Teacher of Drama & Performing Arts (ASAP Start)

Location: Havering, East/Outer London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent or Long-Term Contract

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP Start

An ambitious, creative, and community-focused secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Havering is seeking an articulate, dynamic, and inspiring Teacher of Drama to join their expressive Performing Arts faculty immediately. Situated within an expanding East London borough with strong connections to both regional arts initiatives and West End theatre networks, this immediate-start appointment offers an exceptional opportunity for a Drama specialist—whether an experienced practitioner eager to direct KS5 productions or a talented Early Career Teacher (ECT)—to foster dramatic literacy, stagecraft, performance confidence, and textual analysis across a high-aspiring student body.

About the Role

Stepping into the drama studio for an immediate start, you will bring theatrical theory, performance techniques, script analysis, and devised theatre to life across all year groups. Joining a highly collaborative, expressive department, you will deliver high-rigor, practical lessons across Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 (GCSE Drama / BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts), and Key Stage 5 (A-Level Drama & Theatre Studies / Level 3 Performing Arts), equipping young performers with the vocal control, physical expressiveness, and analytical depth required for higher education, drama school auditions, and creative industry pathways.

• Environment: A modern Outer London secondary campus featuring dedicated black-box drama studios, flexible performance spaces, professional lighting and sound rigs, and a fully equipped main assembly auditorium

• Culture: An inclusive, high-energy learning environment committed to creative exploration, ensemble collaboration, student voice, and celebrating artistic diversity through live performance

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver academically rich, highly practical Drama lessons across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 covering dramatic practitioner methodologies (e.g., Stanislavski, Brecht, Artaud), play script interpretation, physical theatre, and devising.

• Prepare GCSE, A-Level, and vocational candidates thoroughly for practical performance exams, portfolio write-ups, and written papers through structured rehearsals, live theatre evaluation, and data-driven progress tracking.

• Cultivate a safe, supportive studio environment where creative risk-taking, constructive critique, and spatial awareness are actively nurtured.

• Track, evaluate, and monitor student progress systematically, tailoring instruction to stretch high-aspiring performers aiming for conservatoire/university pathways while scaffolding core communication confidence in developing learners.

• Direct and lead extra-curricular drama clubs, school productions, showcase evenings, and entry into regional theatre festivals, while organizing theatre trips and practitioner-led workshops.

Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent recognized teaching qualification.

• A strong academic degree in Drama, Theatre Studies, Performing Arts, Performing Arts Education, or a closely related creative discipline.

• Proven track record or demonstrated capability of delivering outstanding Drama teaching across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (KS5/A-Level Drama and Theatre Studies experience is highly desirable).

• Strong working knowledge of national examination board specifications (e.g., AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Pearson BTEC) and practical expertise in technical theatre elements (lighting, sound, set design).

• Outstanding theatrical presence, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, and an infectious passion for the transformative power of drama and performance.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Main / Upper Pay Scale (MPS/UPS Outer London, commensurate with experience), with potential TLR opportunities available for Key Stage Drama Coordination, School Production Director, or Performing Arts Lead.

• Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), comprehensive continuous professional development (CPD), structured middle leadership mentoring, studio access, and staff health and wellbeing benefits.

How to Apply

If you are an ambitious Drama specialist ready to make an immediate impact and lead inspiring theatrical provision at a dynamic secondary school in Havering, we encourage you to apply right away. Please submit your application form and CV for immediate consideration.