The purpose of this role is to be an integral part of the House team in one of our boarding houses in Richmond Park, Surrey, delivering excellent and compliant pastoral care for the students in White Lodge as well as supporting the academic life of the School.
Our Resident Graduate Assistants support in both the boarding and day to day academic support of our male and female students in Senior House (Years 9 to 11) or Junior House (Years 7 and 8), ensuring that students have a secure and supportive ‘home from home’ during term time. They will also have a timetable acting as a classroom assistant or supporting students on a one-to-one basis. These are residential roles, with accommodation provided in our Boarding House. Suitable training and ongoing support will be provided on an ongoing basis, which is vital in the early days of the role.
For those in Junior House, the Resident Graduate Assistant will take responsibility for whole groups of students at key moments of the day, particularly during morning wake-ups and bedtime, ensuring smooth routines and consistent pastoral care. From waking up students in the morning until lights out at night, each day is completely different, making the role of Resident Graduate Assistant both challenging and hugely fulfilling.
We are looking to appoint one Resident Graduate Assistant for our Junior House (ages 11-13) and one for our Senior House (ages 13-16). Applicants should indicate which role they would like to be considered for in their application. The successful candidate will be a graduate (Maths, English, History, Sciences, PE, Performing Arts, or Dance) considering a career in teaching or a related sector.
CONTRACT TERMS:
Hours:
Full-time with two evenings off per week. For the avoidance of doubt, the boarding week runs Sunday evening to Friday and the weekend constitutes Saturday. Weekend working involves 15 weekends on duty (although staff may be called upon in an emergency). The Monday to Saturday day-time commitment will be in the region of 16 hours averaged over the term. Week-end duty includes providing support in artistic classes on a Saturday morning (on some weekends).
Every effort will be made to provide a 24 hour period of non-contact time per week. Where this may not be possible for timetabling reasons, then suitable arrangements for substantial periods of non-contact time will be made. This situation reflects current working rotas, however flexibility may be required on occasion as these may have to be adapted to meet operational requirements.
There is a requirement to provide two weeks of cover during the Intensive Courses.
House staff must be resident during term time (even on nights off), in case of emergency, but may ask permission from the APPW for occasional absences for special occasions. No holiday may be taken during term time, the last week of the summer break or when there is planned Inset.
Salary: £23,223.42 per annum - Accommodation off set will be applied annually.
Location: White Lodge, Richmond Park, Surrey
Interview Date: Tuesday 29 April 2025
Start Date: September 2025
Main duties will include:
* Ensuring The Royal Ballet School’s ‘Boarding Principles’ are effectively implemented in the day to day life of the House
* Being a part of creating a structured, secure but enabling community in House where students can grow and flourish artistically, academically and as a human being
* Delivering the procedures and policies required in the ‘Boarding Handbook’
* Implementation of compliance checks for the House
* Contributing to an effective trips and activities programme for students during boarding time
* Being part of an effective, proactive and caring House team with student welfare at its’ heart
* Care and support of boarders outside of the routine of the School day
* Undertaking a day time role in support of the academic and broader life of the School which may include: relevant administration, support of medical cover, mealtime registers and supervision, helping with special events and external trip etc. but will primarily be about delivering classroom- based assistance.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria:
* English, History, Biology. Science PE, Performing Arts, or Dance graduate with an interest in becoming a teacher or working in a related field
* The ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing
* A positive outlook, good sense of humour and able to stay calm in a crisis
* Conscientious with the ability to sustain long working hours during term time including evenings and weekends
* Good listener who can build effective relationships with students, staff and parents
* Able to establish a strong rapport with students, assert authority when needed and maintain appropriate boundaries
* Proactive in approach and able to seek advice and support in a timely fashion when appropriate
* Ability to be discreet and observe confidentiality at all times
* Able to cope effectively and patiently with high levels of demands from students and parents
* Good administration skills and IT literate
* Flexible attitude towards duties and working patterns in order to fulfil the requirements of the role
* Empathy with the aims and ethos of the School
* Professional but approachable demeanour.
Desirable Criteria:
* Experience of working with students / young people in a welfare role
* Full, clean driving licence preferred.
This job information cannot be all encompassing. It is inevitable over time that the emphasis of the job will change without changing the general character of the job or the level of duties and responsibilities entailed. Consequently, this information will be periodically reviewed, revised and updated in consultation with the post holder to reflect appropriate changes.