Pastoral Leader - Maternity Cover

Cheney School is a large secondary school based in Headington, Oxford. The school is thriving. There is a culture of collaboration, support and care throughout the school, leading to higher standards and greater job satisfaction every year. Our school motto is “think for yourself; act for others”; these are not just empty words, and are an essential part of the way Cheney runs. We couldn’t do what we do without our fantastic staff team.

We are looking for a dedicated Pastoral Leader to join our friendly and hardworking pastoral team. Acting as the non-teaching deputy to the Head of Year, you will be the primary daily link between our students, their families, and the school. Your focus will be on ensuring that students are safe, present, and fully supported to meet our high expectations.

A vital part of this role involves providing a calm and consistent presence to help young people navigate social and emotional challenges. You will take the lead on daily pastoral matters, from supporting excellent attendance to resolving behaviour incidents and championing student welfare. The salary is based on 37 hours per week during term time, plus five additional INSET days.

We offer a positive workplace with an exceptionally supportive and open-minded staff body. Visitors always comment that people like each other at Cheney. We provide excellent opportunities for career progression, training and advancement; the range of Continuing Professional Development is second to none. You can read the outcome of our most recent Ofsted inspection here.

If you would like to have a confidential conversation with Bethany Hutson about the role, prior to application, then please email ake@cheneyschool.org or telephone 01865 765726.

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.

Cheney School is part of the River Learning Trust

RLT believes 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.

The River Learning Trust and Cheney 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