What skills and experience we're looking for
Crestwood Community School is one school, with two campuses serving central Eastleigh. We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and ambitious person as a Teacher of Performing Arts, Dance or Drama specialist, from September 2025. Dance and Drama sit within the Performing and Creative Arts Faculty. It is an exceptionally upbeat, forward-thinking, and innovative faculty, which is cohesive, team spirited and very well led. We are looking for someone who can play an active role in contributing to the already high standards within the Faculty. Option choices at GCSE across the faculty are high with Dance and Drama popularity at Key Stage 4 showing a significant increase.
You will be supported by a passionate and hands-on faculty leadership team; as well as experienced and dedicated teachers within that team.
This role would suit an experienced teacher or an ECT looking for their first post after qualifying.
For the successful candidate, a commitment to raising standards and a passion for developing young adults is essential: this entails a commitment to all learners, to excellence for all, and a belief that a good school makes a significant difference to learners’ life chances, levels of attainment and the wellbeing of the community as a whole.
What the school offers its staff
The Performing and Creative Arts (PCA) Faculty encompasses Art, Drama, Music, PE and Dance and is a leading faculty across both campuses. The Achievement Leader of PCA is talented, enthusiastic, approachable and highly supportive. She works with the faculty to promote collaborative planning, enhance teaching and learning and to drive up standards of achievement and attainment.
The faculty has a clear focus on developing students' extended writing to enhance the performance of Key Stage 4 students this year as well as focusing on the development of skills and knowledge for the transition of students from Key Stage 3 into Key Stage 4 to ensure all students are well prepared and successful in their subjects.
The faculty comprises an Achievement Leader working with three Assistant Achievement Leaders, and 12 main scale teachers. They are a cohesive team and have a strong command of their subject. Foundation subjects are really enjoyed by students and their extracurricular opportunities.
Dance and Drama are popular subjects that are taught across both Shakespeare and Cherbourg road campuses. All students are taught both Dance and Drama at KS3 where they learn the foundational skills they would need to be successful at GCSE, and also to enhance their confidence and performance skills. Students can opt to study GCSE Drama and/or GCSE Dance, as part of the 2 year KS4.
As a school we take staff well being seriously. We offer staff the following:
• wellbeing weeks, with no commitments scheduled after school
• free lunch every day
• free tea and coffee
• half termly cooked breakfasts
• accrued inset days, taken as twilights, giving staff an additional 4 days off a year
• One wellbeing day per year (during term-time), to be taken at their chosen time (after a qualifying period)
• weekly thank you bulletin
• birthday cards
• heads discretionary leaves of absence for family events
• acts of random kindness
• access to mental health first aiders
Our Ofsted report from February 2024 stated that at Crestwood “there is a welcoming, friendly atmosphere”. They also said that “teachers and support staff, including those in the early stages of their career, are proud to work at the school. They particularly value school leader's careful consideration of their workload and well-being so that they can focus their efforts fully on pupils’ education.” In addition, Ofsted report that “many pupils, staff and parents describe the school as a ‘big family’.
The Ofsted report states that “Leaders and governors are driven by a strong sense of moral purpose. They are ambitious for pupils’ futures and drive to provide the best opportunities for them. Staff share these aspirations and are loyal and committed”.
We care deeply about our school, the staff, the students and the community we serve, we are a school with a heart. We as a school are clear about our improvement agenda and we work cohesively as a school wide team. As this was our fifth consecutive “good” grading it demonstrates that at Crestwood we are continually providing a consistent quality in all we do, against a backdrop of tougher standards and criteria to be judged against.
We have enhanced our campuses significantly over the past few years. We have refurbished nearly all areas across the school. We have had a new crescent area and roof at Shakespeare which has enhanced the building significantly. The Cherbourg Campus is situated between the town’s two post-16 providers. The site is well maintained with specialist facilities in excellent condition throughout, including 5 new Science rooms and refurbished Sports Hall. In totality we are a school continually on the up and have a can-do-more attitude.
As a new member of staff you will be well supported: we have a comprehensive induction process, and you will be given an Induction Mentor and a ‘professional buddy’. We hold the Investors in People Gold standard, and see professional learning as a major strategic priority.
Further details about the role
Your application should comprise a completed Hampshire teaching application form, and a letter in which you should outline your experience to date, the reasons for your interest in the post and your suitability for it. Please include a paragraph on your philosophy of teaching Drama/Dance, and what specialisms you could bring to Crestwood Community School.
Applications, with the names and addresses of two referees, should be returned to me, Krista Dawkins, Head Teacher at hr@crestwood.hants.sch.uk.
Please download further details and a Hampshire Teaching Application form from the school website located under the School Information / Vacancies tab.
Please note we cannot accept a CV as a means of application.
Commitment to safeguarding
Crestwood Community School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.