Job Vacancies

Starting September 2026

Due to a promotion to Headship, the Headmaster of Shiplake College is looking to appoint a dynamic, forward-thinking and dedicated Deputy Head Academic to start in September 2026.

A significant opportunity exists for an outstanding academic leader to become part of our Senior Management Team in the role of Deputy Head Academic. This pivotal position sits at the centre of the College's educational mission, providing the platform to influence curriculum design, champion teaching quality and direct strategic growth.

In your capacity as Deputy Head Academic, you will lead teaching and learning initiatives, taking charge of delivering the school's educational vision while managing all curriculum matters, assessments and academic strategy throughout the College.

This position serves as the catalyst for outstanding academic achievement through high-quality teaching programmes and ongoing enhancement of pupil outcomes. You will oversee teaching standards and professional growth, encompassing academic performance monitoring, management of the CPD framework, and taking a central role in attracting excellent educators aligned with curriculum requirements and pupil choices.

Working closely with the Assistant Heads (Sixth Form, Academic and Inclusion), you will track academic progress across every year group and establish targeted intervention approaches to ensure all pupils achieve their potential.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will partner closely with the Headmaster in bringing the school's vision and ethos to life. You will contribute actively to developing whole school policies and future-focused strategic direction, serve as the College's public face for academic affairs, and promote the College's fundamental objectives and principles throughout your work.

Deputy Head Academic Candidate Pack

Teaching Staff Application Form

Closing Date: Thursday 27 November 2025, 10am
Longlist Interviews: Tuesday 2 December 2025
Shortlisted Candidates Tour of the College: Friday 5 December 2025
Final Panel Interviews: Tuesday 9 December 2025

Teacher of Geography (Spring Term Only)
Starting January 2026
Fixed term contract of 1 term

We are seeking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic Teacher of Geography to teach across Years 7-13 starting in January 2026 for the Spring term. This is a superb opportunity for a suitably qualified practitioner to join a successful and innovative 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 geography curriculum. This could present a great opportunity for an ECT. 

Early applications are encouraged for this important role. We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date if an early application from a suitable applicant is received.

Teacher of Geography Candidate Pack

Teaching Staff Application Form

Closing Date: Friday 14 November 2025
Interviews: Interviews will be on receipt of applications

The College's catering company, Thomas Franks Ltd, has a fantastic opportunity for you to join the Thomas Franks team at Shiplake College as a General Assistant.

Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: £12.21 per hour
Hours: 32.5 per week

This is a 7-day operation so working pattern would be 5 out of 7. Additional benefit of this location is free on site parking, use of gym in certain staff times, use of swimming pool in certain staff-only times during summer.

You will ideally have previous experience of working within a fast-paced catering environment.

You will enjoy what you do, working with a great team, for a company fanatical about food serving wonderful customers.

Key responsibilities:

• To support the team with serving customers, replenishing stocks, cleaning.
• Prepare all service areas for the days business relating to that meal service.
• Prepare, set-up, serve, clear, clean and store away any food, beverage or equipment required for special functions.
• Prepare basic food for sale/service, following good hygiene and safety practices and to the standard specified.
• Restock and replenish stocks and consumables as required during service periods, pre-empt customer needs and achieve optimum customer service delivery.
• Empty, remove and store rubbish / recycle rubbish in the correct place.
• Be prepared to occasionally work evening and/or weekend for functions and school events.
• Ensuring company food standards are adhered to and wastage controlled.
• Ensuring all Food Hygiene and Health & Safety policies and allergen control procedures are followed.

You will have the following skills:

• Team working abilities, Listening skills, the ability to work on own initiative, impeccable personal presentation, hygiene and behaviour to others, Food hygiene certificate preferred.
• The ability to be adaptable and be flexible as necessary. Reliable, Honest and able to demonstrate an open attentive approach to customer service.
• Willingness to learn new skills and take some responsibility.
• Ability to manage some moderately heavy lifting, carrying, and pushing.

Knowledge / competencies:

• Hold a level 2 food Hygiene qualification.
• Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good understanding and use of verbal English.
• Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good standard of written English and reading skills.
• Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is preferred.

Benefits

• Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
• Free meals on duty
• Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recommend a friend bonus.
• Unrivalled individual training and development.
• Well established apprenticeship programme.
• Team & company social events.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Workplace pension.
• Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About Thomas Franks

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

To Apply

Please note this vacancy is not managed through Shiplake College's HR department. Please go to the Thomas Franks website for further details and click on Apply Now.

To start immediately until the end of the academic year July 2026

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and inspirational individual looking to gain experience working in a boarding school environment. This role is an excellent opportunity for someone who is looking to explore a possible career in education or with young people because of the hands-on experience you will gain.

The successful candidate will be expected to immerse themselves in the day-to-day life of a busy boarding school through a variety of roles including co-curricular activities and duties, supporting the house and working alongside the pastoral team. You will be a flexible and committed individual, willing to help wherever needed, and a confident role model who engages with pupils professionally during break-times, games sessions, and supervised prep.

Early applications are encouraged for this important role. We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date if an early application from a suitable applicant is received.

Graduate Assistant Candidate Pack

Support Staff Application Form

Closing Date: Monday 17 November 2025
Interviews: Held on receipt of application

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.

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.