TRANSPORT AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS MANAGER INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES Required from June 2019 The closing date for applications is Friday 26th April 2019 and interviews will take place from this time. Worthy Park House, Kings Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1AN 01962 888000 princesmeadschool.org.uk @princesmeadschool
The School Prince s Mead is a thriving independent preparatory day school for 250 boys and girls set in a beautiful site in Winchester, Hampshire. The school is a forward-thinking yet traditional school with a strong family ethos and an excellent reputation. Housed in an impressive Grade II Georgian building, with spectacular panoramic views over the Itchen Valley, the School offers an imaginative, all-round education. A Distinctive Approach Amid these exceptional surroundings, the energy and vibrancy of the School radiates from the unusually large classrooms, immaculate outdoor facilities and sizeable playing fields beyond. The proximity to the City of Winchester and its cultural, historic and musical offerings, coupled with the freedom offered by the remarkable space of the School s enviable setting, give staff an inspirational environment to deliver inspirational teaching. The school has an outstanding track record in preparing its pupils for the top senior schools in the country including, for example: Blundell s, Cheltenham Ladies College, Downe House, Godolphin, King Edward VI, Millfield, Port Regis, St Mary s Calne, St Swithun s, and Wycombe Abbey Last year, a record cohort of the Year 6 leavers were honoured with Academic, Art, Drama, Music, and Sports scholarships and exhibitions.
The Future A new Headmaster was appointed by the Governing Board this academic year and the school has ambitious plans for the future with an exciting new Development Plan including a Nursery. A stunning new Dining Hall and classroom block will be completed in July which will further enhance the existing range of outstanding facilities and opportunities at Prince s Mead. The school is currently formulating the next phases of our development; one which will cement our reputation as one of the leading preps schools in Hampshire. Candidate Search We are looking to recruit a suitable person to manage our 8 vehicle minibus service which collects children in the morning and takes them home in the afternoon as well being used for School outings and matches. The post holder will also manage our after School club provision. This is an extremely busy post and the ability to remain calm under pressure is essential. The post also requires a proactive, highly organised person with excellent IT skills. He/she will have exceptional organisation, management, customer service and communication skills.
Transport and After School Clubs Transport We recognise the pressures of daily life and to this end we give parents the opportunity to use our highly efficient fleet of minibuses which collect children from a wide catchment area. We recognise that many of our parents work long days and the late bus service is especially popular. The price of transport is included in the school fees. Our seventeen seater minibuses are painted in red, the predominant school colour and carry the school crest. All transport activities come under the control of the Bursar. Since Prince s Mead re-located from the centre of Winchester to Worthy Park House in Kings Worthy in 1999, we have been maintaining our Green Transport Policy, which is in line with their desire to operate an environmentally friendly service for the families of children attending the school. In addition it shows the children how they too can make a difference in caring for our World. The main use of the minibuses is to provide a bus service to and from school at the beginning and end of the school day. We run one service in the morning but two in the afternoon. Approximately 60% of the pupils travel to and from school by this mode of transport. The Transport & After School Clubs manager is in direct control of this service, preparing pupil lists for each of the daily bus runs. In addition to the bus service, the minibuses are used during the school day transporting pupils and staff to sports activities, functions, field trips etc. The Transport and After School Clubs Manager is responsible for fleet management. Vehicles are serviced in accordance with the manufacturer s requirements by the area main dealers who in addition carry out on site safety checks four times per year, coinciding with the school holidays. The post includes responsibility for ensuring drivers conduct weekly safety checks on items such as lights, tyres, oil and water levels etc. All drivers carry out daily running checks, reporting any apparent problems to the Transport and After School Clubs Manager who further investigates, taking the appropriate action. After School Clubs As a school we recognise the importance of offering the children a selection of after school activities which they can participate in. The club programme is aimed at teaching a variety of skills to a wide range of ages. Clubs are run on a termly basis and vary each term. Many of the clubs are run by Prince s Mead staff and others by visiting specialists in their field. Some of the clubs are free and some incur a small charge, payable at the beginning of term.the current spring term Club offering is appended to give an idea of what we provide. Many of the children doing After School Club will take the late bus home so co-ordination between the two is important. Safety is of paramount importance. The vehicles are all fitted with seatbelts and each minibus carries a mobile phone. The Bursar is MiDAS, (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) qualified and all drivers are required to take the MiDAS driving test obtaining a certificate of competency prior to taking up their driving duties.
Job Description The Transport and After School Clubs Manager reports to the Bursar. Under the guidance of the Bursar the Transport and After School Clubs Manager is responsible for the provision of an effective Transport and After School Club support service for the school. Duties and Responsibilities Manage Termly Sign-up for Clubs and Buses Devise and plan minibus routes to and from school that maximise the number of children who can access the service. Liaise with internal staff and external providers to develop a diverse selection of extra-curricular for opportunities for Prince s Mead pupils. Manage the sign-up for both buses and clubs using the CHQ clubs, buses and fixtures system, correctly applying transparent criteria to ensure the places are allocated equitably. Communicate the club and bus allocations to parents and be the focal point for any queries or feedback. Provide financial information regarding charges and reconciliations to the Finance Team in a timely manner. Manage Daily Bus & Clubs Service Action the numerous daily changes communicated by parents via, e-mail, telephone and the message book and confirm the changes promptly back to the parents. Ensure the bus and club registers accurately reflect changes that arise from fixtures and other school events. Provide support to the minibus drivers while the pupils are alighting buses at the end of the day and during their bus runs. Communicate with parents, staff and pupils on all bus and club related matters. Maintain good relationships with the local community, providing a focal point for any concerns. Ensure Minibus Availability Provide minibuses and drivers for off-site trips and matches Provide a bus hire service to other schools planning and manning Co-ordinate minibus loans to third parties Maintain Minibus Fleet (with the support of the Fleet Supervisor) Ensure MOTs/Safety Checks are carried out at correct intervals Ensure daily checks are completed and any issues dealt with promptly
Organise routine and exceptional maintenance without affecting the service provided. Line Manage Minibus Drivers Work with the drivers to develop an equitable weekly work rota. Ensure prompt submission of overtime hours to the Finance Officer. Cover Receptionist Provide Receptionist cover from 16:00 until departure Act as Duty Matron from 16:00 until departure Person Specification The post holder will be able to keep calm under pressure and maintain good humour when things are not going to plan. The post requires a proactive and highly organised person, able to deal with many tasks at once while coping with interruptions. The successful candidate will have excellent IT skills and be willing to learn new systems. The post holder will possess excellent customer service and communication skills giving them the ability to deal with parents in a tactful and diplomatic way while remaining firm. The post holder will have ideally managed a team before, understanding how to encourage and motivate people to give of their best. Other Information This post is full-time each week for 36 weeks per annum, predominantly in term-time but with seasonal peaks which require careful management. Working hours are 10am - 6pm.
School Aims Prince s Mead endeavours to lay the foundations for our pupils future success and prepare them for the senior school of their choice and life beyond. Children have one opportunity for the education that will form the basis of their lives and, at the same time, one childhood. Our aim is to keep a happy balance between the two. All children have a talent and the School provides a wide and stimulating range of opportunities to develop it. To foster a love of learning To have high expectations for life in social, academic, creative, spiritual and sporting disciplines To develop creative and independent children equipped with skills which will enable them to rise to future challenges To provide a caring, nurturing environment in which each child can flourish and feel a sense of belonging To promote positive relationships with the extended family and local community To inculcate in the School Community a compassion and empathy for others
The Application Process The successful applicant will be required to undergo Enhanced Disclosure clearance (DBS) from the Criminal Records Bureau. If you are currently working with children on either a paid or voluntary basis, your current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences, including disciplinary offences relating to children or young persons (whether the disciplinary sanction is current or time expired), and whether you have been the subject of any child protection allegations or concerns and, if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. If you are not currently working with children, but have done so in the past, that previous employer will be asked about these issues. Where neither your current nor your previous employment has involved working with children, your current employer will still be asked about your suitability to work with children, although they may, where appropriate, answer not applicable if your duties have not brought you into contact with children or young persons. You should be aware that provision of false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected or in summary dismissal, if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral to the police and/or the Department for Education Children s Safeguarding Operation Unit. Invitation to Interview If you are invited to interview, this will be conducted in person and the areas which it will explore will include suitability to work with children. References will be requested before interview unless there is a valid reason not to do so. All candidates invited to interview must bring documents confirming any professional qualifications that are necessary or relevant for the post (e.g. the original or certified copy of certificates, diplomas, etc). Where originals or certified copies are not available for the successful candidate, written confirmation of the relevant qualifications must be obtained from the awarding body. All candidates invited to interview must also bring with them three forms of identification. Either three from Group A or two from Group A and one from Group B: Group A A current driving licence together with paper licence, A passport, A full birth certificate, Marriage certificate (if applicable). Group B A utility bill or financial statement showing the candidate s current name and address (dated within the last three months). Where appropriate, any documentation evidencing a change of name. Please note that originals of the above are necessary. Photographs or certified copies are not sufficient.