Head of Faculty (Science)
The Swan School, Oxford, OX2 7WP4 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2025
Closing date
28 April 2025 at 8am
Date listed
2 April 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Science
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- MPS/UPS + TLR 1(2)
Head of Faculty (Science) job summary
About the role
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead the development of an exceptional faculty within a growing free-school. As Head of Science, you will lead a team of subject specialist teachers, deputy heads of faculty, and technicians to build on strong foundations and further develop the science curriculum at The Swan School. Science outcomes at KS3, GCSE and A-Level are exceptional and this is an opportunity to take the faculty from strength to strength. You will work collaboratively with other subject leaders and colleagues in other schools to lead best practice in this area.
You will have the opportunity to teach across KS3-KS5. Approximately half of our students take triple science at GCSE level and take-up at A-Level is extremely strong with multiple classes in both biology and chemistry. The science faculty is equipped with state-of-the-art lab facilities and IT equipment to support delivery of the curriculum. In addition to the core curriculum, the science faculty also offer a wide and rich range of enrichment including science club, workshops, visiting speakers, and visits to places as far afield as CERN in Switzerland.
This is ideally a full time role but flexible working may be considered for the right candidate
What skills/experiences are required?
The successful candidate will share our ambitions for our students. You will relish the challenge of creating a new school that will be different to other comprehensive schools in the city. You will be a highly motivated team player, a creative thinker who is unafraid to try new approaches, and a reflective practitioner, keen to continue learning in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students. You will be able to demonstrate how you have shown leadership impact in your career so far. The Swan School is a fantastic place to develop both your teaching and leadership expertise and there are a wide range of development opportunities on offer for members of staff.
We would welcome applications from teachers with experience of teaching science in a comprehensive secondary school setting, are able to demonstrate impact, and who are ready for their next leadership position. A specialism in physics is desirable, but not essential.
About the school
The Swan School, part of the River Learning Trust, is Oxford’s first new secondary school for over 50 years, and opened in September 2019. When full, we will have approximately 1,200 students on roll, of whom around 300 will be in the Sixth Form. Our students are drawn from a local catchment area and the school is at the heart of the community.
Learning from the most successful approaches at the best schools, The Swan School provides a uniquely challenging and structured experience in a caring and disciplined environment. The ethos is academic; we regard an excellent academic education as the entitlement of all young people, no matter what their background or previous experiences of learning. Students are inspired and nurtured, acquiring the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively. They will learn to be confident, resilient and ambitious, and will have high expectations in terms of their own achievements and their contribution to wider society.
Student outcomes at The Swan School are exceptional - our first cohort of GCSE students achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.55, placing The Swan in the highest category of schools across the country. In 2023, the school was graded by OFSTED as outstanding for Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth Form.
The Swan School is part of the River Learning Trust, which facilitates collaboration, professional development, and opportunities across a wide range of other highly successful schools.
How to apply
If you have any questions or would like to speak to someone about this post, please contact us via headteacher@theswanschool.org.uk or on 01865 416070. You are advised to visit theswanschool.org.uk/work-at-the-swan/ to find out more about working at The Swan. We would be delighted to arrange an opportunity to visit the school and or speak to existing members of staff.
Applications for this post should be made through the My New Term recruitment portal. Please contact us if you have any queries regarding the application process.
The deadline for applications is Monday 28th April 2025, with interviews likely to be held later the same week. Please note that applications will be considered as they are submitted and the school reserves the right to withdraw the advert early if a suitable candidate is found.
This is ideally a full-time role but part-time or flexible working may be considered for the right candidate.
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About the River Learning Trust
Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.
OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.
OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils.
OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.
Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide.
Safeguarding
The River Learning Trust and The Swan School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. All staff must ensure that the highest priority is given to following the guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. Employment will also be conditional on the receipt of at least two acceptable references (one from current/latest employer) and evidence of the formal qualifications required for the role. This role includes regulated activity relevant to children. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. You should contact the school if you are unsure if this role includes regulated activity relevant to children.
- For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link
- The Swan School's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found here
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 are not accepted.
About The Swan School
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 862 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Swan School website
School location
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