The Junior School

The Junior School, for boys aged 7-11, is a happy and highly successful part of one of the country’s leading independent day schools. It currently has 138 pupils in eight forms. Although the school has grown in recent years, the intimate size helps to create a family-like atmosphere, where boys demonstrate a spirit of respect and tolerance. We aim to provide an education which enables each boy to acquire an independent and searching mind, to develop a broad range of extra-curricular interests, and to take pleasure in the life of ideas. Key dispositions such as kindness, perseverance, resilience and teamwork underpin all aspects of Junior School life.

The Role

The School is seeking to appoint a Head of Junior School English from 1st September 2024 to lead the teaching of English the Junior School, and teach a timetable mostly English throughout the Junior School. The role is likely to include acting as form tutor to a Year 5 (J3) or Year 6 (J4) group. The role would be suitable for an experienced teacher, an Early Career Teacher (ECT), or someone without a teaching qualification who might be interested in pursuing the School’s Waynflete Teaching Certificate, which can lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

The Candidate

The successful candidate will:

• be a well-qualified graduate, ideally in English or a related subject;
• lead the teaching and promotion of English within the Junior School
• develop engaging schemes of work for teaching English to bright boys
• liaise with the Head of English in the Senior School
• show clear enthusiasm for teaching English to pupils in the Junior School (Years 3-6);
• plan and prepare lessons that cater for young, bright minds, and celebrate their strengths to encourage a welcoming, positive and valued learning environment;
• teach in an engaging manner in a highly successful Junior School;
• have a clear understanding of how to provide the platforms for each individual child to reach their potential;
• work closely with the Head and Deputy Heads of the Junior School to prepare pupils for senior school admissions tests in English;
• support the progress of all pupils in the Junior School by taking a role in support, enrichment and partnerships sessions;
• set clear expectations for pupil behaviour within an encouraging classroom environment;
• take a keen interest in the welfare of all Junior School pupils and oversee the pastoral wellbeing of boys throughout each day;
• act as the pastoral tutor to a Junior School form, likely Year 5 or Year 6;
• show clear commitment to safeguarding children;
• have a positive, cheerful and caring attitude, with a willingness to become involved in all aspects of life in our busy Junior School, such as games, music, drama, activities and trips;
• have excellent written and spoken communication skills;
• have sound IT skills;
• have the ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a wider team;
• display a high level of attention to detail;
• work hard to support pupil progress;
• be willing to take part in continuing professional development;
• respond positively to feedback.

The Junior School Teacher will report to the Head of Junior School, and ultimately to the Master.

Please see the Information Pack for more information.

Application Process

Candidates should submit the “MCS Application Form for Teaching and Support Staff” which can be found on the Job Vacancy link of the website (www.mcsoxford.org). To access Click here. To apply for the position please send the following two documents to the HR Administrator, Miss Yelena Molcanova (recruitment@mcsoxford.org).

1. “MCS Application Form for Teaching and Support Staff” Form
2. CV (Curriculum Vitae)

All documentation should be sent no later than Wednesday 17th April, at midday. The school’s preferred method of communication is by email and it will not be necessary to send a hard copy of the documents by post.

References may be taken up in advance. If you do not wish references to be called for at this stage, please make that clear on the reference section of the application form.

We anticipate holding interviews in week beginning Monday 22nd April, which will include a taught lesson. We will be in contact with shortlisted candidates by telephone. Please be aware that all shortlisted candidates will be requested to complete a “Self-Disclosure” form before attending their interview.

Equal Opportunities

Magdalen College School recognises and is committed to ensuring applicants and employees from all sections of the community are treated equally regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marital and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Safeguarding Policy

Magdalen College School is committed to the safeguarding of pupils, and any offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, the receipt of satisfactory references, the school’s pre-employment medical questionnaire, plus sight of relevant original ID documentation and degree certificate(s). This role will be in regulated activity and will require a children’s barred list check as well as an enhanced DBS check. The enhanced DBS check is due to this role being exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Remuneration and other benefits

MCS currently has its own salary scale, and salaries are more generous than those in the maintained sector; there is also a relocation allowance on a sliding scale, by agreement with the Master and Bursar, and dependent on current location. The school also operates a cycle to work scheme, and travel loans are available. MCS offers teaching staff a choice of pension arrangements; a Defined Contribution scheme with an employer contribution of 23.68% or the Teachers’ Pension Scheme with a salary sacrifice arrangement. Staff may move between the two schemes as suits their needs. The Master will discuss the pension with any offer of appointment.

School fee remission is available for permanent staff sons and Sixth Form daughters who pass the entrance tests for the school, and is currently 50% pro rata subject to a minimum FTE of 50%. In addition, 20% fee remission pro rata is available for MCS staff who have daughters attending Headington Rye, subject to a minimum of 50% FTE.

There is a wide range of benefits on offer to staff, including a free lunch during term time, free private health insurance and complimentary use of school sports facilities. Head to mcsoxford.org/vacancies to find out more.

Professional Development

The school places a significant emphasis on the professional development of all staff. A half termly CPD & Teaching Newsletter is distributed by email, which aims to highlight educational research and practical ideas, to share ideas from courses and conferences attended, to offer guidance on opportunities for CPD, and to highlight the work of colleagues in the area of teaching and learning. All colleagues are encouraged to attend at least one external CPD course each year, and also to visit another school, place of work or university, where appropriate. The Teaching & Learning Group meets before school twice per half term. Its purpose is to consider developments in educational research, to facilitate discussion of teaching and learning, to offer a forum for the sharing of good teaching practice, and to support colleagues in experimenting with new teaching techniques. There is also a programme of Learning Lunches each term for colleagues to share good practice. Colleagues who have been teaching for more than seven years (including a minimum of three years’ service at MCS) may make an application for study leave for the second half of the Trinity term.

Waynflete Teaching Certificate

The School aims to offer teaching staff joining the school without a teaching qualification (UQTs) the opportunity to develop their teaching craft and reflect on their professional practice though a structured programme of training and support. For such colleagues, the school offers the Waynflete Teaching Certificate, which may ultimately lead to Qualified Teacher Status through the Assessment Only route offered by the University of Reading.

Head to mcsoxford.org/vacancies to find out more.