The King’s School, Trainee Science Teacher Full Time NEW

Pontefract, Yorkshire
ARK SCHOOLS

The King’s School – Trainee Science Teacher

Locations: Pontefract, West Yorkshire

Tax free bursary: Up to £29,000
Scholarships: Up to £31,000 available

Closing date: Recruitment is running on a rolling basis until places are full – early applications are advised.

Starting: September 2026

“The work you are doing is meaningful and directly impacts the future of the kids in your responsibility, and that’s one of the best feelings in the world.” Kwaku, Maths trainee

About the role:

You will be training to be a Science Teacher – this is a great opportunity to train to teach outstanding lessons and therefore help pupils achieve excellent academic results in Science.

Join our 15th cohort on our ‘Outstanding’ (OFSTED, 2022) Teacher Training programme this September! Last year saw over 200 trainees join the programme and we are already looking forward to our next cohort, which you could be part of!

About Ark:

Ark is a charity that aims to transform children’s lives through education. In the UK, the strongest predictor of how a child will do at school continues to be what their parents do for a living – but why should this be the accepted status quo? By working in our network at one of our 39 schools, you will be directly making a positive impact on young people’s lives through high-quality teaching and thoughtful consideration of all backgrounds and needs, making educational equity a reality.

About Ark Teacher Training:

Ark Teacher Training (ATT) is a school-based programme offering the perfect mixture of theory and classroom practice to develop you into the best teacher you can be. Because we believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves to have access to a great education, we work mainly in communities of lower income with a history of academic underachievement. We are very proud to have received our second ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted in all categories! There are only a few ITTs in the UK that can say the same. Alongside this, our programme is also incredibly supportive and bespoke, as you will see below.

The King’s School

The school has an incredibly long and rich history of which we are immensely proud. First established in 1139, it is one of the oldest schools in Yorkshire dating back to the reign of King Edward VI. After almost nine centuries, the school stands as a beacon of excellence for our families and the communities we serve, providing an experience which celebrates our history whilst preparing young people for the future that awaits.

We are also incredibly proud of our place in the community and our reputation for being more than just a secondary school. Whilst we are deeply rooted in our tradition, we are ambitious and very much future focused for our young people. Our desire is that each child is able to flourish and achieve the best outcomes, fulfilling potential and making exceptional progress so that their future is one of choice and opportunity.

We fully acknowledge the great responsibility placed on us as educators and ensure that our focus on nurture, care and support is second to none. We want our students to enjoy attending school and to thrive because of positive and respectful relationships. Our dedicated team of staff work closely with parents and carers to ensure that students can develop and grow their own agency, resilience and sense of self-worth; our philosophy to student wellbeing is a ‘no stone unturned’ approach. We encourage all students to develop a strong work ethos, built on our values of Respect, Responsibility, Determination and Excellence. Academic success provides young people with choice, freedom and independence in a world that is constantly changing and demanding. However, we embrace fully the belief that a young person’s experience at school should also focus on shaping and empowering the individual as a whole and providing happy and lifelong memories and experiences. Thus, we strive not just to create captivating experiences within the classroom but beyond the curriculum too – with a broad range of co-curricular opportunities, educational visits and rewards.

Key responsibilities:

• To engage in daily professional development activities
• To plan, resource and deliver lessons to the highest possible standard that ensure learning and progress of all pupils
• To provide a nurturing classroom and academy environment that helps pupils to develop as learners
• To help to maintain/establish discipline across the whole school
• To contribute to the effective working of the school

Key requirements:

• Grade C/4 or above in Maths GCSE and English Language GCSE (or equivalent)
• An undergraduate bachelor’s degree or will hold (or equivalent) prior to beginning your Initial Teacher Training
• A degree or A level in Science / a related subject
• Evidence of a commitment to working with young people
• Experience of overcoming challenges successfully
• Ability to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct
• An aptitude for teaching

Diversity and Inclusion:

Our programme places heavy emphasis on diversity both within recruitment of our trainees and within the training. It’s incredibly important that pupils have a rich and diverse teaching body to learn from; they’re able to see themselves in positions of leadership and authority, while their perceptions and world-views are broadened. Read more here .

How to Apply:

To apply, please visit our website via the button below.

If you’re applying through the DfE, please see our subjects here to ensure you apply for the correct route.

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Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; all successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Ark Schools are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce, with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Please click here to learn more.