Library Assistant
Whist based at the Senior Library, the library team provide a full library service to our co-located Prep and Pre-prep schools and all library positions work across all three libraries.
Our school is a unique educational establishment, set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. Our aim is to create an environment where questioning, divergent thinking, and freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged. Central to our success is the sense that each person is a member of our community whose voice is entitled to be heard and treated with respect.Both our staff and students expect of each other the best kind of relationships – co-operative, authentic and trustful.
Experience & Background
To succeed in this role, you will combine a warm, caring, and positive outlook with high standards of professionalism. You will support the library in its aim to inspire young people with a love of reading, helping them practice the information skills they need to be successful and safe in today’s world with the aim of realising our ideal of curious, independent learners.
Assisting the Head Librarian, you will help run all aspects of the school library service. From the day-to-day managing of the collections and promoting the service, through to assisting all members of our community with their information needs.Although we are intensely proud of our library, we are committed to continuous improvement and are actively seeking to develop our offering to our students and staff.
Within this role, there is the potential to make a valuable contribution to the ongoing development of the Bedales Archive, which is managed alongside the three Libraries. As a school with a very distinctive history and philosophy, we value our heritage and seek to use it to inspire the present generation.If this is one of your strengths, there would be scope for you to make a significant impact in this area.
This post is Regulated Activity.
Hours of Work
This is a part-time, term time plus role, working during when the school and library are open, and students are present. There are some additional days during school holiday and closure periods. You will work for three days a week, on a bi-weekly rotational basis, with a working week of 22.5 hours. The work pattern will be discussed at interview.
Although, at times, you will work with the Head Librarian in the library, there will be working hours spent as the sole member of staff on duty in the library with responsibility for ensuring appropriate standards of student behaviour.
Salary
£12,096 per annum based on the above hours and weeks of work which is pro-rata of the full time equivalent salary of £25,749 per annum.
Benefits- Free on-site parking
- Funded Healthcare Cash Plan
- Pension with Royal London
- Salary Extras Benefits Platform
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Life Assurance
- Personal Accident Cover
- Free lunch is provided during term time
How to apply
If you require assistance on this recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01730 711691 or by email to: recruitment@bedales.org.uk
For further details and to apply, please visit the recruitment portal on the Bedales Schools website: https://www.bedales.org.uk/our-schools/about-bedales/job-vacancies
Suitable candidates will be asked to complete our full application process via our online recruitment portal. In line with the guidance of Keeping Children Safe in Education, CVs cannot be accepted in lieu of an application form.
Closing date: 9.00am on Friday 13 June 2025.
Application discussion reviews will be on a rolling basis during the advertising period via Teams.
Interview date: Friday 20 June 2025.
Early application is advised as Bedales reserve the right to make an appointment at any stage of the application process.
Pre-Appointment Checks
All candidates will undergo a Safeguarding Suitability Interview and application for an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check and be asked to provide evidence they are eligible to work in the UK on an ongoing basis at the shortlist stage of the selection process.
Safeguarding Statement
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Prohibition from Teaching Checks, and Prohibition from Management Checks.
The safeguarding responsibilities of the post include:
- Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
- Fostering a culture of openness, safety, equality and protection
- Providing a safe and welcoming environment where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to
- Playing a key role in the prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm
- When concerned about the welfare of a pupil, acting in the best interests of the pupil
All staff have a key role to play in identifying concerns early and in providing help for children and are expected to act in accordance with the School’s Safeguarding & Child Protection Policies.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and the School is therefore permitted to ask job candidates to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.