Edge Grove School

An independent school for boys and girls

Applicant Information Pack for the post of

Librarian Monday – Friday 32.5 hours per week Term Time Only

Start Date: September 2021

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Welcome to our School

Edge Grove is a happy, vibrant and successful learning community that is strongly committed to holding in balance the academic ambition necessary to drive high performance and the dedication to providing an inspiring and engaging curriculum that truly prepares pupils for their onward journeys. We are a community that places student wellbeing at the heart of all we do and there is a talented and motivated staff team that is passionate about making a difference to the experience of every child.

At Edge Grove we provide an exceptional education, combining academic rigour and ambition with creativity and depth of study. We ensure learning authentically nurtures intellectual curiosity, independence of thought and scholarship through a broad, sharp and innovative curriculum; and pastoral care and pupil wellbeing remains at the core of all we do.

There is a palpable sense of school spirit and community here. We value diversity; both in approaches to teaching and learning and through having a culturally diverse staff and student body that brings varied perspectives, new knowledge, different experiences and new ways of thinking. Edge Grove embraces the cultural differences of all of its families and pupils show a high level of respect for each other. Our pupils are principled, open minded, resilient and, above all, kind.

As Head, I am unwavering in my belief that every educator has the power and ability to help pupils accomplish great things. I am relentless about maintaining and sustaining a positive culture in school and I am committed to developing and empowering staff to make each day extraordinary for the pupils and themselves.

Thank you for your interest in the position of Librarian at Edge Grove. This is an important role supporting the delivery of teaching and learning across the whole school. Our aim is to see reading for pleasure at the heart of Edge Grove and to foster a lifelong love of reading throughout the school community. The successful applicant will need a broad knowledge of children’s literature, vision, enthusiasm and excellent organisation and decision-making skills.

Interviews will be on site and you will have an opportunity to see the school environment during an interview.

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Edge Grove School was founded in 1935 and is a vibrant and successful day and boarding prep school for boys and girls aged between 3 and 13 characterised by a genuine commitment to the pursuit of excellence. We have over 500 pupils with a family style environment for our small boarding house that is utilised by weekly and flexi boarders. We also offer nursery education in our dedicated building located in the nearby village of Aldenham.

We are fortunate to be situated within 48 acres of parkland, only 15 miles from central London and conveniently located close to the M1 and M25 motorways. Our wonderful setting and facilities ensure our children are exposed to a wide range of experiences and develop confidence in a challenging, fun and inspirational environment.

We encompass the traditional values of good manners and self-discipline coupled with a modern and progressive approach. We offer an education that instils self-assurance and a passion for learning that stays with children for the rest of their lives. Our first class teaching resources, strong academic approach and accessible and enjoyable teaching methods allow pupils to progress individually and reach their true potential in all spheres of school life.

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Pupils at Edge Grove Pre Prep pupils are class based with specialist teachers for PE and games, art, music and Forest School.

Lower School pupils are class based with sets for English and Maths and specialist teachers for PE and games, art, music, drama, computing, D.T/Engineering and Modern Foreign Languages.

Upper and Middle School pupils are taught exclusively by specialist teachers and develop their independence through having to move around the School during the day to the separate faculty areas. All pupils have a form tutor who is responsible for their pastoral care.

At Edge Grove pupils either take 11+ in Year 6 and move on to a range of local independent schools or remain with the School until 13+ exams, where they study the Edge Grove Baccalaureate alongside the ISEB curriculum. We are proud of our academic performance and children are prepared for a wide range of senior schools across the country, carefully chosen to suit their academic and extra-curricular strengths. Edge Grove pupils characteristically approach the next stage of the educational journey with confidence and distinction and many achieve scholarships across a breadth of subjects at their senior school of choice.

Leavers’ Destinations Aldenham School Bedford School Berkhamsted School Eton College Haberdasher’s Askes’ School for Boys Haileybury School Merchant Taylors’ School Mill Hill School Roedean School St Columba’s College St Alban’s High School for Girls St Alban’s Boys’ School

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The Role

The successful candidate will continually promote the value of reading throughout the School and encourage all pupils to read for pleasure. Working alongside the academic staff, the Librarian will support and develop the pupils’ academic reading and research skills in order for everyone to achieve. The Librarian will need a broad knowledge of children’s literature and have vision, enthusiasm and excellent organisation and decision-making skills. The Librarian will therefore need to be flexible, have a keen eye for detail, be a good team colleague, be able to take responsibility when required and have a good rapport with pupils.

TASKS AND DUTIES

Teaching and Learning ● Develop the library at the heart of learning in school. ● Develop reading for pleasure in the school community. ● Enable pupils to identify, locate and access the information they need. ● Develop pupils’ research skills through library lessons. ● Encourage scholarship and independent learning. ● Help organise special library displays, guest speakers and author visits and other events as appropriate. ● Train and supervise pupil librarians. ● Establish and run pupil break and lunchtime clubs. ● Develop and run an after-school library club. ● Liaise with Heads of Department, including Learning Success, to ensure the effectiveness of the library’s contribution to teaching and learning. ● Work with academic staff to support the development of academic reading. ● Compile age appropriate reading lists in consultation with staff. ● Provide staff with relevant topic books to support curriculum topics. ● Cover for absent colleagues and carry out other supervisory duties as required.

Administrative Duties ● Manage the library budget and order new resources in consultation with the Deputy Head Academic, Head of English and Bursar. ● Manage and operate the computerised library system and any associated manual systems. ● Catalogue and process new books, magazines and other resources. ● Register new users, inducting and assisting pupils and staff to use the facilities, referring associated problems to the IT staff. ● Manage routines associated with issue and return of books, reservations, shelving and tidying of all the libraries in the school. ● Attend professional meetings and courses in order to keep up-to-date on developments in librarianship. ● Ensure smooth running of all the library facilities and services.

Standards and Quality Assurance ● Set a good example in terms of punctuality and attendance. ● Model acceptable behaviour; supervise and control children, encourage good social skills and adhere to defined standards and policies. ● Attend department meetings and participate in planning sessions where appropriate. ● Attend weekly whole-school staff meetings and training sessions. ● Attend relevant INSET as directed by the Head.

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● Be proactive in matters relating to health and safety and general well-being of the children. ● Be familiar with all school policies, both those pertaining to teaching and school life in general, and ensure they are accurately and consistently implemented. ● Participate in the school’s appraisal process and attend review meetings as required

Professional Responsibilities ● Support the School in its aims, ethos and objectives ● Promote the academic ethos and life of the school. ● Set high expectations in terms of enthusiasm for learning. ● Dress in a way that is commensurate with the school working environment.

Corporate Life ● Take part in the corporate life of the school. ● Contribute to the extra-curricular life of the school e.g. after-school clubs and activities.

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Person Specification Your application and, if invited, interview will be assessed against the following criteria:

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA DESIRABLE CRITERIA Qualifications A Level English and/or English Degree in English or English Literature Literature or equivalent A Librarianship Qualification A thorough knowledge of the role in a similar Experience environment

Professional and mature approach to work Ability / skills

Enthusiastic, flexible, reliable and conscientious in your care of the children, with the ability to inspire and motivate children.

Effective team member with excellent communication skills with peers

Show initiative in your dealings with children in different situations.

Awareness of the need to follow set policies and guidelines within a caring and safe environment for the children.

Flexible in your approach to tasks.

Powers of self-evaluation and a critical approach to own practice.

A clear understanding of recent developments in Librarianship.

Personal integrity, honesty, energy and stamina.

Excellent communication skills with pupils, teachers and parents. Personal Friendly, sympathetic and supportive Attributes personality

Energetic, motivated, resilient and enthusiastic

Well organised, with good time management skills and a keen eye for detail.

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Salary and Benefits Edge Grove offers its staff attractive salaries and pay progression when compared with the wider education sector. We reward experience and responsibility and the salary for the successful candidate will be discussed at interview.

Other benefits include: ❖ Access to a group personal pension scheme. This is a contributory scheme, into which you may subject to legislation, elect to pay any percentage of your salary, the School will contribute matched funding up to a maximum of 7.5% of your basic salary; ❖ Access to the Edge Grove Pension with Nest should you not wish to be enrolled in the group personal pension scheme; ❖ Life Assurance Cover which provides death in service cover up to 5x your annual salary; ❖ Free school lunch and refreshments during term time whilst the kitchen is operating, normally taken with the pupils; ❖ Parking on site in designated areas on the site at no cost, although all vehicles are parked at the driver’s risk; ❖ Access to an Employee Assistance Programme; ❖ Cycle to Work Scheme.

Terms and Conditions

All appointments are subject to an enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service and at least two references from past employers, including any school employment during your career.

Full-time hours of work are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.

Support staff appointments are subject to a probation period of six months and notice is eight weeks on either side during that period.

All staff must comply with the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.

All staff are expected to set an example to pupils and should dress appropriately at all times.

The School operates a no smoking and no vaping policy.

The School takes its obligations under the Health & Safety at Work Act seriously and the post holder will be required to comply with all aspects of the School’s Health & Safety Policy, particularly in relation to safe working practices.

All staff must keep up to date with the School’s policies which are regularly updated and posted on the staff shared drives.

For operational reasons, the School reserves the right to transfer you to alternative duties. For this reason, it is a condition of employment that you are willing to do so, if requested, from time to time.

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Data Protection

Personal data collected will be used during the recruitment process, and if you are successful will be added to your employee record. If you are unsuccessful, the information will be retained for six months following the completion of the recruitment process after which all details or papers relating to your application will be securely destroyed. For further information on how we use your information and who we may share it with, please refer to the Staff Data Protection Privacy Notice which is available on our website.

Recruitment and Selection

Edge Grove is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. The full policy on Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure is available on our website and should be read before making your application.

Please complete an application form which can be found on the About Us / Job Vacancies page on our website. Please email the completed form and accompanying letter addressed to the Head, Miss Lisa McDonald to [email protected] . Applications must arrive prior to the closing date and time. CVs will not be accepted.

Please refer to the ‘Notes for Applicants’ page in the Application for Employment and ensure that you have made the correct declaration.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback except to those candidates who are invited to interview.

The School is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. To enable us to make any reasonable adjustments please let us know at application stage if you have any special requirements.

To discuss the role in confidence, please contact Jacquie Horrocks, HR and Conmpliance Manager, on [email protected] or 01923 855724.

Aldenham, Hertfordshire WD25 8NL [email protected] https://www.edgegrove.com/ https://www.edgegrove.com/virtual-edge-grove/

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