Teacher of Geography - Maternity Cover

ABOUT US

College Alpin Beau Soleil is a unique school community in the Swiss Alps: home to 300 students aged 11-18 from 50 countries around the world and offering an unparalleled educational experience. We believe it’s what you do that counts, and our students take on challenges 7 days each week, in and out of the classroom, that help them develop into young people capable of taking on the world. Curricular programmes in English and French, based around the IB Diploma, provide a foundation for academic success at universities around the world, whilst the experience of living and working with friends from all around the world sets up students as truly global citizens of the future. Everyone is an individual here, but we sum to a very special community.

OUR LOCATION

Our alpine location in the heart of Villars-sur-Ollon in Switzerland offers an enviable lifestyle with skiing on the doorstep in the winter months and a multitude of outdoor and sporting activities throughout the year. Montreux, Lausanne and Geneva are all within easy reach for cultural adventures and inspiration, but we travel across Europe and around the world too. The Beau Soleil campus is an inspiring place to work, with facilities that are second to none. Students and staff thrive in an environment of which they are proud, and which inspires us to better things every day.

YOUR PROFILE

Is there a better place in the world to teach Geography?
What most consider a once-a-year field trip becomes your everyday classroom — glaciers, forests, Alpine meadows and mountain villages all form part of your daily landscape.

Living and working in the heart of the Swiss Alps, you’ll bring your passion for Geography to life for students from across the globe. Whether you’re encouraging younger pupils to think deeply about climate change and sustainability, or helping a Year 13 IB student fine-tune their Internal Assessment methodology while conducting a glacier survey, your teaching will connect academic learning with real-world experience. You’ll inspire curiosity, build understanding, and develop skills that go far beyond the classroom.

This is a maternity cover role, running from October 2025 to June 2026, offering a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the life of our vibrant school during a key stretch of the academic year.

As a member of our international boarding school, you’ll see education not just as a timetable of lessons, but as a way of life. From morning classes to weekend expeditions, you’ll share ideas, challenges and adventures with pupils in a community that values holistic learning, meaningful relationships, and outdoor exploration as much as academic success.

You’ll be part of a forward-thinking and collaborative Humanities department, where creativity and curiosity are actively encouraged. The role may also include teaching our Integrated Humanities course in Years 7 to 11, and an interest or experience in IB Environmental Systems and Societies would be an advantage.

You are a qualified teacher, fluent in English and familiar with the IBDP, with experience working with pupils from diverse backgrounds. You’re an excellent communicator, confident with digital tools, and committed to building strong relationships with students, colleagues and families alike.

You’re well organised, enthusiastic and adaptable, with a good sense of humour and a readiness to get fully involved in school life. Whether you’re leading a parent–teacher meeting, climbing a 4,000m peak or cheering students on at a night-time ski race, you see every moment as part of the learning journey — and you’re ready to make it count.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build a strong profile for the subject within and beyond the Humanities Faculty, by working collaboratively and with a commitment to continuous improvement and development of the quality of students’ learning
• Develop and deploy resources to support high quality student learning, by planning effective teaching programmes which provide exemplary learning opportunities within and beyond the classroom
• Make effective use of formative and summative assessment to plan challenging learning opportunities for all students and effectively using homework and other extra-curricular learning opportunities
• Support the academic progress of a small group of students within one of our boarding houses
• Act as coach and mentor to individual tutees
• Contribute to whole school learning initiatives

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong knowledge in IBDP curriculum
• Relevant degree in Humanities
• Teaching qualification
• Fluent English speaker

EXPERIENCE

• 2 years’ teaching experience
• Experience of being part of a highly successful department and school
• Demonstrable evidence of innovating and adapting curricula to engage children and enable them to perform highly
• Experience of delivering a UK National Curriculum and/or the IB Diploma

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Warmth and kindness, with flexibility and empathy
• Passionate about education and learning
• Understanding of the complex and demanding environment of an international boarding school community
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong organisational skills
   

START DATE
From September 2025

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be made via Beau Soleil recruitment website, https://www.beausoleil.ch/careers and should contain a CV, letter of application and the details of two professional referees.

The closing date for applications is Thursday, 31 July 2025.

Successful short listed candidates will be contacted straight away with initial discussions conducted remotely by telephone or video call. Collège Alpin Beau Soleil is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. A police check is required prior to appointment.

Beau Soleil is a member of the Nord Anglia Education group of schools, which offers staff the chance to become part of a global network of schools and benefit from the professional training opportunities of the world’s leading organisation of outstanding schools.