Second in Charge of Science Faculty (Head of Chemistry)

The Swan School, Oxford

Second in Charge of Science Faculty (Head of Chemistry)

About the role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to be part of starting an exceptional comprehensive school. As a member of The Swan’s team, you will help to build the foundations of an outstanding school from the ground up. In this role you will work with the Head of Science to deliver an exceptional student experience across the faculty. You will take particular responsibility for the leadership of chemistry - developing the curriculum, driving student achievement, and leading a team of teachers. You will specialise in chemistry at GCSE and A-Level whilst teaching across all three sciences lower down the school. Engagement in science subjects is very high across the school with a large proportion of GCSE students taking a triple science pathway. Chemistry is also extremely popular at A-Level; you will have the opportunity to maximise outcomes to ensure that students can achieve more than they ever believed possible.

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 leadership potential, 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.

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 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.

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.

Please visit theswanschool.org.uk/work-at-the-swan/ to find out more about working at The Swan. Interested candidates are strongly advised to visit the school - we would be delighted to arrange an opportunity to visit or speak to existing members of staff.

Applications for this post should be made through the MyNewTerm recruitment portal. Please contact us if you have any queries regarding the application process.

The closing date for applications is Friday 19th April 2024 at 8.00am. Interviews are likely to be held during the following week. Please note that applications will be considered as they are received and the advert may be closed 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 Swan School and the River Learning Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism; all staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. The Swan School is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from a range of ethnic backgrounds to represent diversity in line with our school community.

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