Teacher of Food Technology

The Swan School, Oxford

Teacher of Food Technology (part of a Creative Technology Faculty)

About the role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to be part of starting an exceptional comprehensive school. As a teacher of Food Technology, you will help to build the foundations of an outstanding school from the ground up. You will work with talented colleagues to focus on ‘getting it right’ with younger students so that we avoid ‘fire-fighting’ with year 11s later on. You will have the opportunity to teach at Key Stage 3 and 4, (with an opportunity to develop the KS5 offer in the future), being involved in the planning/delivery of the Food Technology curriculum as well as contributing to the success of the wider Creative Technology faculty. Whilst you will specialise in Food Technology, you will also have the chance to develop your skills by teaching across other Art and DT subjects. There will be significant leadership and professional development opportunities available as the school grows. For an experienced candidate with leadership potential, a TLR for subject leadership is be available.

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 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 are drawn from a local catchment area and the school is 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.

In our first OFSTED report from September 2023, The Swan School was graded as outstanding for Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth Form. Quality of Education was grade as good.

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. You are advised to visit theswanschool.org.uk/work-at-the-swan/ to find out more about working at The Swan. We would be very pleased to arrange an opportunity for prospective candidates to visit the school.

This is ideally a full time role but flexible working may be considered for the right candidate.

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 Tuesday 7th May 2024 at 8am with interviews likely to be held later the same week. Applications will be considered as they are submitted and the school reserves the right to withdraw the advert 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