Merstham Park School is looking for fee-funded trainees to train in Biology, Chemistry, DT (RM), MFL – French and Physics

GLF Schools is a Trust of 43 schools, and we have other schools keen to offer placements on employment-based routes, including the Salaried or Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship, for the right candidate in other subjects too.

Could this be you?

Are you a passionate graduate based in or near Redhill in Surrey and ready to begin your teaching career at Merstham Park School?

🌱About Merstham Park School

Merstham Park is a great school, where staff work hard to support students and provide them with a culturally rich learning environment to ensure that children leave with the very best outcomes. This includes not only academic success, but also those personal, memorable experiences that enable them to go forward in life as successful citizens with exciting choices ahead of them.

Collaboration is a key element of success, and the team at Merstham Park School are passionate about working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that all can thrive within their community. An important aspect of this is their belief in the strength of inclusion as a strong community respects and values its diversity, allowing all members to find their niche, feel supported and be able to flourish.

Visitors to the school often remark on the family-feeling they immediately recognise when meeting the school community. This warm and welcoming atmosphere, alongside the new state-of-the-art facilities, are just some of the reasons why they are such a vibrant school with students excited to be there. Modern classrooms, well-equipped science laboratories, and cutting-edge technology provide an ideal environment for innovative teaching and learning. Additionally, the extensive sports facilities, creative arts spaces, and inviting communal areas offer students numerous opportunities to explore their interests and develop new talents. Over 94% of parents would recommend Merstham Park School to another parent.

The curriculum is broad, ambitious and inclusive, designed to support the needs and interests of the students. Curriculum means any opportunity to learn; at Merstham Park, they are fully committed to offering those experiences and opportunities outside of the timetabled lessons, enabling students to expand their horizons, through clubs, trips and other exciting events.

🌱About GLF Schools

Merstham Park School is part of GLF Schools, a Multi-Academy Trust comprising 43 schools, with a strong presence in the Southeast region, including both primary and secondary schools. Through our partnership with Inspiring Future Teachers (IFT), we offer a variety of locally delivered teacher training routes — from employment-based options to fee-funded pathways.

We are committed to training, developing, and employing our trainee teachers as Early Career Teachers (ECTs) across all our GLF schools. We have a specific teacher training base in Banstead in Surrey, Didcot, Oxfordshire, and in Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre in Reading, offering candidates a choice of where to do their Friday core training.

🏫 About the Trainee Teacher Programme.

We are excited to offer aspiring teachers a fantastic opportunity to train at Merstham Park School, supported by our expert GLF Teacher Training Hub. You’ll benefit from:

• High-quality, school-based training and placement at Merstham Park School
• Locally delivered training sessions
• Mentorship from experienced teachers committed to your development

You’ll also gain practical, hands-on experience across your chosen age range.

🎓 Qualifications Required

To be eligible to apply, you’ll need:

• A UK bachelor's degree (2:2 or above, although some 3rd class degrees may be considered)
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 (C) or above (plus Science for primary)
• Right to work and study in the UK, with 3+ years of residency in the UK/EEA

💷 Funding & Training Route Options

We offer both salaried and fee-funded routes in Surrey schools:

🔹 Salaried Route (Employment-Based)

You are employed full-time (32.5 hrs/week) on the Unqualified Teacher Pay Scale

• The school pays tuition fees for QTS
• Option to add PGCE for £500 (trainee-funded)

🔹 Fee-Funded Route

Unpaid training placement, but eligible for:

• Tuition Fee Loan (up to full cost)
• Maintenance Loan (up to ~£13,000)
• Tax-free DfE bursaries (for shortage secondary subjects)

Training fee costs:

• £9,535 (QTS + PGCE)
• £9,035 (QTS only)

🔹 Part-Time Route (over two years) This is a pilot route for 26-27 and available for some subjects/routes

• Year 1: £7,145 | Year 2: £4,762
• PGCE is not available on this route

🔹 Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship

• Employed by the school
• £9,000 fee funded by the employer's levy- assuming eligibility
• Leads to QTS (PGCE not included)

🌱 Why Train with GLF Teacher Training?

• Local training: Receive weekly training in your area by local expert practitioners — no long commutes!
• Collaborative Trust: Work alongside a network of professionals across the region within GLF schools
• Personalised support: Your wellbeing and workload are prioritised
• Career progression: Many trainees secure ECT positions in our GLF Schools. 96% of last year's trainees secured an ECT position with our support.

📍Placement School- Merstham Park School

All trainees have two placement schools, and GLF Teacher Training ensures your second placement school is carefully matched to ensure reasonable travel and the right fit for your training needs.

📌 Safeguarding & Inclusion

GLF Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and trainees to share this commitment. We also strongly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups and are proud of our inclusive values.

GLF Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

As a Trust, we are happy to discuss flexible working opportunities. GLF Schools recognises and celebrates the diversity of its schools and their communities. There is a shared commitment across the Trust to develop further a culture of respect, where discrimination is not tolerated, and individuals are treated equitably and fairly and feel a sense of belonging. We strive for an inclusive environment where staff, children and students are comfortable to express their own identity, should they wish, in which diversity and inclusion is of mutual benefit for everyone in our schools. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups including those based on ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We reserve the right to withdraw this vacancy at any time ahead of the closing date if there is a good level of response. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application as early as possible.

We also reserve the right to interview shortlisted candidates ahead of the closing date.

Please be advised that references may be requested on receipt of your application. Please state if you wish this to be delayed until shortlisting/interviews have taken place.