About You
Are you a teacher who believes every young person (regardless of background) deserves excellent teaching, strong relationships, and the opportunity to achieve?
Are you motivated by the challenge and privilege of working with vulnerable learners who may need your support the most?
Are you someone who is energised by high expectations, purposeful routines, and the chance to make a genuine difference every day?
If this sounds like you, we would be excited to welcome you into a team where your impact truly matters.
This is an excellent opportunity for a talented and enthusiastic colleague to join The Oxford Academy, a school on a rapid improvement journey where you will be able to make a significant difference to the lives of the young people we serve. It is an exciting time to be joining the school and its team of expert and welcoming staff, enabling the successful candidate to be part of something special.
The Role
Are you an experienced leader with the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) or NPQ SEND who believes that excellent teaching, structured routines, and strong relationships are the foundation for vulnerable learners to succeed?
We are seeking a Lead SENCO to co-lead our SEND provision within a collaborative culture. Working alongside an established SENCO and reporting to the Deputy Headteacher, you will share leadership responsibilities across the school to ensure classroom practice is exceptional for every student.
Why This Role Matters
Many of our students face significant barriers to learning. As Lead SENCO, your expertise will directly address these barriers, ensuring vulnerable learners fully access enriching opportunities, from core academic tracking to our Macbeth theatre trips. You will report to the Deputy Headteacher for Inclusion and share the leadership responsibilities across the school. You will model expert classroom practice and lead strategic collaborations with local agencies to sustain an inclusive environment where every young person belongs.
You need to be great in the classroom yourself, ready to model good practice to others, but also know the code of practice inside out and know how to manage the daily realities. That means everything from coordinating with local groups to making sure kids who need extra support can still access big opportunities like our Macbeth theatre trips, and building those solid, warm relationships that help our students feel safe and ready to learn.
Why Join Us
This is an exciting time to join The Oxford Academy, where our values of ‘commitment to others, commitment to learning’ drive everything we do. We are looking for a dedicated professional who shares our belief that education has the power to transform lives and communities.
At our school, support is a collective effort: it’s seen in our Sixth Formers tutoring younger pupils, our student-led assemblies on social responsibility, and our celebrated Student Council, whose representatives influence local policy on transport and safety at Delegates' Assemblies.
We don’t just work within the community; we are an active part of it. From hosting our annual Community Iftar to partnering with the Oxford Hub Pre-Loved School Uniform Shop, we ensure our families feel cared for and included. If you have high expectations of yourself and others and want to be part of a culture where strong, warm relationships are the foundation of learning, we would love to welcome you to the team.
While this position is advertised as full time, we will consider those seeking part time hours. Please indicate this is your preference on the application form.
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’.
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’ , designed to raise expectations and broaden horizons for every young person.
Has students who behave well in lessons, 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
Onsite nursery provision through Little Peeple Nursery
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
Opportunity for low cost shared accommodation within our staff house for 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 [email protected]
You can also find further information about The Oxford Academy on our website.
Final Note
At The Oxford Academy, we believe in ‘courage, compassion, and curiosity’. We have a strong track record of offering exceptional care to our families and students, providing a supportive environment where both staff and students are encouraged to make a difference beyond the classroom. Whether through our Amnesty International Club, debate championships, or various sports fixtures, this is a unique opportunity to join a team passionate about supporting our most vulnerable learners and building strong, lasting relationships with them.
The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates before the closing date and may make an early offer to an exceptional applicant.
