Buckswood Overseas Summer School (BOSS) is a school not only committed to providing the best possible experience for our students but also for our staff, and although qualifications and experience are important, we look for people who:

- Are willing to show a genuine commitment to their role
- Are not happy to stay in the shadows
- Are flexible
- Actively listen
- Are always ready to help
- Are reliable and responsible
- Support and respect others
- Are problem solvers
- Are team focused

If you have these attributes as well as great sense of humour and a positive outlook on life, then you might just be the person that we are looking for.

Dates

Spring Course: Friday 22nd March to Saturday 13th April (induction included and paid)
Summer School: Thursday 27th June to Saturday 17th August (induction included and paid)

Description

In 2024 Buckswood Overseas Summer School, a British Council accredited Summer School, will be running a residential Spring Course and Summer Course at our campus at Buckswood School in Guestling near Hastings. Students are residential and will join our courses that include:

- 20 hours of English per week
- Trinity College London GESE exam
- Two full day and two half day excursions per week
- Museum and attraction entrance fees
- Full Afternoon and Evening Activity Programme
- All course materials
- Full board accommodation
- Laundry service
- BOSS wristband, BOSS folder, BOSS diary and BOSS t-shirt

Main Duties

All duties are meticulously scheduled and your weekly scheduled duties will not surpass 48 hours. Duties will comprise of two components: classroom teaching and the supervision of the activity and excursion programme.

Teaching Component

Twenty hours of your contracted time will be teaching and a minimum of five hours per week will be dedicated to lesson planning. Teaching will generally take place between 09:30 and 16:30 over 5 days.

Activity and Excursion Components

Approximately nineteen hours will be dedicated to our activity and excursion programme consisting of one half day and one full day excursion per week as well as some onsite afternoon and evening activities.

You may also be allocated specific duties to be carried out at specific times. These will be your sole responsibility and you will be expected to carry them out actively and responsibly.

Typically these duties will involve:

- Taking an active role in the safeguarding of our students
- Orienting and helping new students as instructed
- Facilitating assembly at points and prearranged times
- Actively supervising defined areas at specified times as required
- Supervising students on excursions and ensuring their safe transport
- Supervising and taking part in activities for example, sports, discos, talent nights, etc.
- Airport duties as specified
- Patrolling school or site boundaries and ensuring that students to not leave the premises without supervision and permission
- Upholding the reputation of Buckswood Overseas Summer School

It is considered impossible to define every duty, and the teacher/supervisor is required to do whatever is necessary to ensure the safeguarding and happiness of the students and the smooth running of the course.

As a residential team member, you will be expected to use maturity and judgement to respond appropriately not only to emergencies, but also to any situation where you are the nearest person to hand, or the first to become aware of any situation which requires supervisory action.

At induction, teachers can indicate whether they wish to be included in the list of staff who would like to be offered additional work to maximise earnings. This will enable the Summer School Director to take this into account as early as possible in the planning of weekly timetables.

Hours of Work

You are required to teach a maximum of 20 hours per week, normally over five days at any time between the hours of 09:00 and 15:00. You are also required to carry out non-teaching duties relating to the Activity and Excursion Programme or in connection with the residential facility for a maximum of 23 hours per week. As a minimum, at least 5 hours is allocated for lesson preparation depending on the demands of the week.

The standard timetable for this post is therefore 48 hours per week, normally over 5 and a half days per week. Teachers who have indicated their interest in undertaking additional teaching or supervisory work will be notified of any such requirements from week to week by the Summer School Director or Director of Studies. You will be paid £18.00 per additional teaching hour and £11.44 per hour for additional non-teaching work.

In addition you may be required exceptionally to cover in order to maintain the timetable in the case of unexpected absence by other members of staff unless you have agreed with the Summer School Director in advance to be released from this requirement. In the event of extra hours being worked, the Summer School Director will, at your request, try to reduce your hours accordingly in the following week. Any extra hours worked above the contracted hours in any monthly pay period will be paid for at the rates above.

You will have one and a half days off each week, either Tuesday from 13:00 and all day Wednesday or Saturday from 13:00 and all day Sunday. The actual days are at the discretion of the employer (who will always try to accommodate requests), to reflect your individual supervisory programme from week-to-week and the number of activities scheduled for weekends.

Requirements

Applicants should be: CELTA, Trinity TESOL, B.Ed. (modern languages) or PGCE Primary qualified teachers. Other qualifications meeting British Council recognised Summer School standards will also be considered.

Weekend TEFL courses and online courses with no observed teaching practice do not meet British Council standards.

Experience of teaching juniors on a residential course would be beneficial but enthusiasm, motivation and being part of a team are just as important. We welcome newly qualified teachers looking for a first teaching position who can demonstrate that they can be a valuable member of the team.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Our Equal Opportunities Policy states:

In the recruitment, selection, training, appraisal, development and promotion of staff, the only consideration must be that the individual meets, or is likely to meet the requirements of the programme or course or post. The requirements being met, no employee will be discriminated against on the basis of their sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality (within current legislation), age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, caring or parental responsibilities, or beliefs on matters such as religion or politics.

Staff Recruitment Policy

To ensure that employees working are suitable for working with children, the following procedures will be followed:

- All staff must submit a CV and explain any gaps or inconsistencies.
- Two references will be needed (at least one in writing) to confirm the employees work history, suitability for the work offered and their character. The reference request clearly asks if the referee has any reason to believe that the employee is unsuitable for work with children.
- A Child Protection Self Declaration Form must be completed and returned with the offer letter signed by the employee and Summer School Director.
- The Staff Handbook which accompanies each contract, clearly states child welfare and individual privacy. All members of staff must follow these policies.
- The Staff Handbook also clearly states conduct and this is detrimental to the welfare and safety of the children and will result in Summary Dismissal.
- All staff will provide relevant documentation and complete a DBS disclosure.
- All staff must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any support with right to work applications.
- If employed outside of the UK, all staff will provide any necessary police checks/records of good conduct from any previous countries in which employment has been fulfilled.