Please read in conjunction with Notes for applicants and Additional information for teachers of IB courses.

Full-time (from January 2013 to December 2013; one year maternity cover)

The post

St. Clare's is committed to promoting personal development, developing leadership skills and engaging students in meaningful community service through student participation in a wide range of sports and extra-curricular activities which complement the academic curriculum. For students on the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, participation in activities is a formal requirement (CAS - Creativity, Action and Service), necessary for the award of the IB Diploma.

The Activities Department coordinates and runs an extensive programme of activities for St. Clare's IB, Pre-IB and summer course students. The student body is unusually diverse for a College of our size, and changes during the course of the year. Up to 300 IB and Pre-IB students are aged 15–19 and are preparing for university entrance on IB Diploma and Pre-IB courses. Short course students are aged 10-17 and attend summer courses.

Activities include sporting, outdoor education, cultural, social and service activities. In any one term there would be a range of sporting fixtures, outdoor events (perhaps hillwalking in Wales), theatre and museum visits, one or more overseas trips (perhaps a study visit to Northern Ireland)), conservation work and a range of community service. Also featuring might be dance or arts and crafts workshops, an in-house fashion show and an end of term disco. St. Clare's has a strong commitment to community service and global citizenship which is reflected in the activities programme.

The post arises through the maternity leave of one of our Activities Teachers. The Activities Teacher has particular talents in the area of team sports. She also contributes to the programme of social events, leads our Human Rights group and organises a number of overseas trips. However, it is to be expected that the range of skills and abilities offered by candidates for this position may differ in many respects from those of the member of staff going on maternity leave.

The aims of the Activities Deptartment are:

• to continually expand the range and improve the quality of activities offered
• to ensure the activities reflect the interests and needs of our diverse student body
• to attune the activities to the ideals of the College in terms of the promotion of global citizenship, community service and health and fitness
• to encourage greater participation in activities by all students
• to develop further the participation of teaching and other staff in activities with students
• to provide a range of attractive options for students so they will make full and good use of their free time
• to build sporting and cultural links with other schools and colleges through activities
• to promote participation of students in activities, events etc in Oxford

The dedicated activities team consists currently of three full-time teachers. There is also a large team of visiting activities teachers, including sports coaches, yoga, basketball and studio art. Music teaching is provided by visiting teachers, arranged by the Music Co-ordinator. All permanent teachers (full-time and part-time) contribute to activities with students.

Activities are currently arranged on and off-site. Facilities include art, music and drama rooms and a general purpose hall. As our on-site facilities for sports are somewhat limited (a consequence of being located in the leafy suburb of North Oxford), we have developed strong links with Oxford City football club and the Marston Ferry Sports and Leisure Centre. Two minibuses and a 9 seater mini-van are available for general College use.

During the summer courses and other vacation courses, activities play a particularly prominent role with an expanded team of temporary activities organisers usually recruited and managed by the Activities Department.

Reporting relationships

To the Head of Activities.

Duties include:

• to lead a variety of sports and/or outdoor education activities
• to lead cultural, social and other trips, including overnight trips at weekends and more extended trips during holidays
• involvement in offering a range of activities to students e.g. community service, outdoor education, creative activities etc. in addition to the sporting role
• to assist in the administration of the Activities Department office, including being available for advice for students at specified times
• to deliver activities on vacation courses for a minimum of 4 weeks each year
• additionally the position of CAS Coordinator for the college may be available – see separate job description

Person specification

Essential
The Activities teacher will:

• be a qualified teacher
• be organised and efficient with demonstrable organisational and administrative competence and experience
• have substantial experience of working with students in the 15-18 age group in a relevant context
• have qualifications relevant to directing and leading sports and/or outdoor education and/or other activities
• have expertise and/or experience in a number of relevant activities e.g. sports and community service
• have experience in the planning and leadership of overseas trips
• have a current, clean driving licence and be able to drive College vehicles (be over 21, and have held a clean driving license for at least three years)
• be an energetic individual with leadership and teambuilding skills who can communicate his/her enthusiasm to staff and students alike

Desirable

• international experience
• experience of working in a residential/boarding environment
• leadership of the Duke of Edinburgh Award
• experience in context(s) similar to those at St. Clare's, e.g. involvement in an IB CAS programme

Terms and conditions

Salaries for full-time teachers are based on the St. Clare's pay scale (in excess of the main professional scale for maintained schools), according to qualifications and experience. A full-time teacher with six years' experience can expect to earn £37,151. A teacher new to the profession can expect to earn in the region of £29,109.

An extra responsibility allowance of £2,101 may be available for an applicant who also takes on the role of CAS Coordinator.

Working hours for the post will be flexible, and will involve some work at evenings and at weekends as approved by the Head of Activities. The nature of the post makes it difficult to specify hours, and it is expected that the person appointed will recognise this. A working week of approximately to 40 hours is envisaged. At times e.g. when leading trips, these hours may be exceeded.

The annual leave entitlement will include Christmas, Easter and October half term unless trips are scheduled for those times (time off in lieu will be granted). A commitment to working for 4 weeks on summer courses between 22 July and 16 August 2013 is required.

Professional development – there is a generous professional development budget to allow teachers to keep up-to-date with educational developments and improve their classroom practice.

Pension - The teacher may be entitled to join the Teachers' Pension Scheme. The teacher's contribution is 7.6-8.0% of pensionable salary.

Life Assurance - If the teacher is a member of the Teachers' Pension Scheme the cover is three times the average salary less any lump sum benefits already paid. The College also provides additional cover of one times the average salary.

Free meals are available in the College dining room, during working periods, and when a full meal service to staff and students is being offered.

Statutory deductions

Tax and National Insurance will be deducted from salaries in accordance with UK employment regulations. St. Clare's, Oxford will require P45s (if available) and National Insurance numbers before commencement of employment.

References and checks

All offers of employment and contracts are issued subject to satisfactory references and satisfactory outcomes on completion of all necessary checks, including criminal records and establishing the right to work in the UK. In some cases some or all of these checks will have been undertaken before an offer is made. Taking up employment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of all necessary procedures.

Under the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, we are required to undertake additional checks on all employees.

Full written references, and phone references on quoted referees, including current employer, may be obtained before or after interview. You should indicate specifically if you wish St. Clare's to refrain from contacting your current employer.

Police checks / Criminal Records Bureau checks will also be undertaken, for which employees / prospective employees are required to provide information and consent. A Certificate of Good Conduct from the country you have been working is essential if you have been working overseas.

Contact with all previous employers where the employee has worked with children or vulnerable adults is also required. This is to establish the reason for leaving the position. On occasions, further information and a reference may be sought in writing, by phone or by other means. By providing details of previous employment, it is assumed that the employee/prospective employee has given consent for this contact, and no specific consent of the employee / prospective employee will be sought.

Satisfactory completion of a health questionnaire.

The College reserves the right to contact any previous employer and to make any additional enquiries it considers necessary in order to meet its responsibilities in relation to employment of people working with students who are under the age of 18.

Appointment will be dependent upon satisfactory clearance of the necessary Criminal Records Bureau checks for working with young people.

Applications

Please apply by completing the online application form (link given below). This will include a detailed letter explaining how you would be particularly suited to this position.

Also included will be details of three referees to include addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers (please ensure they know they may be contacted and will respond promptly). Note that we reserve the right to contact any of your previous employers.

TEACHING STAFF - Please complete this APPLICATION FORM

Tom Walsh, Vice Principal
St. Clare's, Oxford
139 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 7AL
Tel: +44 (0)1865 517368
Fax: +44 (0)1865 310002
Email: recruitment@stclares.ac.uk

Closing date for applications: 5 November 2012
Interviews will take place at St. Clare's, Oxford during the week starting 12 November 2012. Candidates who are short-listed for interview must be available to spend a day at St. Clare's during that week.