Gap Assistant

GAP ASSISTANTS, BILTON GRANGE SCHOOL

 Bilton Grange is proud to support school leavers in gaining valuable life experiences during their break from studying; for some it is asking (or answering!) the question of whether they might want to work in education in the future, for others it is about making the step away from being a school pupil. Our Gap Assistants are selected following an application process. After being short listed, applicants will be interviewed either online or in person. On occasion, a second interview may be held.

During term time, the Gap Assistants support the everyday running of the school and follow a very busy timetable assisting teachers in class (across the age spectrum of the school), on the games field, in the swimming pool, in the boarding houses and supervising children at break times, in lunch queues and at other informal times. Where successful candidates have particular specialist skills and experience, be it in music, sport, drama, art, equestrianism or origami (and everything in between) we will do our best to harness that expertise.

Gap Assistants will normally receive free accommodation at the School, which may be used throughout the year. The accommodation has its own kitchen area, but, during the school term, school catering is available at no extra cost. All rooms have recently undergone refurbishment and have Wi-Fi access. Gap Assistants also share a communal sitting room with a TV. Gap Assistants are not required to work on Exeat weekends (beyond 4pm) or during other school holidays, but may have the opportunity to assist on residential trips outside term time.

We are a seven-day-a-week boarding school and successful candidates must be prepared to throw themselves wholeheartedly into our community. As well as invaluable experience in the world of work, our Gap Assistants are also qualified, at the school’s expense, as pool lifeguards.

The role will begin in either:

September 2024 to July 2025 or

January 2025 to December 2025

Bilton Grange is a happy, flourishing and successful Prep School set in 90 acres of beautiful grounds just south of Rugby. In 2020 it merged with Rugby School and is now part of the Rugby Schools Group. Pupil numbers have never been higher. There are currently over 380 boys and girls in the school, boarding and day, aged between 3 and 13 and the school’s distinguished history is continuing to evolve. In August 2022 we opened Little Grange Nursery, placing a further 80 children under our watchful care and guidance. Currently we are building a brand new boarding house which is a sign of our ambition and boldness. The current Head has been in post since September 2021 and in March 2022 we were successful in our ISI Compliance Inspection.

The main sports played at the School are rugby, hockey and cricket for the boys and hockey, netball and cricket for the girls but we also field teams in tennis, athletics and swimming and offer many other sporting opportunities including badminton, basketball and cross-country among others. We have our own full-sized Astro pitch, a 25m indoor swimming pool, a sports hall with two squash courts, eight netball courts, nine tennis courts, a 9-hole golf course and acres of well-maintained, flat pitches. Furthermore, through our close relationship with Rugby School, we have access to more excellent facilities just a short distance away.

Whilst previous experience of boarding schools is not a pre-requisite, applicants should be aware of the busy term-time existence that working here involves and be open-minded as to how such a learning community is at its most effective by everyone contributing wholeheartedly to supervision, activities outside the classroom and school trips. The school is committed to providing a first-class working environment for its staff; it has recently introduced a new Professional Development Review system and launched a new EDI Committee in September. The School benefits from outstanding operational and administrative support, has a very collegiate common room and a healthy collaboration with colleagues at Rugby School.

For more information and to apply: Please register and complete an application via our recruitment portal which can be found at www.rugbyschool.co.uk/about/employment-opportunities

Please note that if you are applying for this position from overseas you must be eligible to come to the UK and have a work visa.

Closing date: Monday 11th March 2024

The closing date for applications is as above, although applications will be assessed upon receipt and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised. 

Please Note

The School 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).

It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are key facets of our core ethos that ‘the Whole Person is the Whole point’. Find out more here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Rugby School

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or age.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a team of internal recruiters and advertise our vacancies to attract candidates and not agency suppliers. If we need agency assistance, we will reach out to our trusted partners. Any speculative CVs we receive will not be accepted as an introduction.

Charity Registration Number 528752