Course Matron Job Description 2021 - " Having worked at other summer schools, I really appreciate how well organised, effective, caring and ...
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“Having worked at other summer schools, I really
appreciate how well organised, effective, caring
and special Highfield really is.”
Staff Member 2018
Course Matron
Job Description 2021
About Highfield Summer School
Highfield School enjoys an outstanding reputation and academic
success and feeds the top senior schools in England; Winchester,
Eton, Downe House and Marlborough, to name but a few. Founded
in 1907, the School is set in glorious 175 acre grounds in the coun-
tryside and yet is less than an hour from London and Heathrow
Airport. The facilities are enviable, including extensive sports pitch-
es, tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, new science labs, an
Art School, and a state of the art Music School.
The Highfield Summer School offers overseas students aged 8-15
years a three week taster of life in a real English Country Boarding
School; it’s a year at Highfield in miniature! The Summer School
provides outstanding English language tuition, academic lessons and professional coaching in traditional English
Boarding School sports, as well as lots of activities and excursions. All in all, three weeks of inspirational learning,
adventure and of course, great fun!
Working at the Summer School
Would you like to spend an unforgettable 3 weeks in a busy, fast paced, varied and fun environment, working with
young people from all corners of the globe? We are looking for team players who thrive on collaboration with oth-
ers, sharing imaginative new ideas and who are prepared to try something new.
A working day at the Summer School typically varies; you will find the day is long and often challenging, but from
our experience, working at Highfield is immensely rewarding. All our staff are involved in looking after the pastoral
and welfare needs of the children, which can give a great sense of achievement and satisfaction - and of course,
working and living with young people, there is never a dull moment! You will join a friendly, committed and for-
ward thinking team where everyone shares a passion for education. If you are hard working, reliable and possess a
good sense of humour, we would like to hear from you.
Course Matron
Person Specification:
We are looking for enthusiastic, lively candidates to join our com-
mitted and experienced team to help deliver outstanding boarding
provision for the three week course. The boarding provision is para-
mount to the success of the Summer School, and the post holder
must be committed to providing a first-class service and assisting the
boarding team to create a home-from-home environment that fos-
ters respect, understanding and inclusiveness within a hugely cultur-
ally diverse environment. Compassion, kindness and strong role mod-
elling are key requisites for this role, as is the ability to possess a
cheerful, positive and can-do attitude.
The Course Matron needs to be extremely organised, efficient and flexible and be able to work in a busy, fast-
paced and often challenging Summer School environment. A car, clean driving license, as well as First Aid training
and would be an advantage, but not essential.
Working Hours:
Working hours/ shifts to be discussed with the successful candidate but expected to be Monday to Friday mornings
(9am -1.30pm) with participation in the evening activity rota during the course, if residential. The Matron will also
be required to attend the three days of INSET training 9am—5pm which includes adequate set up time, and work
the Saturday and Sunday to help pack up after the course has finished.
Salary:
The Salary for the Residential Matron role, is £1400. Statutory holiday pay (currently 5.6 weeks per year) is included
in the salary pro-rata. Accommodation (if required), as well as all meals and refreshments are provided for the du-
ration of the course, and staff are able to enjoy the Highfield grounds and facilities in their spare time when not in
use by the school.
Job Description
The Course Matron is an integral role in ensuring the home-
from-home environment of the Summer School and they
will have the support of the rest of the boarding team in
achieving this critical aim. Reporting to the Director of
Boarding & Pastoral Care, the Course Matron will have re-
sponsibility for the domestic duties of the boarding house
for approximately 30-40 children aged between 8-15 years
(excluding catering and cleaning which have separate dedi-
cated teams). The Course Matron must have the ability to
build a caring, friendly and supportive rapport with the stu-
dents and staff alike, to assist in ensuring the children feel
happy, safe and well cared for at Highfield for the duration
of the course.
Key responsibilities therefore include:
Pre-Course Preparation: During the INSET days prepare the boarding house for the arrival of the staff and chil-
dren: rooms need to be aired, door stops should be put in the doors of dormitories and Common Rooms, shower
mats should be put down in each of the bathrooms, and the boarding house should be made homely for the chil-
dren. Ensure residential staff have clean bed linen in their rooms on their arrival day. Student beds should be
made up with clean linen and bathroom pegs labelled as assigned by the Houseparents. Establish a rota for bed
changing, and a laundry system by dorm to avoid students’ clothing becoming mixed up or lost. A handover with
Highfield term time Matrons may be arranged if required.
Student Belongings: Once the students have arrived, ensure that students’ clothes and personal belongings are
stored tidily, and support the Houseparents in ensuring that students treat their belongings (and those of others)
and the fabric and furnishings of the House with respect, offering support and help for each other as is appropri-
ate. Label identical personal belongings such as course shirts, caps etc or other items that could be confused with
another student’s and make every effort to help avoid lost property within the boarding house.
Laundry: Take full responsibility for the weekly laundry, washing and drying of clothes and bed linen; folding
and putting away; ironing where necessary; and mending clothes as necessary.
Accommodation and Communal Areas: Ensure the Boarding House is bright, welcoming and that appropriate
signs, notices and posters are displayed in appropriate places. Manage dorm tidiness, checking every day. Alert
the Director of Boarding & Pastoral Care as well as the appropriate Maintenance/ Cleaning team to any mainte-
nance issues, light bulbs or specific urgent cleaning task.
Medical Care: Assist the Course Nurse in ensuring no medications are stored in the students’ personal belong-
ings unless explicit permission has been given for them to do so. Help with taking students to the Dentist or GP
and with supervising unwell students in the Health Centre if necessary.
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing: Be an active presence around the boarding houses with the children during break
times and after lunch. As a member of the Boarding & Pastoral Team, the Course Matron is expected to be ob-
servant of children’s behaviour and conduct and share information with colleagues, informing the Director of
Boarding & Pastoral Care of any concerns with respect to the physical and emotional well-being of all students.
All staff should have read and understood the Highfield policies concerning pastoral care and maintain student
safety and well-being as a top priority.
Collaboration with Staff: It is expected that staff will share their resources and good practices and collaborate
together in a positive manner at all times, being willing to “leap into action” in case of any emergency that may
arise.
Monitoring & Feedback: Staff are expected to respond positively to feedback from the Course Directors and
make the necessary adjustments.
End of Course: Assist the students in packing and gathering together belongings ready for their return jour-
neys, assist the Houseparents in ensuring that the Boarding House is returned to its original state. Once all staff
and students have departed, ensure all beds are stripped, bed linen laundered and, in liaison with the Domestic
Bursar, that any hired linen etc is returned, in its original state.
Terms of Appointment
The Course Matron will be required from Tuesday 13th July 2021 until Sunday 8th August 20201 to allow time to
prepare rooms for arrival and then for laundry to be completed after the students and residential staff depart.
All staff will be required to attend three days of INSET training from 10.00am on Wednesday 14th – Friday 16th
July 2021. This will include time for site orientation, set up of the dorms and staff accommodation.
The course starts on Saturday 17th July 2021 and ends on Saturday 7th August 2021.
Accommodation will be provided from Tuesday 13th July 2021.
Residential staff are expected to be in over night unless agreed otherwise by a Course Director, and are required
to abide by the Terms of the Occupancy Agreement which will be sent out with the contract.
All staff are expected to lead by example and are considered ambassadors of Highfield and Brookham Schools. As
such, they must contribute to upholding the good name of Highfield and Brookham at all times, whether on duty
or off duty. It goes without saying that staff must also maintain appropriate boundaries between themselves and
the children.
In addition to the job description of the post, staff must be willing to undertake additional responsibilities as rea-
sonably required for the fulfilment of the Summer School aims and objectives.
Safer Recruitment: Highfield and Brookham Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including references from previous
employers, the Employer Online Service regarding prohibition orders issued by the Secretary of State and the Disclosure and Bar-
ring Service (DBS) check at enhanced level and compliance with Sections 15-25 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act
2006 (eligibility to work in the UK). Highfield Summer School complies fully with the DCSF Guidance Safeguarding Children and
Safer Recruitment in Education and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Staff
are expected to share this commitment and comply with all associated internal policies and procedures.
How to Apply
If you would like to apply for this position, please download and complete the Job Application Form from our web-
site (www.highfieldschool.org.uk/Summer-School-Jobs) including the names and addresses of two referees, and
send it along with a CV and Letter of Application to: hr@highfieldschool.org.uk.
For more information about the Summer School or Highfield & Brookham Schools
please visit our website: www.highfieldschool.org.uk/summerschool
”
“I had a great time,
“ Great with
working stafffantastic
team,
amazingand
colleagues food,I would
strong leadership,
like to return next year.
I and
guessa that’s
reallythe
funbest
atmosphere.
endorsement I can”give.”
Staff
EALMember
Teacher 2019
2015
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