Head of Year

The Swan School, Oxford

Head of Year

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