About this role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to be part of shaping an excellent comprehensive school in the early stages of its journey. As Head of the Social Science Faculty, you will lead a team of teachers to develop and deliver an exceptional curriculum across all social science subjects - including business studies, economics, psychology, and sociology. Social sciences are extremely popular option choices at both GCSE and A-Level. Outcomes for students in these subjects have been very strong for our first two cohorts and we are looking for an exceptional leader to consolidate and build on these foundations - this could include both curricular and extra-curricular provision. As well as leading a team of subject specialist teachers, you will also be part of the curriculum middle leadership team which provides opportunities to learn from and collaborate with other highly skilled and motivated colleagues. Joining a new school offers significant leadership development opportunities as the school grows.

Although this is ideally a full time role, we are open to conversations around flexible working for the right candidate.

What skills/experience 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 with a proven track record of impactful leadership in a secondary school setting. You will be 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.

Experience of teaching at least one social sciences subject in a secondary school setting is essential for this role - this will ideally include evidence of delivering excellent student outcomes at both GCSE and A-Level. The successful candidate will also have experience of leadership in schools, be able to demonstrate impact, and will be able to articulate how they would apply their previous experience to the particular context of this role in this school.

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 of their own achievements and their contribution to wider society.

Staff at The Swan benefit from being part of a close-knit team where wellbeing is prioritised. We strive to be exceptional and are proud to be different. We are unafraid to work hard in the best interests of the students but we ensure that staff time is not wasted on time-consuming jobs that have little impact on student outcomes (for example, there are no written reports or school expectations for written marking). Swan staff benefit from excellent professional development opportunities within the school, wider trust, and beyond. Our unique 'cycles' model means that our school terms are predictable and colleagues have a high degree of agency and autonomy over their time.

How to apply

Candidates are invited to visit the school or speak to a member of staff before making an application. Please email headteacher@theswanschool.org.uk to arrange a telephone call or a visit.

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 12pm on Wednesday 26th March, with interviews likely to be held early the following week. The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate.

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.

This role includes regulated activity relevant to children. 

***

Safeguarding

The River Learning Trust and The Swan School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies. 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered