Assistant Head of Year

The Swan School, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 7WP

17 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st September 2026

• Closing date

  22 June 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  5 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £25,157.00 - £26,851.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 7, Full-Time (37 hrs per week), Term Time + INSET days

Assistant Head of Year job summary

As Assistant Head of Year, you will act as the first point of call for a specific student cohort, directly overseeing their well-being, behaviour, and academic progress. You will manage day-to-day student issues and implement consistent pastoral routines that remove barriers to learning. You will collaborate closely with a structured pastoral team to address individual challenges early, ensuring that calm routines translate into a stable environment where every young person can focus on their academic studies.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in managing student behaviour constructively, with a firm commitment to clear, consistent routines.

• The ability to act as a visible, reassuring first point of call for families, tutors, and external agencies.

• Strong organisational skills to balance the varied demands of a busy school day and manage complex student issues with discretion.

• An objective, evidence-informed approach to pastoral care, focusing on practical outcomes that improve student focus.

• Resilience, empathy, and the professional confidence to support a Head of Year in maintaining high standards across a full cohort.

The RLT Connection

Education has the power to change lives; we are better, faster, stronger together. The Swan School is a member of the River Learning Trust (RLT), a stable and mission-driven multi-academy trust. Joining us provides access to shared security and regional expertise:

• Professional Security: Full recognition of continuous public sector service (protecting redundancy, sick pay, and maternity entitlements) alongside secure, government-backed pensions (LGPS).

• Shared Growth: Access to Trust-wide professional networks and structural funding pathways for role-specific qualifications and apprenticeships.

• The Whole Person: A comprehensive 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, access to regional occupational health support, and a genuine commitment to balanced workloads.

River Learning Trust and The Swan School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. We are an exempt employer under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

We actively value the "different contributions" you can make. We want you to be at your best during the application process; if you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know.

Note: We do not accept CVs.We reserve the right to interview and appoint exceptional candidates early. This is a Full-time position, but flexible/part-time hours will be considered for the right candidate.

Call to Action

• Discover Your Impact: View below the full Job Description within the Job Pack below, and apply via MyNewTerm

• Start a Conversation: For an informal discussion regarding contract hours or to arrange a visit to our facilities, please contact headteacher@theswanschool.org.uk or call 01865 416 070.

• The Future Path: Not the right time? Register with our Talent Pool to hear about new opportunities first.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About The Swan School

• School type: Free Schools, None, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 952 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: The Swan School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-swan-school

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Oxford and Oxfordshire