Overview
Boarding House Assistant (Residential) – New Boys Flat at Bedales School. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual to support the day-to-day running of the boys’ boarding house and the Houseparent team. The role is residential and requires a strong safeguarding culture, with students listened to, respected and involved in decisions.
Bedales is set in 120 acres of South Downs National Park in Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire. The estate includes playing fields, orchards, woodland, pasture and a nature reserve; the countryside comes right to the heart of the school. Bedales is progressively liberal in approach, not for the sake of being different, but because we believe it is important for a properly rounded and relevant education. There is no uniform, and staff and students address each other by first names – just two features of a culture that values the individual, with mutual respect its cornerstone.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to provide support and assistance for the students and Houseparent team at our Boys’ Boarding House. Residential Boarding House Assistants undertake a vital, hands-on role during the evenings and weekends within the School’s Boarding Houses. House Assistants are the constant presence in the Houses managing the day-to-day running of the House, triaging and dealing with issues as they arise. Residential House Assistants are required to be resident in the Boarding House, with self-contained accommodation available throughout the year and all meals provided on duty days. House Assistants are able to have family members living/staying in the accommodation with them (subject to safeguarding checks). Applicants will need excellent communication and caring skills, along with enthusiasm and good flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. Calmness, a great sense of responsibility and commitment are also key to the role. You will work with the team to ensure the safe, effective and efficient management and smooth day-to-day running of the boarding house and care of students in line with the Boarding National Minimum Standards and the School’s needs and requirements.
Experience & Background
The successful candidate will be a confident user of Microsoft Office and ensure that the administrative side of New Boys’ Flat runs smoothly. You will also fulfil the primary duty of handling the students’ domestic and health arrangements, reporting directly to the Houseparent team on all matters concerning the boarding house and the students.
You Will Be Responsible For
* Supporting the students’ health and wellbeing needs during working hours
* Providing supervision to the students in the boarding house during working hours
* Ensuring that spreadsheets for fire lists, dormitory allocations, travel arrangements, health appointments and sign-in lists are kept up to date
* Fielding calls/emails from teachers and parents relating to students in the boarding house
* Managing the stock and billing of the basics shop where students can buy toiletries
* Dispensing medication including controlled medication to students
* Working closely with the domestic team and facilities department to ensure the boarding house is well-managed
* Providing effective handovers to the fellow House Assistant who covers days
This post is Regulated Activity.
Hours of Work
The post is for 39.5 hours per week to be worked during term time: Wednesday and Thursday 17:00 to 22:00, Friday 15:00 – 22:00, Saturday 08:00 to 22:00 and Sunday 09:00 to 22:00. You will also share in the rota of being on-call overnight as well as being required to attend INSET days outside of term time.
This is a term time plus post annually working 33 weeks during term-time, plus working an additional 72 hours over the course of the year.
Salary
The salary for the role is £17,367 per annum (actual salary) based on the above hours and weeks of work, inclusive of holiday pay; which is pro-rata of the full-time equivalent annual salary of £26,686 per annum.
Benefits
* Self-contained accommodation (all year)
* Meals provided on duty days during Term Time
* Free on-site parking
* Funded Healthcare Cash Plan
* Pension with Royal London
* Salary Extras Benefits Platform
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Life Assurance
* Personal Accident Cover
Pre-Appointment Checks
All candidates will undergo a Safeguarding Suitability Interview and application for an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check and be asked to provide evidence they are eligible to work in the UK, on an on-going basis, at the shortlist stage of the selection process.
How To Apply
If you are interested in applying for this post, please read the Job Description which includes full details. CVs cannot be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application form.
For further details on the role and how to apply, please visit the recruitment portal on the Bedales Schools website: https://www.bedales.org.uk/about-us/job-vacancies
All enquiries relating to the recruitment process should be forwarded to recruitment@bedales.org.uk
Closing date: 9.00am on Monday 15 September 2025.
Application reviews (via MS Teams): Thursday 18 September 2025.
Interview date: Tuesday 23 September 2025.
Early application is advised as Bedales reserve the right to make an appointment at any stage of the application process.
Safeguarding Statement
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. Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service DBS, Prohibition from Teaching Checks, Prohibition from Management Checks.
The Safeguarding Responsibilities Of The Post Include
* Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children;
* Fostering a culture of openness, safety, equality and protection;
* Providing a safe and welcoming environment where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to;
* Playing a key role in prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm;
* When concerned about the welfare of a student, acting in the best interests of the student.
All staff have a key role to play in identifying concerns early and in providing help for children and are expected to act in accordance with the school Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job candidates to declare all convictions and cautions including those which are spent unless they are protected under the DBS filtering rules in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
Seniority level
* Entry level
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Administrative
Industries
* Book and Periodical Publishing
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