Dragon School
Oxfordshire
£18,388 - £18,389 per year
Salary:
£18,389 per annum. You will receive free accommodation in addition to this and meals provided during term time
Job type:
Full Time, Fixed Term
Start date:
01 January 2026
Apply by:
17 October 2025
Job overview
Dragon School is seeking to appoint two GAP Graduate Boarding Assistants to work in one of our nine boarding houses. The roles are appointed on the basis of a one-year fixed term contract. There may however be the option to extend this. Graduate Boarding Assistants will need to feel confident in being responsible for the Boarding House in the absent of the Houseparents and feel confident dealing with the children, colleagues and parents.
These positions are designed to give recent graduates an opportunity to gain experience of living and working in a boarding school environment, perhaps prior to embarking on a PGCE, or to taking up a full teaching position. Applicants with an interest or specialism in Performing Arts are encouraged, and there may be opportunities for the right applicant to support with our Drama / Music extra-curricular programme. This is a full-time residential role, term time only. Applicants need to be 21 years old plus on 01 January 2026.
Duties and Responsibilities:
General:
* Overall responsibility for the house when Houseparents are absent
* Planning, organising and running meaningful activities and events for the children, in conjunction with the Houseparents, both in-house and wider events E.g. activities for the In-school weekends
* Ordering food and equipment as required for the house
* Liaising with Catering Department over orders, entertainment requirements, etc.
* Keeping public rooms, dorms and recreational areas tidy and presentable and actively encouraging children's involvement in this task
* Ensuring that the house is tidy, organised and operational
* Identifying maintenance issues and liaising with Houseparents/Estates over these
* Supporting Houseparents with recording house billing and expenses
* For the right applicant, supporting with our performing art co-curricular programme
Health & Welfare:
* Providing pastoral care for the children and being available for them at all times when on duty
* Being an approachable, caring presence around the Boarding House, ensuring that the children receive a 'Home from Home' experience
* Being responsible for children's overall cleanliness (including teeth, showers, nit checks, nails etc.)
* Supervising the children dressing and changing for games, showers, etc.
* Liaising with DHC regarding medical advice
* Caring for sick children in house (including cleaning up when a child has been sick), giving basic medicine as necessary, seeing to minor aches and pains during the day, and recording all treatment given on Isams.
* Ensuring the medical records are kept up-to-date and accurate and making sure that medications are stored in accordance with the Health Centre's requirement
* Liaising with Health Centre nurses re. dental, hospital, optician and doctor appointments
* Taking children to the doctor, dentist, and optician etc as required
* Checking stock levels of the house medical cupboard
* Discussing the menu with the children who find the school menu challenging
Clothing:
* Being responsible for laundering the children's clothing and linen on a daily basis according to the House washing rota
* Assisting in the repair, naming and altering of children's clothing and personal possessions
* Helping children with their packing for matches/weekends out etc., and with the unpacking on their return, as necessary E.g. according to parents' lists
* Organising the packing and unpacking of trunks – beginning and end of terms
* Organising lists for laundry and dry cleaning at the end of each term.
* Identifying worn or small items and liaising with parents before ordering new items
* Placing orders for new items or sourcing these from the school Second Hand shop
Communication:
* Updating Houseparents daily in all that concerns the children
* Recording all relevant pastoral concerns and information
* Recording and communicating telephone conversations, as required
* Reading and writing emails to staff and parents in consultation with the Houseparents. E.g. The weekly newsletter with news from the house, upcoming dates, photographs and reminders etc.
* Sending basic iSAMS communications to inform staff of appointments and illness
* Relaying all messages taken during time on duty to relevant members of staff and children promptly, accurately and efficiently
* Communicating with children professionally and in conjunction with Dragon School policy
* Communicating with all staff professionally and in conjunction with school policy
* Communicating with parents professionally and in conjunction with school policy
* Communicating daily with Houseparents in all that concerns the children, life in the Boarding House and with regards to all the above points
* Being fully aware of the school's Child Welfare and Protection Policy
* Meeting and greeting parents at the Boarding House
Attached documents
Job Description
3.77MB
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About Dragon School
Dragon School
Bardwell Road, Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX2 6SS
United Kingdom
Dragon School is one of Britain's leading preparatory schools, offering a first-class day and boarding education for girls and boys aged 4-13 years. Located in the heart of the city of Oxford, the Dragon provides a distinctive educational experience that not only celebrates childhood and the joy of learning, but also prepares young people with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world and continue to 'Reach for the Sun' (Arduus ad Solem). Academic excellence for all sits at the heart of a Dragon education. As a school, the Dragon is constantly seeking to innovate, developing the curriculum both in and out of the classroom. Dragon QUEST, the Saturday enrichment programme, is a unique opportunity to stretch pupils further, giving children the freedom to learn new and unfamiliar skills, from beekeeping to exploring anthropology; we are only limited by our imaginations. Equally, 'giving back' is integral to being a grounded Dragon.
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