Primary Teacher EYFS

About The Role

Teacher: EYFS Maternity Cover

September 2026 start

Ark Castledown Primary Academy

Are you someone who has high expectations and a desire to improve the life chances of pupils? Do you want to belong to a school which is continually striving to improve teaching whilst simultaneously reducing teacher workload?

Ark Castledown Primary Academy is a popular school in the heart of Hastings. The school has been transformed since joining the Ark network and during our first year of transition was in the top 1% of most improved schools in the country. As Hastings is recognised as an ‘Opportunity Area’, the academy will be pivotal in ensuring our children get the best start in life.

As part of the Ark network, we are committed to making sure that every child has access to an excellent education and real choices in life. We know that great schools need great teaching staff, which is why we offer you the very best training and support at every stage of your career.

We are looking for a caring, passionate and committed Class Teacher to join our Early Years team from September 1 st on a maternity cover contract. We are looking for someone to work full time from September to Easter and then reduce to 3 days a week from Easter to the end of term.

The successful candidate will

• care passionately about children, their growth and achievements
• have a nurturing and child-centred approach
• be hard working and adaptable to change
• be committed to inclusion and supporting the individual needs of every learner
• work effectively as part of a team and contribute positively to school life
• be willing to embrace a culture of self-reflection and development

We warmly welcome applications from both experienced teachers and Early Career Teachers (ECTs), particularly those who are Early Years trained and passionate about beginning or developing their career within EYFS.

If you have a passion for education, we can offer you both support and challenge to develop further as a classroom teacher and future leader.

We strongly encourage you to visit the academy to meet us and find out more about this post. Please contact Mrs V Stapley on 01424 444046 or via email at ***email_hidden*** to arrange a visit.

As a teacher at Ark Castledown, you will be part of Ark, an international charity and one of the UK's most successful multi-academy trusts, with a network of 39 schools in 4 locations across the country.

We work hard to recognise hard work

• We strive to recognise your achievements and celebrate your success.
• You will have access to health packages, discounts at major retailers, travel loans and other benefits, through the Ark Rewards scheme.
• We take CPD seriously, which is why we offer twice as many training days as standard.
• We provide an array of development programmes for our staff including our ECT, middle leader and senior leader programmes supplying you with the training and support you need to progress throughout your career.

Click here to find out more about the benefits of working for Ark Castledown Primary Academy .

Visit our website, www.arkcastledown.org/vacancies for more information about our school.

A copy of the Job Description and Person Specification can be found here

Closing date: 23 rd June

Interviews : w/c 29 th June

Salary: £ 33,737- £53,094

Contract: Fixed term: full time from September to Easter and then reduce to 3 days a week from Easter to the end of term.

Location: Hastings

Ark is committed to safeguarding children; successful candidates will be subject to online checks and an enhanced DBS check.

Benefits

• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
• Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Gym discounts – offering up to 40%.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.

Find out more about the benefits of working for Ark at https://arkonline.org/careers/why-work-with-us/.

We are community primary school that is dedicated to providing the very best education for the children of our town.

We hold a strong child-centred approach to teaching, where consistency, praise, encouragement and challenge are key. We believe that every child has a unique potential and we work hard to inspire and motivate children to achieve their goals.

We know that a successful and happy school depends on all of us working together, and that parents make an important contribution to children’s achievements at school. We are committed to developing excellent working relationships with our families and all members of our school community.

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.