Politics and History Teacher (possibility of Head of Politics)

Part time, permanent

Starting September 2026

Headington Rye Oxford is a vibrant and welcoming school set in 23 acres of playing fields and grounds. In an environment where individuals come first, Headington Rye Oxford is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, pastoral support and an impressive range of extra-curricular opportunities.

Executive Summary

We are seeking to appoint a dynamic and inspirational Politics teacher to ensure the continued success of this popular Sixth Form subject at the School. The successful applicant will have a good honours degree, excellent subject knowledge and a proven ability to promote critical and creative debate in the classroom. Applicants are also welcome to indicate interest in the role of Head of Politics.

The postholder will teach Politics in the Sixth Form and History more widely across the School.

History and Politics at Headington Rye Oxford

Although separate entities, the History and Politics departments at Headington Rye Oxford work very closely together, sharing the same office space.

Politics is ​a thriving and popular subject, taught by teachers who seek out opportunities to promote political literacy in pupils across the School. ​The commitment of the students who choose this subject is reflected in their excellent results: in 2025, 75 per cebt were graded A*- A. A large number of ​our Sixth Form students pursue the ​study of Politics and related subjects, such as International Relations at university.

Sixth Form Politics teaching develops girls into independent thinkers and learners. This is encouraged through lively classroom debate, independent research and engagement with external speakers from local PPCs to former cabinet ministers, including Michael Heseltine and David Gauke. Mock elections have become a feature of life at Headington​ Rye; they coincide with and mirror general elections and referendums, with all pupils encouraged to participate in the democratic process and vote for the student candidate who makes the best case.

Politics students also benefit from a range of trips, including to the Houses of Parliament and ​the Supreme Court​ as well as overseas trips to Washington ​and Geneva. Other extra-curricular opportunities such as the Model UN are ​extremely popular, giving our students the opportunity to develop their debating skills alongside their knowledge of the world and the organisations that help to shape it.

Our popular and thriving History Department promotes a real interest in the subject, encouraging pupils to think for themselves and to have the confidence to formulate and defend their own arguments. In an age of information overload, the department teaches pupils to detect subjectivity and to challenge received opinion. Opportunities are created for independent learning and research at all levels.

At GCSE we follow the Edexcel course and at A Level, OCR. ​The department records excellent results in public examinations, supporting each pupil to reach their potential through challenging and stimulating teaching. In 2025, 44 per cent of students achieved a Grade 9 (86 per cent 9-7) while at A Level 57 per cent of candidates were awarded A*- A, with over 90 per cent achieving A*- B.

Keen to inspire, extend horizons and promote a strong spirit of intellectual inquiry, the department offers an array of enrichment opportunities, ranging from simulations and role plays in the classroom to residential trips as far afield as Paris, Berlin, Moscow and St Petersburg. The Junior History Club writes and produces its own films and the department has hosted debates for the Historical Association. Sixth formers are encouraged to run the History Society, inviting specialist historians to lecture on topics ranging from the Revolutionary Terror in France to the links between Nazism and Jihadism.​ Many of our A Level students go on to read History at university, including Oxbridge, either as single honours or combined with other subjects including modern languages.

Role Description

This is a part-time, permanent position starting in September 2026, with possibility of Head of Politics role.

Key Responsibilities

Academic responsibilities

In line with the Teachers’ Standards, all our teachers must plan and teach well-structured lessons of a consistently high standard which inspire, motivate and challenge our pupils. They must be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of how to adapt their teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils. Teachers must monitor the progress of their pupils, set appropriate targets and give regular feedback, encouraging their pupils to reflect on this feedback. Teachers must communicate effectively with parents by producing relevant reports and attending parents’ evenings as directed. Our teachers are expected to make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the School, developing effective professional relationships with colleagues to support the specific targets of the School, faculty and departmental development plans. They have a responsibility to work collaboratively with others in their department, contributing to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the relevant subject area.

Co-curricular responsibilities

Teachers are expected to make a regular contribution to the co-curricular life of the School, through involvement in extra-curricular clubs, societies and activities and through attendance on academic, pastoral and co-curricular school trips. All staff attend competitive house meetings and assist with the running of internal house events and many staff choose to make a wider contribution to the School’s varied partnership and outreach programme.

Pastoral Responsibilities

All members of staff are tutors. Full-time members of staff are lead tutors, while part-time staff have a supporting role. Duties include registering the tutor group each morning, monitoring their attendance and initial stages of pastoral and academic welfare, teaching PSHE, attending year group meetings as required, attending assemblies with your tutor group and organising tutor group assemblies in conjunction with the School Chaplain.

Professional Development

All teachers are expected to show evidence of a continuing interest in professional and personal development and to consider the needs of the School and its development plans when planning Continuing Professional Development.

Headington Rye Oxford supports staff with a wide range of internal and external inset opportunities, including regular internally-delivered teaching and learning sessions, Initial Teacher Training sessions for those in the early stages of their career and regular whole-school inset designed to ensure teachers are up-to-date with statutory training in a variety of areas.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• a good honours degree relevant to the teaching aspects of the role
• experience of teaching Politics A Level and History across key stages

Desirable

• a recognised teaching qualification
• experience of running debating clubs and competitions
• track record of successful university preparation for Politics and related subjects

Personal Attributes and Skills

Teacher

• excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• ability to motivate and enthuse others
• adaptability and good judgement
• exceptional classroom practice
• positive manner and a sense of humour
• sympathy with the values and ethos of the School

Head of Department/ Faculty

• ability to delegate and empower
• ability to work strategically and to seek and implement creative solutions
• energy, drive, enthusiasm and vision
• highly developed organisational skills

Terms of Appointment

Type of Contract

Part-time, permanent, starting September 2026

Benefits

Pension

The School will comply with its legal obligations in relation to the provision of access to a pension scheme.

Fee remission

In accordance with the School’s policy, which may be subject to change from time to time, up to 50 per cent fee remission for pupils attending Headington Rye Oxford and up to 20 per cent fee remission for students attending Magdalen College School (under a reciprocal agreement) and subject to the terms of their policy. Fee remission is calculated on the number of weeks and hours worked and is pro rata for part-time staff who work at least 50 per cent of a normal working week.

The remuneration package

Headington Rye Oxford offers an enhanced teaching scale with points that equate to teaching experience and a leadership scale for responsibility. The salary offered will reflect the experience of the successful candidate and be commensurate with the post.

Additional Benefits

All staff have access to a broad programme of wellbeing activities. The programme currently includes access to the School’s gym and swimming pool, weekly Step and Tone, Spinning and Zumba classes and regular staff social activities such as Book Club and Staff Choir. Staff also benefit from free access to the Employee Assistance Programme, a free, confidential helpline that offers advice on a range of issues. Free restricted parking is available for all staff on site.

Appointment Process and How To Apply

Applicants should submit an application form and a covering letter detailing their skills and experience to recruitment@headingtonschool.com

• Applications will only be accepted from candidates completing the application form in full. CVs will not be accepted in substitution for completed application forms. However, they may be sent in addition to the application form.
• We will seek references on shortlisted candidates and will approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications, before the interview. References will ask about your suitability to work with children.
• If you are invited to interview you will receive notification outlining the interview process and guidance regarding the documentation you are required to provide.

Application deadline: 12.00 pm Monday 2nd March 2026

Interviews: week commencing Monday 9th March 2026

Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. We therefore encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy, you will be unable to submit your application form.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory completion of all employment checks, ie references, Disclosure and Barring Service, medical questionnaire, Right to Work in the UK.

Headington Rye Oxford is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS and barred lists checks. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.