Are you interested in a role which enables you to genuinely make a difference to the lives of young people?  

The Oxford Academy is committed to improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and knows that some students need additional support to thrive at school and in life. School counselling is an easily accessible, non-stigmatising and effective form of early intervention for reducing psychological distress in children and young people. A trained school counsellor gives a young person a place that is focused 100% on their needs – a safe space to help them to understand and cope with what they’re going through. Speaking to a school counsellor can be a transformative experience for children and young people. It can help them cope with the difficult circumstances they face in their lives - and to go on and flourish in the future.

We are seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic and organised person to join our school as our School Counsellor. You will be someone who has high expectations of themselves and others, and someone thoroughly committed to making a difference to students' lives.

In return, the successful candidate can expect:

• To play a key role in an ambitious and improving school

• Outstanding professional support at every stage of your career

• A comprehensive Induction Programme

• A supportive Senior Leadership Team

• Opportunities to work in a dynamic and supportive team with excellent facilities

• A positive student body who love learning

• The opportunity to work in the beautiful city of Oxford, serving the communities of Littlemore, Blackbird Leys and Rose Hill

As our School Counsellor, you will be a vital member of support staff, providing a crucial service supporting, promoting and developing positive mental health and well being in students in order to improve attainment, attendance, behaviour, confidence and resilience. You will also support and develop the practice of staff in school and in the broader partnership to encourage positive mental health and well being in students. In this role, you will work within other counselling colleagues and within a broader wellbeing and inclusion team

For full details of the role, please refer to the job description and person specification. For further information about the Oxford Academy, please visit the school's website. Note that due to the nature of this role, the postholder must have a full, valid driving license.

We encourage interested candidates to visit the school before application. To arrange a visit please contact us on recruitment@theoxfordacademy.org.

Recruitment for this position is on going and successful candidates might be invited to interview as applications are received. 

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. 

The River Learning Trust and The Oxford Academy 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 River Learning Trust are required to conduct online searches about you as part of their shortlisting process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online.  By applying for this role, you acknowledge that such searches will be conducted as part of the shortlisting process. 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. The River Learning Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from a range of backgrounds to represent diversity in line with our schools’ community. 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 RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. For further guidance for applicants click on the this link List of offences that are not filtered

Our staff are expected to maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by not undermining fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

The Oxford Academy may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and this job may be withdrawn at any point without notice. With this in mind, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.