SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITY
Join The Oxford Academy on a Two Year Secondment - Make the Difference That Matters Most
The Oxford Academy (TOA) is a school in active and ambitious transformation. With 56% of our students eligible for pupil premium, this is a unique opportunity for passionate teachers to make a profound impact on the lives of our most disadvantaged learners.
We are looking for high-calibre, resilient educators who are motivated by challenge and inspired to be part of a genuine solution. TOA offers an environment where your expertise will have maximum influence, and where you'll be supported to thrive.
In return, we offer:
- A dedicated and accessible SLT support model
- Protected time for staff wellbeing
- Centralised behavioural systems that genuinely work
- The chance to broaden your professional experience in a new context while staying within the River Learning Trust
As part of our school, you will contribute to a culture rooted in our values of commitment to others and commitment to learning. These values shape the warm relationships, mutual respect, and high aspirations that define our community. You will play an active role in shaping a curriculum and learning environment that meet the needs of all students, whatever it takes, removing barriers and helping them build the skills and resilience needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
As part of our commitment to securing excellent outcomes for students at TOA, all secondment posts include a £3,000 recruitment incentive per year of the secondment.* (*The Recruitment Incentive of £3,000 per year of the secondment (£6,000 total for the 2 years) will be paid in lump sum instalments annually - further details can be found here )..
Come and be part of our transformation - your impact starts here.
Why Work at ToA
- Professional Growth & Impact - 'Bespoke CPD and clear career pathways through the River Learning Trust.'
- Supportive Culture & Workload - 'We implement policies that prioritise impact within a warm team culture, allowing you to excel without unnecessary burdens.'
- Moral Purpose - 'Commitment to others, Commitment to learning.'
- Belonging & Community - 'Join a diverse and inclusive team dedicated to transforming lives.'
About You
Are you an ambitious, committed educator who believes in the power of excellent teaching to change lives, especially for those who need it most? Do you bring energy, resilience, and a solution-focused mindset to your work. Do you thrive in environments where a tangible difference can be made every day?
Are you motivated by challenge and excited by the opportunity to contribute to a school on an ambitious improvement journey? The ideal candidate values strong systems, collaborative leadership, and a culture where staff are supported to succeed. They will demonstrate reflective practice, openness to learning, and a desire to broaden professional experience within the River Learning Trust.
Above all, you will need a deep commitment to securing the best outcomes for disadvantaged students, and the desire to play a significant role in shaping their futures.
The Role
English plays a vital role in helping our students communicate effectively, think critically, and access opportunities in further study, employment, and everyday life. We are seeking an inspiring and dedicated English teacher who is passionate about improving life chances and supporting students to realise their full potential, particularly within a diverse community where many students are learning English as an additional language (EAL). In this context, English is not only a core academic subject but also an essential life skill that empowers students to engage fully with the world around them.
You will join a passionate and collaborative English team, committed to delivering a high-quality, engaging curriculum across all key stages. Through creative and challenging lessons, thoughtful curriculum planning, and a culture of shared expertise, the department aims to empower students to develop reading, writing, and communication skills, fostering critical thinking, cultural awareness, and confidence, helping to close gaps, raise aspirations, and enable every learner to progress with purpose and self-belief.
You will deliver high-quality lessons across the English curriculum, supporting students of all abilities and linguistic backgrounds. The role requires a commitment to inclusive practice, ensuring that every student, including EAL learners, can access enriching learning experiences that promote literacy, personal development, and long-term success.
This is a position for a teacher who believes in the transformative power of English, someone who recognises how strong literacy skills can open doors, broaden horizons, and provide students with the confidence to succeed in all aspects of life. You will be motivated by the chance to make a genuine and lasting difference in our community, where your expertise, encouragement, and high expectations can have a profound impact on students' communication skills, personal growth, and future pathways.
Why Join Us
This is a particularly exciting and important moment to join our school. We are seeking an enthusiastic, compassionate professional with the expertise and determination to live out our values of 'commitment to others, commitment to learning.' These values shape everything we do and are reflected in the strong, supportive relationships across our community and in the purposeful learning culture we build for both students and staff.
Working with a large number of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, you will understand the impact that high expectations, consistency, and care can have on a young person's life. You will be deeply committed to removing barriers, raising aspirations, and ensuring every student, regardless of their starting point, can succeed.
At The Oxford Academy, we believe education has the power to transform lives, families, and communities. We are proud of the difference we make every day, and we are looking for someone who shares our drive to ensure every student feels valued, challenged, and able to achieve their very best.
Our School
At The Oxford Academy, we offer pride, aspiration, and opportunity to every member of our community, with improved learning outcomes and a clear moral purpose. Many of our students face significant barriers, and we are committed to ensuring that both students and staff achieve highly through sustainable, meaningful improvements that make a real difference.
Do you want to work in a school that:
- Is friendly and community-centred, where staff genuinely feel part of a team?
- "The school is mindful of staff workload and well-being. It provides high-quality training and support. Staff recognise this and feel valued and respected." (Ofsted 2023)
- Places staff well-being at the heart of everything we do, understanding that thriving staff create the best conditions for our most vulnerable learners to succeed.
- Employs a full-time Instructional Coach who works with staff to develop practice through specific teaching goals that maximise student learning.
- Has an 'aspirational and appropriate curriculum for all' (Ofsted 2023), designed to raise expectations and broaden horizons for every young person.
- Has students who behave well in lessons (Ofsted 2023), allowing teachers to teach and students to learn.
- Prioritises high-quality bespoke CPLD and collaboration opportunities across a successful and highly respected multi-academy trust, equipping staff with the expertise needed to transform outcomes for disadvantaged learners.
Community and Connection
The Oxford Academy is an important part of our local community and we are deeply committed to serving and reflecting the families we work with every day. Many of our students face significant challenges, and we know that strong relationships, trust, and local understanding make a real difference. That's why we actively encourage people from our community (including parents, local residents, and those with strong ties to the area) to join our team.
For us, being part of the community goes far beyond geography. It is about building meaningful connections, understanding students' lived experiences, and providing the support that helps them thrive. By welcoming local talent and colleagues who share our belief in removing barriers for disadvantaged young people, we ensure our values stay aligned with the aspirations of those we serve.
When you join The Oxford Academy, you are not just becoming part of our school, you are joining a team that cares deeply about its community and works tirelessly to improve life chances for all students, especially those who need us most.
We want every member of our community to feel safe, valued, and respected, not just as an expectation, but as a lived reality. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone belongs, and we warmly welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds who share this commitment to equity and inclusion.
Employee Benefits
Health & Wellbeing
- Free annual flu vaccines
- Free onsite gym available for staff use
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
- 24-hour access to a free counselling helpline (including family and debt advice)
- Flexible working solutions
- Reduced teaching time
Financial
- Teachers' Pension Scheme
- Eligible for a Blue Light Card - Hundreds of offers/discounts on local and national stores
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- The Oxford Academy sits outside the ring road and is less affected than other schools by the new Oxford Congestion Charge. We also offer ample onsite parking
- Staff house offering low cost housing for overseas teachers in their first year of employment
Career Progression
- Opportunities for CPLD both within The Oxford Academy and within the wider River Learning Trust
- Developmental performance management conversations
- Networking and development opportunities across the River Learning Trust
- Apprenticeship opportunities
- Investment in your career, internal and external talent solutions
The River Learning Trust
At RLT, we believe we achieve more together than alone. Our schools are united by shared principles, collaboration, and a belief in the power of education to change lives.
- Our Vision: for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously, and sustainably - to be better faster together.
- Our 'Why': children and young people only get one go at school - we aim to ensure it's the best possible one.
- Our 'How': through the highest support and challenge for each other, underpinned by shared principles.
Employees benefit from extensive continuing professional learning, strong wellbeing and staff networks, and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS). For more information, see our "Working in RLT" guide.
Safeguarding and Recruitment
The River Learning Trust and The Oxford Academy are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates . Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered
Next Steps
We warmly encourage teachers considering an application to visit the school and see our community in action. A visit will give you the opportunity to meet staff, experience our learning environment, and gain a clear sense of the impact you can have here.
To arrange a visit, please contact our Reception team at enquiries@theoxfordacademy.org
You can also find further information about The Oxford Academy on our website.
Final Note
The Oxford Academy has a strong track record of offering exceptional care and support to our students and their families. For a dedicated teacher, this is a unique opportunity to join a team deeply committed to securing the best outcomes for our most vulnerable learners; building the strong, trusting relationships that help them thrive both academically and personally.
Please note that we reserve the right to review applications and invite candidates to interview before the advertised closing date, and may make an early appointment for an exceptional teacher.