Library Assistant

About the role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to be part of starting an exceptional comprehensive school. As a member of The Swan’s team, you will help to build the foundations of an outstanding school from the ground up. We are looking for a Library Assistant to work closely with the School Librarian and Head of English to embed a culture of reading at our school. Reading is central to our school culture and is an important way that we develop students' literacy as well as building cultural capital and broadening their understanding of different perspectives and the world around them. As a Library Assistant, you will assist in providing the day to day activities of the library to enable pupils to access services to support learning. The successful candidate will relish the challenge of being part of a new school that is different to other comprehensive schools in the city. You will be a highly motivated team player with leadership potential, a creative thinker who is unafraid to try new approaches, and a reflective practitioner, keen to continue learning in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students. An interest in education/working with young people is essential for this role. Some experience working in a school or other educational setting is desirable, but not essential. About The Swan School The Swan School opened in September 2019 as part of the River Learning Trust (RLT). When fully subscribed it will have approximately 1200 students on the roll, of whom around 300 will be in the Sixth Form. Learning from the most successful approaches at the best schools, The Swan School provides a uniquely challenging and structured experience in a caring and disciplined environment. The ethos is academic; we regard an excellent academic education as the entitlement of all young people, no matter what their background or previous experiences of learning. Students will be inspired and nurtured, acquiring the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively. They will learn to be confident, resilient and ambitious, and will have high expectations in terms of their own achievements and their contribution to wider society. The Swan School, part of the River Learning Trust, is Oxford’s first new secondary school for over 50 years, and opened in September 2019. When full, we will have approximately 1,200 students on roll, of whom around 300 will be in the Sixth Form. Our students are drawn from a local catchment area and the school is at the heart of the community. Learning from the most successful approaches at the best schools, The Swan School provides a uniquely challenging and structured experience in a caring and disciplined environment. The ethos is academic; we regard an excellent academic education as the entitlement of all young people, no matter what their background or previous experiences of learning. Students are inspired and nurtured, acquiring the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively. They will learn to be confident, resilient and ambitious, and will have high expectations in terms of their own achievements and their contribution to wider society. Student outcomes at The Swan School are exceptional - in 2026 our GCSE Attainment 8 score was 59.4, meaning that students achieved almost 1.5 grades higher than the national average across their eight best subjects, including English and maths. In 2023, the school was graded as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED for Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth Form. The RLT Connection The Swan School is proud to be part of the River Learning Trust (RLT). This collaborative culture provides our staff with enhanced professional development opportunities and the security of a large, successful trust while maintaining our school's unique identity. How to Apply Read more / apply: View the full job pack and submit your application via MyNewTerm.

Start a conversation: We welcome informal visits. Please contact Faye Cimmermanis (PA to Headteachers’) via headteacher@theswanschool.org.uk to arrange a tour of the school.

Talent Pool: Not the right time? Register with our Talent Pool to hear about new opportunities first. [https://mynewterm.com/school/The-Swan-School/147203]

River Learning Trust and The Swan School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. We are an exempt employer under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. This role includes regulated activity relevant to children. We conduct checks and online searches 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 documentation, please see RLT Safer Recruitment Documents. Visit our website www.riverlearningtrust.org 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. We actively value the "different contributions" you can make. We want you to be at your best during the application process; if you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know. Note: We do not accept CVs; please apply via My New Term. We reserve the right to interview and appoint exceptional candidates early.