Shiplake College is an HMC co-educational boarding and day school offering a holistic education for around 580 pupils from Year 7 to Sixth Form. There has been a co-educational Sixth Form since 1998 and in September 2023 girls joined in Year 7 as we look to the future as a fully co-educational place of learning - as of September 2025 all co-educational year groups (Years 7-9 and Sixth Form) have 40% girls. As well as providing a fantastic learning and living environment for young people, Shiplake offers an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding working environment.
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Current Vacancies
Thank you for your interest in working at Shiplake College, please see below our current vacancies.
Teacher of English (Maternity Cover)
Maternity Cover
Starting September 2026 (for up to one year)
Competitive salary plus benefits
Shiplake College is seeking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic Teacher of English to teach across Years 7-13 and cover a period of maternity leave for up to one year. This is a superb opportunity for a suitably qualified practitioner to join a large, successful department. The role would suit an energetic teacher committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning; a teacher who can inspire and challenge all our pupils to achieve their personal bests.
Applications are welcomed from inspirational teachers who will strive for excellence in all aspects of the English curriculum. This could present a great opportunity for an ECT.
English Teacher Candidate Pack
Teaching Staff Application Form
Closing Date: 10am on Thursday 19 February 2026
Interview Date: week commencing Monday 23 February 2026
Community and Development Officer
To start as soon as possible
Salary £25k
Full time, all year round
We are looking to recruit an organised, creative and enthusiastic Community and Development Officer who enjoys all aspects of event organisation, is a highly effective communicator and would relish building and running a vibrant programme for our former pupils and staff and other members of the Shiplake community.
The successful candidate will become a key member of a small but enthusiastic team that oversees the admissions, marketing, alumni and development functions of the College. The post holder will support the Head of Community and Development in building and running a vibrant programme for our former pupils and staff (known as Old Vikings) and for overseeing a variety of College events.
The role is for 7.5 hours a day, Monday to Friday, all year round (with 30 days annual leave and bank holidays). Some flexibility is required in working hours, in particular for evening and weekend events. The role will be managed by the Head of Community and Development and report to the Director of External Relations.
Community and Development Officer Candidate Pack
Support Staff Application Form
Application Deadline: Monday 2 March, 10.00am
Interviews: Thursday 5 March
We reserve the right to interview early applicants.
To Apply
To apply for a current vacancy please complete the relevant application form provided and return, with a covering letter addressed to the Headmaster, via email to [email protected].
If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact, Ms Claire Smith, HR Administrator on [email protected] or 01189 405 218.
The College reserves the right to appoint before the application deadline.
If you should have any queries regarding employment at Shiplake College, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Safeguarding
Shiplake College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Shiplake College is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
About Working at Shiplake College
We strive to recruit the best possible teaching and support staff to drive the College forwards and ensure we continue to provide the best possible rounded education for our pupils. Our recruitment selection and disclosures policy can be accessed at the link below.
For all teaching appointments, a willingness to participate in the varied extra-curricular life of a busy boarding and day school is essential. Shiplake has a defined contribution pension scheme (APTIS or alternative option for support staff) and its own salary scale. Accommodation may be available on site and further paid responsibilities may also be available. Excellence in the classroom and an ability to inspire young people are paramount and non-negotiable.
Shiplake College offers a beautiful working environment, supportive colleagues and all staff enjoy a free lunch and evening meal if on duty. In addition, staff are encouraged to make use of the onsite gym facilities, open air swimming (during summer months), and join a variety of staff teams such as football, touch rugby and cricket.
Thinking School
At Shiplake College, we are proud to be a Thinking School, where metacognition forms a core part of our teaching and learning culture. Every lesson includes a metacognitive element, supporting pupils to develop awareness of how they learn as well as what they learn. This approach is firmly rooted in the science of learning, with all staff using consistent visual tools and shared language to help pupils articulate their thinking and learning strategies. New members of staff receive dedicated training in the principles of cognitive science and metacognitive practice as part of their induction, and this professional development continues throughout the year with ongoing guidance, resources, and reflective opportunities. As a result, we work together as a cohesive, thoughtful community, equipping our pupils with the skills to become confident, independent learners.
Learning Research Group
All teaching staff at Shiplake College are expected to contribute to the Learning Research Group within their first two years of joining the College, with Early Career Teachers (ECTs) expected to engage within their first year. The Learning Research Group is built around the model of practitioner research, where teachers undertake research into their own classroom practice with the specific aim of solving problems and improving teaching and learning. Unlike purely theoretical research, practitioner research is directly focused on enhancing professional practice. The process follows a one-year cycle: staff join or lead a research group in the autumn term, complete secondary research in the spring, and carry out and report on their research in the summer term. Findings are then published in an in-house journal at the start of the next academic year, with staff sharing their work through presentations at September INSET. Recent research projects have included topics such as metacognition for SEND learners, the use of AI in the classroom, pupil feedback to improve practice, and the merits of digital versus handwritten learning, among many others. This culture of reflective practice and professional enquiry is central to our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.