JOB TITLE:
ASSISTANT HEAD AND NURSERY TEACHER

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOL
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

Role commences: January 2026

ST CHRISTOPHER’S

SCHOOL AND NURSERY, EPSOM

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOLST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOL

St Christopher’s School & Nursery in Epsom has been
providing an exceptional start to children’s education for over
85 years. Founded in 1938, the school has built a reputation for
offering children from 2¾ to 7 years old a joyful, nurturing and
inspiring first experience of learning. Today, St Christopher’s is
a modern, forward-thinking, non-denominational school where
strong traditions sit alongside innovation.

The school is located close to Epsom Downs, with bright
classrooms, specialist teaching, a dedicated Nursery, gardens,
and well-equipped outdoor play areas. Its location offers the
best of both worlds: a peaceful suburban setting within easy
reach of London and the Surrey countryside.

St Christopher’s is now part of the Reigate Grammar School
(RGS) family, having joined the group in May 2025. The RGS
family is a community of exceptional schools in Surrey and
internationally, united by shared values, high aspirations and a
commitment to helping every child flourish.

The school is a member of the Independent Schools
Association (ISA) and has been recognised nationally,
previously winning Junior Independent School of the Year and
annually wins national art competitions. It has also recently
become a finalist for Independent Pre-Prep of the Year 2025
and ISA award for Excellence and Innovation in Early Years.
The School aims to ensure that they support families in finding
the best fit junior school for their children. Children leave at
the end of Year 2 ready for a seamless transition into one of
the RGS family prep schools or a range of other leading junior
schools, both independent and maintained.

There are around 150 boys and girls across Nursery,
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Small class sizes and specialist
teaching in subjects such as Music, French, PE and Art ensure
that children receive personalised support and challenge,
fostering curiosity and a genuine love of learning. Pastoral care
is central, with staff knowing each child as an individual and
helping them to grow in confidence, resilience and kindness.

St Christopher’s believes in educating the whole child.
Academic rigour is complemented by a vibrant enrichment
programme, including forest school, drama, music ensembles,
productions, art, and a wide choice of clubs. Outdoor learning
and play are highly valued, with children benefitting from
regular exploration in the school’s outdoor space. Sport is an
important part of life, and all pupils enjoy access to PE and
physical activity that promote teamwork, fitness and
enjoyment.

Creativity and performance play a leading role. Concerts,
assemblies, productions and art exhibitions allow children to
share their talents with families and the wider community. The
school’s close-knit ethos ensures that children develop both
confidence and compassion, preparing them for the next stage
of their education and for happy, fulfilled lives.

At its most recent inspection, the school was rated “Excellent
in all areas,” reflecting the outstanding teaching, pastoral care
and breadth of opportunities available. Parents consistently
praise the family-like atmosphere, the school’s emphasis on
values, and the strong foundations laid for future success.

“Pupils make excellent progress throughout the school. By the time
they reach Year 2, they achieve at high levels compared with pupils
of the same age nationally, because of a carefully planned broad
and challenging curriculum in line with the school’s aims, together
with highly effective teaching.” - ISI Inspection 2023

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOLJOB DESCRIPTION

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The Assistant Head & Nursery Teacher will be an integral part
of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of St Christopher’s.

This role offers the rare opportunity to combine strategic
vision with daily, hands-on leadership and management,
ensuring that our ethos is lived out in the nursery. It is a role
for someone who wants to make a tangible, lasting difference
to children, families and colleagues — and to play a leading
part in the future of St Christopher’s .

Reporting to: Headteacher of St Christopher’s (Mrs Bronia
Grehan)

As the nursery teacher, they will engage with a wide-ranging
curriculum, encompassing many aspects of the life of the
School. We value vision and creativity in all our teachers, who
can inspire, with confidence and exceptional qualities, to join
our warm and dedicated team.

The successful candidate will have a dynamic personality, a
good sense of humour and the ability to foster and maintain
strong relationships across the whole School community.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
•  To support the Headteacher in ensuring the vision for the

school is articulated, shared and acted upon.

•  To deputise for the Headteacher as necessary.
•  To promote good channels of communication between

the Staff and the Headteacher.

•  To assist the Headteacher with the appointment of new

staff.

•  To attend Governors Meetings when needed.
•  To keep up to date with new legislation and government

initiatives.

•  To organise and log staff cover.
•  To be an active part of School Safeguarding as a qualified

DDSL.

JOB PURPOSE
The applicant will be expected to:

Lead and line manage the nursery team.

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•  To lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the

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nursery together with the lead key worker.
Be an outstanding teacher who can provide irresistible
learning opportunities for all children in their care.

Ensure excellence in teaching, learning, and care, with a
strong understanding of early childhood pedagogy and
best practices.
Be a Deputy Safeguarding Lead.

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•  Oversee all aspects of compliance, safeguarding and health

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and safety within the nursery.
Keep up-to-date with updates regarding the Early Years
Framework and implement the framework.
Ensure that all planning, preparation, recordings, and
assessments are carried out to a high standard.
Ensure that the curriculum plans and assessments from
Nursery to the end of Reception are set to a high
standard and skills and knowledge is set out incrementally.
Be a team player who works productively and fairly
alongside their year-group staff team.

•  Maintain the positive ethos and values of the school, both

inside and outside the classroom.

•  Contribute to constructive team building amongst

teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, and governors.

DUTIES
The Nursery teacher will:

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Implement and adhere to school policies and guidelines.
Plan and provide a creative and engaging curriculum,
appropriately meeting the needs of all pupils, through
adaptive teaching and differentiated tasks.

•  Alongside their team, create medium-term and weekly

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planning, which is regularly reviewed.
Plan every week, plans will be differentiated and will
include challenge for all learners, plans will be evaluated to
identify the next steps in children’s learning.
Be able to set clear targets, based on prior attainment, for
pupils’ learning.

•  Observe children when playing and learning to identify

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successes and next steps in learning,
Provide a stimulating learning environment inside and
outside, where resources can be accessed appropriately
by all pupils to support and extend their learning.

•  Maintain good order and discipline amongst pupils,

following the school’s behaviour policy.

•  Communicate effectively with parents about their child’s

development, attainment, and progress through termly
parent discussions, parents’ evenings, and written reports.
Lead a subject for the whole school.

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•  Co-ordinate and implement information evenings for

parents during the year.

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOLJOB DESCRIPTION
CONTINUED

PERSON SPECIFICATION

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Support and embed new initiatives decided by the
Headteacher and Senior Management Team.
Be part of the schools’ duty rotas.
Ensure displays and role play/book corners are extended
or changed regularly; at least termly.
Liaise with the Special Needs Co-ordinator or external
agencies when appropriate.

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES
•  Deep commitment to knowing, caring for and supporting

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every child to thrive.
Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal
skills.

•  Ability to inspire confidence, trust and respect in pupils,

parents and staff.

•  Attend out-of-hours open days, school exhibitions, and

•  Track record of raising standards in academic, pastoral and

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co-curricular areas.
Knowledge of safeguarding, EYFS to KS1 curriculum,
inspection frameworks and independent education.
Energy, resilience and adaptability, with a positive,
solutions-focused mindset.

•  A willingness to go the extra mile, to be flexible and

child-centred, doing all it takes to help each child be happy
and successful.

DESIRABLE QUALITIES
•  DSL or DDSL training.
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Experience of marketing, admissions or parent
engagement.
Experience of working in or with independent schools.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This is a demanding but rewarding senior role requiring
flexibility, including evenings, some school holiday work and
occasional weekends. The Assistant Head will undertake a
range of duties and projects as required by the Headteacher.

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annual governor social as required.
Join in the extra-curricular life of the school, including at
least one session per week in after-school club, and
support parent association events.
Participate in meetings related to the school’s
management, curriculum, administration, or organisation.

•  Communication and cooperate with specialists from

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outside agencies.
Participate in the appraisal system.
Be in school the first 2 days prior to the first day of each
term for classroom preparation and INSET, as well as
during the holidays as required to ensure your classroom,
planning, and preparation are ready for the start of each
term.

•  Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably
required by the Headteacher or Governors.

SAFEGUARDING OF PUPILS AND DUTY OF CARE
•  All staff, regardless of role, level of seniority and location,
have a responsibility to ensure the highest levels of
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and
we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this
commitment. We must collectively create an environment
where children feel safe to learn, play and grow. Children
should feel comfortable in their surroundings and know
that they can approach any responsible adult with any
problems or concerns.

•  All staff must be able to identify any children who are at
risk of harm and know the characteristics of abuse or
neglect. If you suspect or confirm harm, then it is essential
you know what actions to take.

•  Annual safeguarding training is offered at St Christopher’s,

and it is the staff member’s responsibility to be aware of
the most up to date guidance documents in the Keeping
Children Safe in Education document (DFE (Department
for Education)).

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOLFURTHER INFORMATION

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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St Christopher’s School has its own salary scale which is
above the national scales.

•  All teaching staff are automatically members of the

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pension scheme run by the Teachers’ Pensions Agency
which is transferable between all UK schools.
Lunch is provided free of charge during term time.
Successful applicants will be required to make an
enhanced disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring
Services and to complete an Online Pre-Placement
Medical Questionnaire.

•  All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a
‘Suitability to work with children: self-declaration form’.
This form must be completed, signed and returned to HR
prior to the interview taking place.

SAFEGUARDING
This role will involve contact with children. The Reigate
Grammar School group is committed to safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of children and young people and
expects all staff to share this commitment. All applicants
should read the school’s safeguarding policy (available on our
website) and are required to declare any criminal convictions,
cautions or disciplinary proceedings related to young people.
Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection
screening appropriate to the post including checks with past
employers and the Disclosure and Barring Services. Full details
are given on the application form.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job
applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including
those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the
DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work
with children.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Reigate Grammar School group is an equal opportunities
employer and welcomes applications from appropriately
qualified persons from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to
creating and sustaining an environment that values individuality
and difference and celebrates the diversity of both staff and
pupils by fostering perseverance, tolerance and integrity. We
believe in equal opportunity for everyone, irrespective of age,

disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil
partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief,
sexual orientation or socio-economic background. Candidates
will be assessed against relevant criteria only (i.e. skills,
qualifications, abilities, experience) in selection and
recruitment. We know that more diverse teams are stronger
teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff
and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants are asked to complete the Application Form (which
is available on our website) and send with a supporting
statement addressed to the Headteacher as soon as possible
and by 9.00am on Monday 6 October 2025 at the latest.
Please do not send a separate curriculum vitae. Applications
will be considered in the order in which they are received, and
the school reserves the right to make an appointment prior to
the closing date. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for
interview.

Within your application letter we would be grateful
if you could indicate where you saw this position, whether it
was from the TES or another source.

Applications should be addressed to The Headteacher
and sent (by letter or by email) to the address below.

Mrs Dawn Holmes
Head of Human Resources
Reigate Grammar School
Reigate Road, Reigate, RH2 0QS

01737 222231

hr@reigategrammar.org

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOL
SCHOOL LOCATION AND
DIRECTIONS

St Christopher’s School is located in the historic market town
of Epsom, well known for its green open spaces, thriving town
centre and the world-famous Epsom Downs Racecourse. The
town combines excellent amenities, including independent
cafés, restaurants, and shops, with easy access to beautiful
countryside. Epsom has regularly been recognised as one of
the best places to live in Surrey, offering a strong sense of
community, outstanding recreational facilities, and excellent
transport links into London and the wider region.

By Road
St Christopher’s School is situated just 10 minutes walk from
Epsom town centre. The most direct route is via the M25. Exit
at junction 9 and follow the A24 north towards Epsom. The
school is located on Downs Road, within a short distance of
the town centre and Epsom Downs.

By Rail
Epsom station provides frequent mainline services into London
Waterloo, London Victoria, and London Bridge, as well as
routes to Guildford, Horsham and Dorking. The station is
within easy reach of the school.

By Air
Gatwick Airport is approximately 30 minutes away by road,
while Heathrow Airport can be reached in around 40 minutes.
Both offer frequent domestic, European and international
flights.

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOL