Summer School Director of Studies (DoS)

We are looking for passionate educators to help give our students an unforgettable summer filled with positive memories and the urge to return again in 2025.

• Fixed Term Contract
• Pay rate £800 per week (plus accrued holiday pay)
• Start date: July 1st to July 5th (remote or on-site)
• July 5th to August 4th 2024 on site (includes pre-course induction)
• All food and boarding included
• Residential on-site at Culford School

Reporting to: Summer School Program Director

Click here for the job description.

Culford is a boarding and day school for over 850 children aged 1 to 18, set in 480 acres of beautiful Suffolk parkland, with an 18th century grade II mansion at its centre and three separate schools: the Pre-Prep & Nursery (ages 1 to 7); the Prep (ages 7 to 13); and the Senior School (ages 13 to 18).

 2024 marks the start of Culford’s Summer School programme, an exciting and dynamic language and multi-activity course for teenagers aged 12-17. The programme consists of two 2 week courses, where students learn English, take advantage of Culford’s impressive sports and classroom facilities, and make lifelong friendships with other students from all around the globe. Students typically have English lessons in the morning, take part in a range of activities in the afternoon, and enjoy an evening social programme. Throughout the 2 week course, they take part in 5 culturally enriching excursions to destinations near Culford.

Job Description:

The Director of Studies is responsible for the oversight of the academic programme and the English lessons, ensuring all of our students are in a class that engages them and addresses their learning needs. The DoS is responsible for line-managing teachers, supporting them in their lesson planning, and ultimately ensuring all of the lessons are of the highest-quality. They will be responsible for the testing of students when they arrive, and the sorting of those students into appropriate classes.

 Aside from the academic programme, the Director of Studies also plays a key part in the delivery of the summer programme, seconding for the Programme Director on their days off, and dealing with student issues as they emerge. They will ensure the summer programme is enriching, engaging, and that students are able to improve their English as much as possible. The DoS will support the Programme Director in all aspects of summer school management.

They will also be responsible for helping to develop schemes of work, either remotely or in person, before the summer school launches. They should therefore be available to work from July 1st onwards.

Key Duties:

• Organise and carry out placement testing for all students on the first Monday of each course.
• Allocating each student to a class suitable to their language journey based on their English level, age and nationality.
• Be prepared to teach any level in the instance of staff illness.
• Directly line manage the academic team, and provide support, guidance, and feedback to all teachers, regardless of experience level.
•  Coordinate with the Programme Director to ensure the highest level of quality in the academic programme.
• Coordinate with the Activities Coordinator to ensure students are getting the best English learning opportunities throughout the entire programme.
• Check paperwork such as registers, record of work done, and address any issues before they become problems.
• Liaise with group leaders and other stakeholders to ensure students are getting the best from their summer school experience.
• Provide professional and personal development to the teaching team, including through observations and workshops.

Applicants must be living in the UK and be able to provide suitable evidence of their Right To Work in the UK.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.

Culford School puts at the centre of its operation the safeguarding of the pupils of the school and encourage a culture of challenge to ensure the risks of harm to the pupils’ individual welfare are minimised.

Successful applicants must complete mandatory pre-employment training in safeguarding and other key areas before commencement of employment.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants will undergo appropriate child protection screening; pre-employment checks will be carried out; references will be sought and successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and other relevant checks with statutory bodies.

We comply with the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) code of practice and have a written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, both of which are available on request. If shortlisted, you are required to declare any relevant convictions, adult cautions or other matters which may affect your suitability to work with children. As a result of amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exceptions order 1975) in 2013 and 2020, some minor offences are now protected (filtered) and should not be disclosed to potential employers, and employers cannot take these offences into account.

If you are unsure whether you need to disclose criminal information, you should seek legal advice or you may wish to contact Nacro or Unlock for impartial advice. There is more information on filtering and protected offences on the Ministry of Justice website.