School Librarian

Required January 2026

28 - 35 hours per week - term time only (38 weeks)

Salary: Grade 9 35 hours Pro rata (5 days per week) £27862-£30165 OR 28 hours Pro rata (4 days per week) £22290-£24132

(Full time equivalent £34434-£37280)

Our vibrant, well-stocked library is at the heart of Wheatley Park School. Following the retirement of our current librarian, we are looking for an energetic and engaging person to continue building our thriving culture of reading.

You will be someone who has a great personal love of reading, and a passionate belief in the many ways that regular reading can benefit young people. You will enjoy working with students across the age and prior attainment range, from supporting vulnerable students at homework club, to organising challenging Reading Groups with our highest prior attainers; from running interventions for students with low literacy, to helping our students take part in inter-school events such as the Kids' Lit Quiz, and Carnegie Shadowing.
This job is ideal for someone with strong organisational skills, who enjoys making connections with a wide range of people, and who would be imaginative in their approach to keeping the library the buzzing, engaging place it is now. You might be an experienced teacher, or someone who has changed careers to move into education; you could be a member of school support staff, or someone with a background in SEND or inclusion. You might not have any experience in secondary schools, but have trained as a librarian, or worked in the promotion of literacy amongst young people. There are many ways to succeed in this exceptionally fulfilling role.

The work will be multifaceted and exceptionally rewarding. It will include working directly with our enthusiastic students, ensuring the library is a warm and inclusive environment where all our students feel welcome and cared for. You will be promoting the joy and the many benefits of reading, both pastoral and academic, to students from all year groups. You will administrate reading tests, manage data on reading attainment and students' improving reading skills, and help to plan and deliver interventions to help students catch up. You will also be able to organise a programme of visits, creative writing workshops and speaker talks, as part of promoting a love of reading across the school.

We hope to find:

a person who is confidently able to engage young people in a love of reading and learning.
a well organised individual, with good attention to detail and the energy to see things through to a high standard.
a knowledgeable and curious person who will already know about young people's fiction and is keen to know more.

We will offer you:

the opportunity to make a difference to the students' lives and their experience across our school
a positive and focused professional environment, which is well resourced and varied
opportunities for further development and professional learning in a school that values 'Everyone Learning'

We will be willing to train and develop a suitable candidate, giving you an opportunity to grow and expand your influence. Some experience of a school environment or of work with young people is important for this post.

We are looking for someone who has the ability to think on their feet and is resourceful; is happy with change and a 'can do' attitude; has patience, positivity and the determination to succeed.

We will offer you the chance to be part of a strong and developing school community working in a supporting environment. We are renowned for placing a high value on staff wellbeing and professional development at all levels.

Situated just east of Oxford in a unique parkland site, Wheatley Park School is a flourishing 11- 18 academy with a vibrant comprehensive intake. Our results place us in the Department For Education's 'Well Above Average' category of schools - comprising the top 16% of schools in the country.

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.

This role includes regulated activity relevant to children.

If you would like to know more, or arrange a visit, please contact Mrs Skye Wigley (HR Manager) on 01865 872441 or by email to swigley@wheatleypark.org . Full details can be found on our website here Applications for this post can only be accepted via the MyNewTerm website here . To find out more about the River Learning Trust, please visit www.riverlearningtrust.org .

Closing date and time: 9am Thursday 27th November 2025

The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate. An offer may be made to an exceptional candidate in this instance.

Provisional Interview date: Tuesday 2nd December 2025

The River Learning Trust and Wheatley Park School 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

Our staff are expected to maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by not undermining fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Wheatley Park School, Holton, Oxford, OX33 1QH

Tel: 01865 872441

www.wheatleypark.org

Wheatley Park School jobs

School Librarian