Director of Studies

Contract Dates: 02/07/2026 - 11/08/2026

The Summer School Director of Studies manages the Academic Programme, ensuring its smooth operation throughout the summer. They oversee class organisation, teacher support, and lesson delivery, while creating a positive, safe environment for students. Strong leadership, communication, organisational, and administrative skills are essential, as well as experience working with young people in a dynamic setting.

Responsible To: The Summer Course Leader and the SBC Academic Management Team in Head Office.

About the Site: Headington Oxford International Summer School is located in the leafy suburb of Headington in Oxford, yet it is only a mile from the very centre of the historic town. Year‑round, Headington operates as an all‑girls school educating around 1,000 students from 30 different nationalities. This international element means that the host school is perfectly geared toward providing a welcoming and exciting atmosphere for summer school students. The facilities are excellent, with newly decorated bright accommodation for students and staff. The school is for students aged 13‑16 and the capacity is approximately 200 students a week.

Ways We Support Our Directors Of Studies:

• We will cover the full cost of a new DBS (if required) for your first contract working with SBC.
• Extensive, paid, on‑site training prior to student arrival.
• Accommodation included.
• CPD and Appraisals.
• Staff Wellbeing Initiative.
• Access to Employee Assist Programme (EAP).
• Continual support for all staff from the Head Office Team, both on the ground and via phone/email.
• Online safeguarding and prevent training.
• Professional, fun and supportive environment.
• Paid attendance to pre‑course Management Training.

Remuneration: The salary for the Director of Studies role is £1,010 per week (subject to tax and national insurance), paid weekly in arrears (this sum includes a holiday allowance at 12.07% of basic pay in the sum of £108.78), plus accommodation at the summer site.

Main Duties:

• Academic Programme Delivery: Take overall responsibility for implementing and monitoring the performance of the Academic Programme. Organise the students into classes and inform both students and teachers of their classes and levels. Keep clear and accurate records of class attendance and work covered. Organise all aspects of the weekly academic ‘Time to Shine’ ceremony following the procedural notes and guidance given by the SBC Head Office Academic Management Team. Ensure reports and leavers’ certificates are produced on time. Be the point of contact for SBC Head Office regarding the Academic Programme. Provide feedback on the SBC syllabus and academic processes at the end of the summer.
• Team Management: Lead the summer school academic team, holding daily meetings and being the point of contact for EFL Teachers and Subject Teachers regarding the academic programme. Support, manage, and guide teachers whilst carrying out lesson observations, observation feedback, and CPD workshops/idea sessions. Teach when necessary to provide cover for absent teachers. Be responsible for pre‑arrival academic setup and effectively induct teachers at the beginning of the summer school. Conduct appraisals, address performance issues and provide ongoing support with input from the Course Leader and Head Office.

About You: All members of staff employed by SBC will be expected to bring certain key qualities to the operation. There must be a professional interest in working with young people and particularly international children. Safety and welfare of the students is of paramount importance at SBC and a practical enforcing of this belief should be a quality exhibited by all staff.

To Apply: If you require any adjustments to help you at interview and/or you have any questions at all, please contact us at: [email protected]

Please note, as this post involves direct contact with vulnerable children, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.

Should You Be Successful:

• Any gaps in your CV will be enquired about and must be explained satisfactorily.
• You will have to prove your Right to Work in the UK.
• You will provide the details of two recent and relevant referees who we will contact and specifically ask about your suitability to work with children and any concerns.
• You will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), and equivalent if you live, or have lived, outside of the UK.
• You will be asked to state that you have no known reason why you cannot work with children.
• Official identification and certificates will be required for our records.
• Please be aware that SBC may conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of our legal duty to meet our safeguarding duties.

SBC Safeguarding Statement: Summer Boarding Courses is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and procedures in place which all employees, volunteers and contractors are expected to adhere to.