Graduate Boarding Assistant

**Salary**:
£18,450 (pay award due in September) + accommodation + meals

**Job type**:
Full Time, Fixed Term

**Start date**:
September 2025

22 February 2025

**Job overview**:
**Graduate Boarding Assistant x 2**

**2-year fixed term contract from 1st September 2025 - 31st July 2027**

Are you a graduate, with an interest in supporting the wellbeing and development of students?

Are you caring and committed to helping young people achieve their goals in a safe and nurturing environment?

Downe House is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18, based in the village of Cold Ash, Berkshire. Our aim is to provide pupils with a wealth of academic, pastoral and Co-Curricular opportunities to allow them to grow into confident young women. We are seeking an energetic Graduate Boarding Assistant to join our enthusiastic Lower School House Staff Team from September 2025. This is an exciting route to kickstart your career and gain valuable experience working with students in an educational setting as well as develop personal skills.

In this role you will be a member of the team of House Staff in the Lower School Boarding House (Remove and Lower 4 - Years 7 and 8) and make a positive contribution in all areas concerning the welfare of the boarders. As a resident member of staff, you will support the girls at key times during the day, evening and weekends. Your creative and leadership skills will be utilised to plan and deliver a range of Co-Curricular activities for the girls, assist with morning and bedtime routines and help keep the Boarding House looking its best at all times.

You will be part of a nurturing and supportive but busy and thriving school, where everyone is encouraged to get fully involved with school life. We have Graduate roles in other departments, so you will not be alone Some of our graduates have succeeded to gain permanent employment with us after their 2-year placement, whilst others have benefitted from useful career insight and connections to guide their next steps.

This is a residential post, and the Graduate Boarding Assistant will live in on-site accommodation, sharing facilities, usually with other Graduate Assistants.

You will have daily and weekly time off during the 34 weeks of term time and enjoy substantial holiday periods for nearly 18 weeks outside of term time.

**We offer a range of benefits including**:

- Free staff accommodation provided on site
- Provision of delicious and nutritious free meals and on-site parking
- Substantial holiday periods for nearly 18 weeks outside of term-time
- Modern gym and swimming pool facilities
- Regular opportunities for professional development
- A vibrant and supportive staff community
- A variety of social occasions through the year
- Generous pension scheme (9% employer contribution)
- Life Assurance and Death in Service benefit
- A supportive induction programme
- Beautiful working environment in a semi-rural location

**How to Apply**

Application forms can be downloaded by clicking 'Apply' at the bottom of this advert. Please provide a covering letter and / CV and send to

by 22nd February. We reserve the right to interview/appoint before the closing date.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Own transport is useful as the school is in a rural location with no public transport links.

At Downe House we promote equality of opportunity for all pupils and staff, both current and prospective, and we actively support an environment and culture that values diversity and inclusion.

**Closing Date: 22nd February 2025**

**About**Downe House**:
**Downe House**
- Cold Ash, Thatcham
- Berkshire
- RG18 9JJ
- United Kingdom

+44 1635 200286

Situated in the town of Thatcham, in Berkshire, Downe House is an independent secondary school for girls aged between 11 and 18. It is both a day and boarding school. There are around 580 students enrolled at the school, the majority of whom are boarders. Downe House School was established in 1907 in Charles Darwin’s formal home. It is located on 110 acres of land. There are 12 houses for those living on the campus. One of the houses is located in France where year eight students have the opportunity to spend a term.

**Headteacher**

Emma McKendrick

**Values and Vision**

Downe House aims to give every girl attending the school equal opportunities. The goal is for them to develop positive attitudes towards learning and become important figures in the local and global community. Children are encouraged to have excellent exam results, as well as personal development.

**Ofsted report**

“There is positive leadership and a proactive approach to the health and well-being of the boarders. The health centre provides an outstanding service to the whole school. The welfare of pupils is at the heart of all the work that is done and the systems that are in place to support this aim. The pupils are well protected from harm with a written child protection policy that is reg