As a local authority, our core purpose is ensuring that every learner in Rhondda Cynon Taf has access to excellent schools and positive and enriching educational experiences that enable them to achieve the very best possible outcomes that they are capable of.
Our mission is: ‘To deliver equity and excellence in education and enhanced well-being for all’. Our Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 sets out the direction for the Education and Inclusion Services Directorate for the next 3 years, describing our mission, vision and ambition for our schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
We are proud of the high standard of education provision on offer in our schools and the excellent relationships that exist across the local education system. We have 115 schools:
- 77 English medium primary schools
- 13 Welsh medium primary schools
- 2 Dual language primary schools
- 3 English medium all-through schools
- 2 Welsh medium all-through schools
- 10 English medium secondary schools
- 2 Welsh medium secondary schools
- 4 Special schools, and
- 2 Pupil Referral Units.
To build on the positive outcomes achieved in our schools, we need exceptional people to support and inspire our learners to achieve their ambitions and aspirations. If you would like to reap the rewards of making a positive difference to the lives of our children and young people, families and communities then we would really like to hear from you. In return you will have excellent support, progression opportunities and numerous staff benefits from a forward thinking and innovative local authority.
If you are a new teacher who wants to start your induction as a newly qualified teacher here in Wales, then please come to work in one of our 115 schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf. There is a strong tradition of cluster working in our local authority and excellent personal and professional support to develop into the best teacher you can be. There are countless opportunities for support staff to work in childcare, nursery, mainstream and special school settings.
Our schools and educational professionals are well supported by the local authority and the regional school improvement service, Central South Consortium (CSC). Effective partnership working underpins all aspects of our work across the sector, and this includes children and young people, parents, educational workforce, the local authority and Central South Consortium to ensure that the four purposes are promoted in all aspects of school life in the county. Working closely with the early education teacher partnerships, we ensure that the transition from trainee to newly qualified teacher is supportive, effective and provides valuable and informative experiences for all.
Development and career opportunities
Rhondda Cynon Taf schools are committed to providing their employees with opportunities for development, career progression and a healthy work-life balance. Professional development continues throughout your teaching career as there are many different elements involved in the delivery of education within our schools, so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to take on board new responsibilities, while expanding your skillset and enjoying new challenges and experiences.
Our Central South Consortium can also help you with:
- Support from Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and becoming a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT), to career development at all stages, including middle and senior leadership, headship and beyond.
- An extensive professional learning offer to keep you up to date on key areas of reform, such as the new Curriculum for Wales, to develop your practice and enhance your future career prospects.
- Opportunities to collaborate and share practice with other practitioners across the region as part of our self-improving school system, the Central South Wales Challenge (CSWC).
- Professional learning to support your own Welsh language development and skills
Becoming a qualified teacher
To become a school teacher and teach in a maintained school in Rhondda Cynon Taf, you need to gain primary or secondary education Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), this means completing a programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE).
There are a variety of ways to start your teaching career and Educators Wales will help you explore what teaching is like and the routes available. You can also contact them for further information by emailing information@educators.wales. Please note that the entry requirements have recently been lowered to grade C in English, Welsh and Maths to allow more people to join the teaching profession.
There are different training routes to suit your needs, including full-time, part-time and salaried options. You may also be eligible for a financial help to study, such as a grant. Further information is available on the Educators Wales and Welsh Government websites.
Once you have gained your Qualified Teacher Status you will need to complete a period of induction. Welsh Government has a dedicated area on the Education Wales YouTube channel for the Teaching Wales campaign which provides further information.
For further information, please send your enquiry to: Director.Education@rctcbc.gov.uk
Welsh Language
If you are already employed by us and want to learn Welsh or refresh your existing skills, we will support you with this. You can also find out more about development opportunities on the Central South Consortium and the National Centre for Learning Welsh websites.
Welsh Medium Schools
Find out more if you would like to work in our Welsh medium schools.
As a local authority we are committed to further developing our Welsh language provision and we are working with partners to increase the number of teachers, teaching assistants and leaders in the Welsh medium sector.
Special Schools
RCT currently has four special schools and two Pupil Referral Units (primary and secondary), all of which work effectively and collaboratively with Access and Inclusion Services to ensure children with the most significant and complex Additional Learning Needs (ALN) have access to exceptional teaching and learning opportunities.
We seek to recruit staff who have drive, creativity and a passion for teaching and learning to become part of our Additional Learning Needs Community and we are keen to recruit the best applicants for the role and to support staff to develop and thrive within their role.
Other benefits
As an employee of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, you also get other benefits such as:
- Health and wellbeing support with access to our own Occupational Health and Wellbeing Unit, where advice and support is offered such as counselling, nurse and physiotherapist services
- Lifestyle discounts through our Vectis discount card which can be used throughout some of the UK’s leading brands with savings on groceries, holidays, eating out and more
- Discounted gym membership for Rhondda Cynon Taf owned leisure centres
- Financial wellbeing support such as advice and salary deducted loans if you are eligible
- Pension scheme
To see if your perfect role is waiting for you
search our current school vacancies.