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 (Teacher of Drama and Oracy)’.

The Role

The school is seeking to appoint a fixed term (one-year) part-time (45-50%) Teacher of Drama and Oracy, teaching across 2-3 days of the week, including Thursdays and Fridays.

The role will start in April 2025 and would be suitable for a range of applicants, from .experienced school drama teachers to those leading drama sessions outside of schools but with an interest in working in schools.

The Department

The Drama Department is led by the Head of Drama and Assistant Head of Drama, both of whom teach other curriculum subjects. The school also employs a Resident Director and Resident Producer in conjunction with the Oxford Playhouse, and a part time teacher of Drama and Oracy who teaches curriculum lessons in Years 7-9. Pupils in the Junior School are taught drama through the Activities Afternoon by members of the Junior School’s teaching staff and the Drama Department. The Senior School Drama and Oracy course comprises a mixture of drama games, core dramatic skills (use of body, voice and space), explorations of different types of theatre and performance, and improvisational and/or text-based work, building towards a collaborative final project. The course also looks to develop oracy through a range of public speaking opportunities. Throughout, there is a focus on teamwork, creativity and presentation.

Drama thrives at the school, with around twelve productions being staged in any year. One production per year usually transfers to the Edinburgh Fringe. Other regular productions include a large-scale musical (most recently Oklahoma!, Anything Goes, and The Pirates of Penzance), an outdoor Shakespeare or equivalent (recently Twelfth Night and Love’s Labour’s Lost) an annual Classical play (recently The Burial at Thebes and Medea). The summer production in Oxford Playhouse is the most ambitious project in the year, with a large cast drawn from all age groups and a professional creative team. Recent projects have included the world premiere of Birdland, a new musical by renowned composer Bob Chilcott, and an acclaimed new adaptation of The Hobbit.

There is a diversity of other productions for pupils of all age groups, including plenty of opportunities for pupils to take a lead with directing, producing or managing technical aspects of productions. The school also has a partnership with the Pegasus Theatre, which provides a professional space for our Theatre Academy (including both performance and technical groups).

The school is committed to fostering creative and cultural opportunities within the wider community, and hosts an annual Arts Festival in June-July each year which forms a particular focus for its partnership work.

The Candidate

We are looking for an outstanding Drama and Oracy teacher to teach curriculum lessons to Years 7-9 and lead clubs and workshops throughout the Junior and Senior School (Years 3-13). The successful candidate will:

• take a keen interest in the welfare of pupils and show clear commitment to safeguarding children;
• be a well-qualified graduate of Drama or a related discipline;
• show clear enthusiasm for teaching Drama and Oracy, and plan and teach engaging lessons for Years 7 to 9;
• deliver engaging club sessions on Drama and Oracy throughout the Junior and Senior School;
• deliver workshops to Sixth Form pupils to develop their presentation and interview skills;
• support the extra-curricular drama provision in the school through productions and performance/technical academies
• contribute fully to the wider life of the school, such as through games, music, drama, CCF or other activities;
• potentially act as the pastoral co-tutor to a Senior School houseroom (tutor group);
• review and develop the Drama and Oracy schemes of work alongside the Assistant Head of Drama;
• support the progress of all pupils by taking a role in departmental support, enrichment and partnerships sessions;
• set clear expectations for pupil behaviour within an encouraging classroom environment;
• have excellent written and spoken communication skills and communicate effectively with pupils, parents, staff and the local community;
• have sound IT skills;
• have the ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a wider team;
• display a high level of attention to detail;
• work hard to support pupil progress;
• be willing to take part in continuing professional development;
• respond positively to feedback.

The Teacher of Drama and Oracy will report to the Head of Drama and ultimately to the Master, for the proper discharge of his or her duties.

Remuneration

The school currently has its own salary scale, and salaries are substantially more generous than those in the maintained sector; there is also a relocation allowance on a sliding scale, by agreement with the Master and Bursar, and dependent on current location. The school also operates a cycle to work scheme, and travel loans are available. MCS offers teaching staff a choice of pension arrangements; a Defined Contribution scheme with an employer contribution of 23.68% or the Teachers’ Pension Scheme with a salary sacrifice arrangement. Staff may move between the two schemes as suits their needs. The Master will discuss the pension with any offer of appointment.

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 Thursday 28th 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 Thursday 5th December, which will include a taught lesson. 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.