through frustration rather than simply punishing the outburst.
11. The "Invisible" Radar: You have the pastoral intuition to spot the child who is unusually quiet or the one who has suddenly lost interest in their lunch. For us, this is non-negotiable.
3. Dynamic Classroom Leadership
12. Managing a lower-primary classroom is like conducting an orchestra where half the instruments occasionally decide to play a different song.
13. Process over Product: You celebrate the way a child solved a problem, building a "growth mindset" that will serve them for life.
14. Militant Organisation (with a Smile): Transitioning 30 children from "maths on the carpet" to "science at their desks" in under 90 seconds is an art form you have mastered through clear routines and hand signals.
15. Adaptive Agility: If a planned lesson on the weather isn't working because a literal thunderstorm just started outside, you are brave enough to throw the PowerPoint away and take the children to the window.
Our Offer to You
16. Outer London Academy Pay Scale.
17. Bespoke CPD: Tailored development to support your career journey.
18. Modern Tech: Chromebook and iPad for every teacher; interactive screens in all rooms.
19. Shared PPA: Collaborative planning with your year-group partner.
Join Our Journey
Visits to the school are warmly welcomed—come and see the "buzz" for yourself!
Safeguarding Statement
This post is subject to a medical and an enhanced DBS check.
Previous employment references will be taken up at shortlisting along with online checks as recommended in KCIES 2023.