Teacher recruitment
What we need
To build on our first class reputation and many government standard awards in education, we need exceptional teaching and support staff to continue our good work and inspire our pupils to achieve their goals.
Our schools
92% of our schools are good or outstanding and we aspire to 100%. Preparing our 30,000 children and young adults for their future and ensuring they benefit from the best possible education is our absolute priority.
Find a full list of schools in Wandsworth.
Wandsworth is well served by nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and three pupil referral units. There are also a number of academy and free schools in the borough. Several of our schools have Children's Centres attached to them and offer a variety of extended services.
Pay and benefits
Wandsworth teachers benefit from inner-London salaries and the range of benefits that you would expect from a progressive borough.
Qualified teachers can expect to earn between £27,819 and £46,365 per annum, depending on skills and experience, with the potential to earn substantially more as your career progresses. Teachers can also join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
You will be working alongside experienced education professionals, amazing school leaders and supportive governing bodies.
You also benefit from:
- A comprehensive induction
- Supportive and well-resourced schools
- State of the art Professional Development Centre
- Award winning curriculum support and professional development library
- Promotional and CPD opportunities
- At least five INSET days per year
- Interest-free season ticket loan
- Access to affordable housing schemes
- Reduced membership rates at local health clubs
Affordable housing
As a teacher in a Wandsworth school, you may be eligible to take part in one of many key worker housing initiatives. All key public sector workers can be supported to get onto the property ladder or to rent property at below market values.
Wandsworth works with a number of housing partners to offer schemes that the majority of our teachers are eligible for.
Qualifications for teaching
If you are looking to train as a teacher there are a number of routes that you can take.
These change regularly and you can find the latest information on the Department for Education website: Get into teaching.
Teachers can choose to study at a further education institution or to learn on the job, or a mix of both. There are options to suit your circumstances and learning style.
The borough has a strong teaching school presence with Southfields, Belleville, Chestnut Grove and Chesterton schools all offering Schools Direct teacher training.
Teacher training courses are available at Roehampton University, Kingston University, St Mary’s University and the University of the South Bank and Institute of Education. A number of schools offer training places through the universities.
Wandsworth also runs successful School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT). The SCITT is a consortium of 22 schools that offer a one-year, postgraduate certificate in education route to qualified teacher status.
Routes for support staff
There are no mandatory professional qualifications required to become a member of school support staff. This area is continually growing in status and further education institutions now run a number of courses to assist you in gaining the skills to enter the profession.
Our schools are also beginning to demand the skills and knowledge that these courses provide. Not all positions in Wandsworth schools require these new qualifications, but some schools will often require previous experience and all will ask that candidates possess a good level of literacy and numeracy.
Finding a teaching role
All recruitment is managed directly by schools. Most schools will advertise their teacher and support staff vacancies on our job site. Schools may also advertise in the TES, Guardian, and other media, or on their own websites.
Schools operate robust recruitment procedures to ensure fair decisions. This will include application forms, selection tests and interviews, references and a range of pre-employment checks for successful applicants. CVs are not accepted. All appointments in schools are subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure and barring service check.
To find school websites, visit our schools directory.
Due to the popularity of our schools, we do not operate a pool or database system; therefore, we do not keep records of potential NQT applicants or accept speculative applications or CVs.
Although schools may not explicitly advertise for NQTS in their adverts, applicants are encouraged to apply for any suitable teaching vacancies that arise. Applicants can also ring the school to gain further information about their suitability or to arrange a visit.
If there is a particular school you are interested in working in, you may wish to approach them directly.
How to apply
Upon finding a suitable advertised vacancy, please complete the application form and return it directly to the school you are applying to.
Please ensure that your form is completed fully. Your personal statement should address the criteria that are outlined on the person specification.
Induction
Wandsworth offers an excellent induction for newly qualified teachers in their first year of teaching. This includes a seven day programme run in partnership with the Chesterton/ Wandle Teaching Schools Alliance and Eastwood Nursery School.
Further information is available from the Wandsworth TPD website.
Support for headteachers
We have a very well established induction programme designed to welcome and support you into your role, whether this is your first or a subsequent post as a headteacher in Wandsworth.
Our induction programme introduces new headteachers to the key professionals in the Local Authority (LA) who are able to provide advice, support and guidance on various school-specific or Borough related issues.
You will have been introduced to the school’s Link Inspector during the appointment process. Following appointment and before taking up your post, they will arrange a transition meeting to discuss your approach to and priorities for your new role. They will continue to support you after appointment through regular visits to your school.
Mentoring and networking
New headteachers and those new to Wandsworth are also entitled to advice and support from an experienced mentor, who may also be an NCTL Professional Partner. All our mentors are experienced Headteachers who lead good or outstanding schools. Mentor heads will usually offer half a day per half-term support to the new Headteacher.
There are many networking opportunities for new Headteachers to meet fellow colleagues in Wandsworth. You will meet other new headteachers through the induction programme and established headteachers through the Headteacher Standing Conference and Headteacher forums each term.
There is lots of information available to head teachers through the Council’s Training and Professional Development website. Many services in the Council have their own websites containing specialist information such as Human Resources and Governor services.
Professional development
Wandsworth is committed to continuing professional development for all teachers and offers a range of CPD opportunities through training and development online. We offer specific opportunities for school leaders, including NPQML, NPQSL and various Ofsted inspection courses. A key part of the induction process for new head teachers will be to help you identify and plan your professional development needs.
All new head teachers have the support of their governing body who will work with you to provide vision, direction and leadership and ensure the school meets its aims and targets.
Contact
If you have any general questions about working in Wandsworth schools, please contact the Schools Human Resources team by emailing csschools@wandsworth.gov.uk.