Librarian

The Oxford Academy; Oxford; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free annual flu vaccines

Discounted gym memberships (onsite gym

Employee Assistance Programme

24-hour counselling helpline

Flexible working solutions

Reduced teaching time

Onsite nursery provision

Job summary

The Oxford Academy in Oxford is seeking a School Librarian to run a welcoming library space, manage resources, and coordinate staff and volunteers. You will support literacy through targeted interventions and reading tests, and work with local partners to build strong community links.

The role offers full-time hours, with flexibility for part-time applications. You will receive CPLD support and operate within a strong learning culture, contributing to improvements in literacy and student

Qualifications

• Commitment to learning, patience, and belief in the success of all young people.

Responsibilities

• Run a vital library space, ensuring it is welcoming and well-organised.
• Manage resources and coordinate library staff and adult volunteers.
• Support literacy through targeted interventions and reading tests.
• Track budgets and analyse records with CPLD guidance from the Trust network.

Job description

About You

You are someone who cares about the local area and wants to make a real difference to the lives of our young people. While we would love to hear from current librarians, you do not need to be the finished article or have extensive library experience to apply. We are looking for drive, ambition, and a genuine desire to work with our eager and diverse student body.

If you are welcoming, highly organised, and possess a natural ability to build warm, positive relationships with our students, your background could come from a variety of settings. What matters most is your commitment to learning, your patience, and your belief in the success of all young people, including those who are vulnerable or face additional challenges. You will bring an approachable manner that keeps the library an orderly and inviting space for everyone, alongside a willingness to learn new software systems and literacy frameworks with our full support.

The Role

As our School Librarian, you will run a vital space at the heart of The Oxford Academy, ensuring it remains a welcoming, and attractive environment where students can develop a love of reading. Working closely with the Deputy Headteacher (Quality of Education), you will look after the day-to-day operations of the library, from managing resources to coordinating library staff and adult volunteers.

You will play a central part in our school's focus on improving literacy standards, helping to organise reading tests and running targeted, small-group literacy interventions for students who need extra support. This role also connects closely with our neighbourhood, as you will collaborate with the Littlemore Community Library staff to build strong local links. While the role includes clear responsibilities around tracking budgets and analysing records, you will receive high-quality CPLD and guidance from our established network, making this an ideal position for someone ready to grow and make a lasting impact.

Why Join Us

This is an exciting time to join The Oxford Academy, where our values of 'commitment to others, commitment to learning' drive everything we do. We are seeking an enthusiastic, dedicated professional who shares our deep belief that education has the power to transform lives, communities, and society for the better.

You will be joining a team where staff are genuinely proud of the work they do, recognizing how valuable a high-quality education is for improving pupils' life chances, and remain very positive about working at the school (Ofsted 2026).

At our school, support is a true collective effort that is woven into our daily life. This is clearly demonstrated through our Sixth Formers tutoring younger pupils, as well as our student-led assemblies on social responsibility. Furthermore, our celebrated Student Council actively influences local policy on transport and safety at Delegates' Assemblies, ensuring our students have a powerful voice in the wider area.

We don't just work within the community; we are an active part of it. From hosting our annual Community Iftar to partnering with the Oxford Hub Pre-Loved School Uniform Shop, we ensure our families feel cared for and deeply included.

If you have high expectations of yourself and others, and want to be part of an embedded learning culture where strong, warm relationships are the absolute foundation of learning, we would love to welcome you to the team.

While this position is advertised as full time, we will consider those seeking part time hours. Please indicate this is your preference on the application form.

Our School

At The Oxford Academy, we offer pride, aspiration, and opportunity to every member of our community, with significantly improved learning outcomes. We are committed to ensuring that our students and staff are highly successful through sustainable, positive improvements in our school.

Do you want to work in a school that:

• Is friendly and community-centred, where staff genuinely feel part of a team?
• Utilizes a new teaching approach that has 'helped to dramatically improve both pupils' behaviour and participation in lessons. As a result, lessons are undisturbed, and pupils enjoy their learning' (Ofsted 2026).
• Places staff well-being at the heart of everything we do.
• Employs a full-time Instructional Coach who works with staff to develop practice through specific teaching goals that maximise student learning.
• Benefits from a culture where 'behaviour across the school is now very positive. Pupils are calm and respectful, with positive attitudes to learning' (Ofsted 2026).
• Prioritises high-quality bespoke CPLD and collaboration opportunities across a successful and highly respected multi-academy trust.

Community and Connection

The Oxford Academy is an important part of our local community, and we actively encourage individuals from our area—including parents of our students and residents in our neighborhood—to join our team. We believe that being part of a community goes far beyond our physical location; it is about fostering genuine connections, understanding, and mutual support. By investing in local talent, we ensure that our school's values align closely with the daily needs and aspirations of the families we serve.

At our school, we want everyone to feel safe, valued, and respected—not just in theory, but in practice. We are fully committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they truly belong. Our community deeply embraces its unique character; as noted by inspectors, 'pupils are proud of the school's very diverse character, and they appreciate the way they are taught about respect and positive behaviour' (Ofsted 2026). This intentional focus ensures that 'pupils are happy in school. They feel known and liked by their teachers. This helps to build the school's sense of cohesion and belonging' (Ofsted 2026).

When you join us, you are not just becoming part of our internal school family; you are joining an organization that actively cares for and remains a pillar of the local community. We would love to hear from applicants from all diverse backgrounds who share this profound commitment to inclusion.

Employee Benefits

Health & Wellbeing

• Free annual flu vaccines
• Discounted gym memberships (onsite gym)
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• 24-hour access to a free counselling helpline (including family and debt advice)
• Flexible working solutions
• Reduced teaching time
• Onsite nursery provision through Little Peeple Nursery

Financial

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), with employee contributions of 19.2%
• Eligible for a Blue Light Card - Hundreds of offers/discounts on local and national stores
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• The Oxford Academy sits outside the ring road and is less affected than other schools by the new Oxford Congestion Charge

Career Progression

• Opportunities for CPLD and access to apprenticeships
• Developmental performance management conversations
• Apprenticeship opportunities for 'on the job training'
• Investment in your career, internal and external talent solutions

The River Learning Trust

At RLT, we believe we achieve more together than alone. Our schools are united by shared principles, collaboration, and a belief in the power of education to change lives.

Our Vision: for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously, and sustainably - to be better faster together.

Our 'Why': children and young people only get one go at school - we aim to ensure it’s the best possible one.

Our 'How': through the highest support and challenge for each other, underpinned by shared principles.

Employees benefit from extensive continuing professional learning, strong wellbeing and staff networks, and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS). For more information, see our "Working in RLT" guide.

Safeguarding and Recruitment

The River Learning Trust and The Oxford Academy are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process 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.

Final Note

At The Oxford Academy, we believe in 'courage, compassion, and curiosity'. We have a strong track record of offering exceptional care to our families and students, providing a supportive environment where both staff and students are encouraged to make a difference beyond the classroom. Whether through our Amnesty International Club, debate championships, or various sports fixtures, this is a unique opportunity to join a team passionate about supporting our most vulnerable learners and building strong, lasting relationships with them.

The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates before the closing date and may make an early offer to an exceptional applicant.