General

• Support and manage the wider office team as required, including to cover breaks of other colleagues answering the telephone, covering Reception, signing-in visitors and dealing with queries from staff, pupils and parents where required.
• Administer basic first aid to boys where necessary, should the Day Matron be absent or otherwise engaged (training will be provided).
• Assist the Registrar with the fielding of queries relating to admissions where required.
• Help to ensure that the wider office is calm, organised and working efficiently.
• Ensure the wider office area is always staffed, including over lunchtime by agreeing rotas with relevant staff.
• Line manage the Receptionist, the Road Crossing Patrol Officer, Gap Students, Day Matron, liaising the Deputy Masters where these impact the effective day-to-day running of the School.
• Other reasonable duties as discussed and agreed with the Master.

Hours of work

07:50 – 16:45, Monday to Friday with a 30-minute unpaid lunchbreak

This is a term-time only post with some additional weeks to be worked during the school holiday period (as outlined below). In addition, the post holder will be expected to attend up to five evening and/or weekend events a year, such as for assessment days, Open Days/Evenings or accompanying the Master to School events in the evening, either at WUS, at other schools, or similar.

Additional Working Days Are As Follows

• 10 days in August prior to the start of the new academic year (Play term)
• 3 days during the October half term
• 2 days in December at the end of the Play term
• 2 days in January prior to the start of the Lent term
• 1 day in February half term
• 2 days at the end of Lent term
• 2 days before start of Election term
• 1 day in the May half term
• 10 days in July at end of the Election term (end of the academic year)

Holidays

As this is a term-time only post, all holidays should be taken during the school holidays, unless agreed in advance with the Master.

For this role, we can only accept candidates who already hold the legal right to work in the UK and if successful will need to provide evidence at interview. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorships for international applicants, or candidates currently working in the UK on a sponsored visa as we are unable to assist with renewal upon expiry.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Westminster School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Working at Westminster Under School

Westminster Under School is a busy, purposeful and vibrant place to be and an excellent workplace. The community is made up of around 292 pupils, 43 teaching staff and 50 support staff.

Westminster Under School is a friendly and welcoming place to work. There is a real sense of community here and staff members quickly become part of the rhythm of life, both inside and outside the classroom. Social events are regular and varied, with plenty of opportunity to socialise outside working hours. Support staff as much as teaching staff are encouraged to embrace the School’s day-to-day activities, whether that be attending a concert or a sports fixture.

At Westminster we will always select the best candidate for every position. We do know, however, that we can only truly choose the best person on every occasion if a broad and diverse pool of candidates see the job advertised and are encouraged to apply.

As such, we continue to work on how our job roles are encountered, and particularly welcome applications from groups who have traditionally been underrepresented here.

Westminster Under School is for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We hope you are encouraged to apply.

The School

Westminster Under School is a happy, ambitious, nurturing and inspiring world-class preparatory education for seven to 13 year olds. Pupils who love to learn are offered a supportive, dynamic and inspirational environment to fuel their curiosity.

Located in the heart of London, the School overlooks the beautiful school playing fields in Vincent Square and is just a few moments’ walk from Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. It is closely connected to Westminster School; in 1943, Westminster expanded its educational scope by forming the Under School, and the two schools share the same Governing Body and the same ethos of a liberal education.

Westminster Under School's curriculum is broad and diverse, aiming to foster a sense of wonder and inquisitiveness in children and encourage independent thought. The teaching programme goes above and beyond the National Curriculum and teachers are not tightly bound by syllabus. Pupils are taught a wide range of subjects by expert teachers who embrace opportunities for growth and promote diverse thinking, and who encourage them to ask questions about the world around them.

While the School's standard of our education is of the highest quality, the School’s focus is not only on academic achievement. Westminster pupils receive a full and rounded education that includes sport, the arts and many opportunities to engage in community outreach; pupils frequently take part in concerts, plays and in both internal and external competitions, and the School hosts festivals and events throughout the year. Like its older counterpart, Westminster Under School is fully committed to each pupil’s spiritual, moral, emotional and physical development and wellbeing – with a particular emphasis on drawing out individual talent wherever it lies