2 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    September 2024

  • Closing date

    3 May 2024 at 9am

  • Date listed

    17 April 2024

Job details

Job role

  • Head of year or phase

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

MPS/UPS + TLR 2(3)

Head of Year job summary

About the role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to be part of shaping an exceptional comprehensive school in the early stages of its journey. As a Head of Year, you will take responsibility for the pastoral leadership for one year group within the school (KS3 or 4). This will involve setting the ethos for the year group, using data to establish priorities, inspiring students, and ensuring that all students get the very best pastoral support that they need to excel in their education. You will lead a team of tutors and pastoral support staff to achieve this aim.

The successful candidate will share our ambitions for our students and be passionate about the role that schools can play in breaking down barriers to help students to achieve more than they ever believed possible. You will be a highly motivated team player with experience of leading in a school context. You will be able to demonstrate how you have made an impact on students in your current context and have a creative vision about how you would apply your previous experience to this new role.

About our 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 will be drawn from a local catchment area and the school will be 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.

The Swan is a highly successful school as recognised by our first OFSTED Report from September 2023 which graded the school as Outstanding for Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth Form, and Good for Quality of Education.

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 - we would be very pleased to organise an opportunity to visit and meet members of our team. Candidates are also encouraged to visit our website to find out more about our school: https://theswanschool.org.uk/work-at-the-swan/

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 closing date for applications is Friday 3rd May 2024 with interviews likely to be held the following week. Applications will be considered as they are submitted and the advert may close early if a suitable candidate is found.

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.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

The Swan School is a free school managed by The River Learning Trust, which is an exempt charity and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales with a registered company number 7966500. Registered Office: c/o Gosford Hill School, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 2NT

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

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

Using the application form

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

Visas cannot be sponsored.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)

About The Swan School

School type
Free School, ages 11 to 18
Education phase
View all Secondaryjobs
School size
667 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 18

School location

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