Graduate Boarding Assistant

Contract:        Full-time, term time only (one year fixed term)

Salary:           £14,302.82 pa + food and accommodation during term time (age 21-22)

                       £14,692.58 pa + food and accommodation during term time (age 23+)

Job Start Date: 31 August 2023

Closing date:  19 April 2023

Interview date: TBC

Introduction

Tring Park is one of the country’s leading vocational and academic schools, situated in glorious countryside just half an hour from London. Working with 360 boarding and day pupils, aged 7 to 19, you will join a dedicated and supportive staff team.

Tring Park offers a wide range of benefits including a pension scheme, cycle to work scheme, free school lunches during term time, free onsite parking and enhanced maternity and paternity schemes.

The School is now looking to appoint a Graduate Boarding Assistant to work as part of our boarding team.

Our boarding staff must enjoy being with young people as much as possible. It takes enthusiasm, patience and energy to sustain the full life of a boarding school with its considerable term time demands. The responsibility of caring for pupils is significant but rewarding and this must be undertaken sensitively and professionally to the same degree as a prudent parent, so that the safety and security of all pupils’ needs are met. We expect all staff to maintain the highest standards of professional, personal and ethical conduct and to be excellent role models.

The hours of duty will involve a balance of boarding commitments, extracurricular events and general assistance in the effective running of the school. The weekly work hours will be 40 hours per week on average during one school year (excluding holidays). There will be many opportunities to gain valuable experience in most areas of boarding school life. This experience will serve as a fantastic gateway into pastoral care, education or the performing arts. GBAs will also be allotted academic and/or vocational department time during the school day but the majority of time will be spent with pastoral duties. Applicants may also find opportunities for other duties at the school, which would be supplementary to their basic rate of pay.

Accommodation and meals will be provided during term time.

Main duties

General:

Contribute to the boarding ethos in compliance with the School’s mission and boarding statements.

Support the houseparents with the smooth running of the boarding houses.

Accompany pupils to locations outside the school grounds, assisting with offsite activities, escorting pupils to medical appointments and chaperoning pupils to the station.

Lead activities as qualified and required.

Support other areas of the School as qualified and/or required.

Report pastoral, disciplinary, academic or vocational concerns to the relevant staff.

Other duties as reasonably assigned by the Deputy Principal or those delegated this responsibility. This includes the Pastoral Coordinator and SHMs.

Boarding Routine:

Assist the boarding staff teams during evening and weekend shifts with the supervision and pastoral care of pupils. Where appropriate, assist with low-level mediation of pupil issues.

Ensure that all responsibilities allocated to pupils are carried out properly. This will include supervision of various house activities and routines such as meals, prep and bedtimes.

Ensure house procedures are followed and house rules are enforced.

Pastoral care:

Model kind and positive behaviours in all interactions.

Be a source of support for pupils, listening well and providing appropriate advice when solicited.

Help pupils to develop correct habits and general routines in shared living and working spaces, for time management and for dealing with physical needs.

Help ensure the neat and appropriate appearance of each pupil taking into account school requirements and time of the year.

Help support pupils in the organisation of their personal belongings and space.

Help support pupils to lead a healthy lifestyle with regard to eating habits, physical movement and personal hygiene.

General code of conduct:

It is expected that all boarding staff will conduct themselves in a very responsible and professional manner at all times in school, boarding houses and the local community. All staff must ensure that they always enhance the reputation of the school and do not bring the school into disrepute.

Boarding staff should be available in sufficient time before and after the terms start and end as advised by the SHMs to ensure the house is prepared and ready.

All staff must adhere to the Staff Code of Conduct and all other school policies.

Perform any other duties as reasonably requested by the Deputy Principal or the Principal.

Person Specification

Essential

Fluent spoken and written English

Good computer skills

Clean safer recruitment checks

Undergraduate degree or equivalent vocational training

Sense of humour

Clear commitment to implementing whole school/staff policies relating to the safeguarding of children

Desirable

Current First Aid Training

Current and clean driver’s license

Experience working with young people

An interest in performing arts

Additional Information

Tring Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. It is an offence to apply for a role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration form relating to any criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children.

Please note: for information on how we will use your personal information during the recruitment process, please see the Staff Privacy Notice on the School website.