Working at MCS

There are many benefits to working at Magdalen College School. Founded in 1480 by William of Waynflete, the school has a rich history and an enviable location at the heart of Oxford beside the River Cherwell.

MCS is one of the country’s leading independent day schools. Shaped by its Christian Collegiate foundation and links with the university city of which it is part, it aims to inspire in all its pupils a desire to learn, flourish and serve.

The School will celebrate its 550th anniversary in 2030. The current generation of MCS staff and pupils wish to ensure that we shape a school that is able to flourish for at least another half millennium, and hopefully many more beyond. There are around 950 pupils, boys aged 7-18 and Sixth Form girls, and 350 members of staff who learn and work on the School’s central Oxford site.

To learn more about the opportunities and advantages of working at MCS, please refer to the attached ‘Recruitment Pack (Junior School Classroom Assistant)’.

The Role

Magdalen College School is seeking to appoint three enthusiastic and versatile classroom assistants for the Junior School on a 1-year Fixed-Term Contract (FTC) for the academic year 2025-2026.

There will be an emphasis on helping in the classrooms with our younger year groups but the list below will offer an idea of what else is to be expected, although it is not exhaustive:

• Work closely with the JS staff in assisting in the day-to-day running of a busy Junior School.
• Take a keen interest in the welfare of all Junior School pupils and contribute to the pastoral wellbeing of boys throughout each day.
• Work with small groups of boys on reinforcement and enrichment tasks.
• Assist in the planning and preparation of specific resources for these groups together with the relevant subject teacher.
• set clear expectations for pupil behaviour within an encouraging classroom environment.
• Provide supervisory support during lunch and break time, and before and after school until 5.30pm; specifically overseeing boys who catch the school buses home.
• Help with sporting fixtures including the occasional Saturday (typically two per term)
• Accompany the J4 residential trip during the Hilary Term (during school week)

The Department

The Junior School, for boys aged 7-11, is a happy and highly successful part of one of the country’s leading independent day schools. It currently has 135 pupils in eight forms.  Although the school has grown substantially in recent years; the intimate size helps to create a family-like atmosphere, where boys demonstrate a spirit of respect and tolerance.  We aim to provide an education which enables each boy to acquire an independent and searching mind, to develop a broad range of extra-curricular interests and to take pleasure in the life of ideas. Key dispositions such as kindness, perseverance, resilience and teamwork underpin all aspects of Junior School life.

Whilst following the broad outline of the National Curriculum, we seek to enrich and extend the boys’ interest and achievement in a variety of subject areas. Specialist staff and facilities help boys to reach their potential. Entry is now predominantly at 7+ starting with two small classes to which we add at 8+ and 9+. Boys take the school’s 11+ tests and it is rare for pupils not to move on to the Senior School.

One of the many strengths of the school is the level of pastoral care. This is provided primarily by the form tutor, who is the first point of contact for boys and parents. Each boy is also in one of six houses in the Junior School: regular opportunities to meet and take part in house events enable boys to work together with pupils from different year groups. The Junior School Council, with representatives from each form, has an important role to play in the running of the Junior School.

Please see the attached ‘Recruitment Pack (Junior School Classroom Assistant)’ for more information about the Junior School.

The Candidate

The successful candidates will enjoy a varied daily routine as part of a close team in the Junior School. They will have excellent written and spoken communication skills, and sound IT skills. They will have the ability to work collaboratively and display a high level of attention to detail. The successful candidates will also be friendly, enthusiastic, motivated and caring individuals who enjoy ‘mucking in’ and thrive in the company of children. This role would best suit graduates or someone with some prior experience of working with children.

The successful candidate will also be able to show a clear commitment to safeguarding children.

This is a fabulous opportunity for those considering a future career in teaching with the majority of candidates that join us deciding that this is the route they would like to take.

Remuneration

This is a 1 year fixed-term position from between September 2025 – August 2026, full-time, term-time only with one week for INSET (35 weeks in total); with the standard working hours from 8.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and half an hour for lunch. Salary will be £23,960 pro-rata per annum (FTE £30,687).

Non-teaching staff are automatically enrolled in the school’s contributory Group Pension Scheme.  This is a defined contribution pension scheme into which the employee contributes 5% of gross salary and the employer contributes 10%.

Application Process

Candidates should submit the following two documents to the Recruitment Officer, Miss Yelena Molcanova (recruitment@mcsoxford.org), which can be found here.

1. MCS Application Form for Teaching and Support Staff
2. CV (Curriculum Vitae)

All documentation should be sent no later than Wednesday 6th November, at midday. The school’s preferred method of communication is by email and it will not be necessary to send a hard copy of the documents by post.

References may be taken up in advance. If you do not wish for your references to be called for at this stage, please make that clear on the reference section of the application form.

Interviews

We anticipate holding interviews on Monday 11th November, which will include an observed session with a small group of boys. We will be in contact with shortlisted candidates by telephone.

Please be aware that all shortlisted candidates will be requested to complete a ‘Self-Disclosure’ form before attending their interview.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint before the above dates.

Equal Opportunities

Magdalen College School recognises and is committed to ensuring applicants and employees from all sections of the community are treated equally regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marital and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We welcome applications form all sections of the community.

Safeguarding Policy

Magdalen College School is committed to the safeguarding of pupils, and any offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, the receipt of satisfactory references, the school’s pre-employment medical questionnaire, plus sight of relevant ID documentation and degree certificate(s). The enhanced DBS check is due to this role being exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.