Employment Opportunities at OLA

Thank you for your interest in working at Our Lady’s Abingdon. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young people in our care and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To this end we ask that all applicants read the following documents before applying for employment at OLA.

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Safer Recruitment and Disclosure Policy

Shortlisted candidates only: prior to interview candidates will be asked to submit a DBS Self Disclosure Form.

Offers of employment are subject to a number of safeguarding checks which are detailed in  the Safer Recruitment document.  Measures include an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and social media check.

Right to work in the UK: the School is unable to offer sponsorship to those who do not already have the right to work in the UK. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide proof of their right to work at interview.

Acknowledgment of applications: although we aim to acknowledge receipt of applications within 24 hours, this is not always possible, particularly during holiday times.

Feedback:  we are only able to provide individual feedback to candidates who attend interview.

The School may request that applications are made via the TES online application system.  Where candidates are not directed to the TES portal, submissions should be made on the appropriate school application form and submitted via email to headspa@ola.org.uk.  Application forms are available to download here:

Teaching Staff Application Form

Non-Teaching Staff Application Form

Visiting Teacher Application Form

Please note that it is the  responsibility of candidates to ensure that applications are completed in full.  In the interests of fair and safe recruiting, the School cannot consider incomplete application forms or CV applications and any such applications will not be put forward for short-listing.

The school is unable to offer sponsorship to candidates who do not already possess the right to work in the UK.

Please note that we are unable to acknowledge receipt of applications during the period 29 April – 03 May.

At OLA we promote a challenging and progressive curriculum, which reflects the learning requirements of each individual pupil. It aims to nurture independent, analytical and creative thinking and to build the confidence in our pupils to articulate clearly their views of the world around them.

The School achieves strong academic results, as a result of effective and well-developed relationships between pupils and staff and a positive attitude to learning. In 2023, an 95% pass rate was achieved at GCSE, with 69% of all grades at 9 to 6. Our 2023 results were higher than 2019, which was a great achievement. In addition, 46% of pupils achieved at least one 9 grade, demonstrating that pupils can achieve at the highest level in any subject for which they have an aptitude and passion. A Level results were equally impressive, with 57% of all grades at A* to B. Similar to GCSE, almost half of our students achieved at least one A grade. OLA’s value-added is outstanding, year on year, and belies our raw results which reflect our relatively broad ability intake. Upper Sixth leavers achieved places at a range of prestigious universities, including Cardiff, Bath, York, Warwick, Kings, Leeds and Birmingham.

The Deputy Head (Academic) is responsible for achieving and sustaining the highest academic standards and levels of attainment within the school. If you choose to apply for this post, we will give your application all the seriousness it deserves. The role we are looking to fill is important to the flourishing of the school and we hope you will feel that you are the right person to fill it.

For full details please refer to the attached Application Pack, which can be downloaded here.

Please apply via the link to the TES website using the blue button below.

Application deadline: Monday 06 May 2024

OLA seeks a well-qualified, inspirational and experienced Director of Sport to lead our new and exciting Sports Development Plan. For an aspiring senior leader, this post will offer invaluable experience for future promotion. This is a new post and ‘enhanced Sports provision’ is a key area for development for the School. The successful candidate will lead both the newly rebranded Sports Department, and the overall provision of Sport within the whole school (Years 3 to 13). He or she will also be either Head of Netball or Head of Rugby (see attached job descriptions).

For full details please refer to the attached Application Pack, which can be downloaded here.

The Job Description for Head of Rugby is available to download here.

The Job Description for Head of Netball is available to download here.

Please apply via the link to the TES website using the blue button below.

Application deadline: 9.00am, Monday 13 May 2024

Sport is very much at the heart of the OLA experience and we currently have an opportunity for a well-qualified and inspirational professional to teach PE at all levels up to, and including, Sixth Form, and Games to all year groups.

There is also the opportunity for the right candidate to assume the additional responsibility Head of Netball or Head of Rugby. These additional responsibilities are new posts within the School and will provide excellent experience for any candidate aspiring to Head of PE or Director of Sport in the future.

Candidates who are able to teach other subjects should make this clear in their application form.

We welcome applications from both experienced candidates, ECTs and those at the very start of their teaching careers.

For full details of the role please refer to the attached Application Pack, which can be downloaded here.

The Job Description for Head of Rugby is available to download here.

The Job Description for Head of Netball is available to download here.

Please apply via the link to the TES website using the blue button below.

Application deadline: 9.00am, Thursday 16 May

We seek a well-qualified and inspirational professional to teach Computer Science at all levels up to, and including, A Level within our Maths and Computer Science Faculty.

Computer Science is very much at the heart of the OLA curriculum and we seek a well-qualified, enthusiastic teacher to join this key faculty in a full-time role from September 2024. The successful applicant will join a strong and dedicated team which is committed to maintaining the excellent public examination results achieved in recent years. We also welcome applications from candidates who are also able to teach Maths and/or A-level Further Maths, although this is not a requirement for the post.

We welcome applications from experienced candidates, ECTs and those at the very start of their teaching careers. The School is willing to support those who wish to complete a PGCE, this can be discussed further at interview.

For full details please refer to the attached Application Pack, which can be downloaded here.

Please apply via the link to the TES website using the blue button below.

Application deadline: 9.00am, Tuesday 07 May 2024

We seek a well-qualified and inspirational professional to teach Mathematics at all levels up to, and including, A Level within our Maths and Computer Science Faculty. The successful applicant will join a strong and dedicated team which is committed to maintaining the excellent public examination results achieved in recent years.

We also welcome applications from candidates who are also able to teach A-level Further Maths and Computer Science to any year group, although this is not a requirement for the post.

Applications are welcomed from experienced candidates, ECTs and those at the very start of their teaching careers. The School is willing to support those who wish to complete a PGCE, this can be discussed further at interview.

For full details of the role please refer to the attached Application Pack, which can be downloaded here.

Please apply via the link to the TES website using the blue button below.

Application deadline: 9.00am, Tuesday 7 May 2024

We seek a well-qualified and inspirational professional to teach Religious Studies part-time (0.6) at all levels up to, and including, A-level.

At GCSE, pupils study WJEC (Eduqas) Religious Studies (Specification Route B), and OLA Sixth students study the OCR (Specification H573). All pupils at OLA study GCSE RS, and pupils in Years 7-8 also have Mercy Studies, which provides education about the Catholic faith within the context of the foundation of the School by the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1860. Pupils are taught in small groups throughout the school, and RS is a relatively popular A-level option. For the right candidate, there will also be an opportunity to be Chaplaincy Coordinator (see separate job description).

We welcome applications from both experienced candidates, ECTs and those at the very start of their teaching careers. We support teachers who wish to complete an on-the-job PGCE, and this is done in partnership with the University of Buckingham.

For full details of the role please refer to the attached Application Pack, which can be downloaded here. 

The Chaplaincy Coordinator Job Description is available to download here.

Please apply via the link to the TES website using the blue button below.

Application deadline: 9.00am, Monday 13 May.

As OLA pupils travel from a wide catchment area, we are always interested in hearing from people who are interested in minibus driving. To be considered you must possess a valid driving licence which includes category D1 permission, and be happy to work split shifts before and after the school day.  To register your interest please contact Mrs Julie Braley, headspa@ola.org.uk, tel: 01235 524658.