VACANCIES
FOR SUMMER 2008
Course Manager
Are you a Housemaster/Housemistress or similar?
We have a Course Manager (Head of Course) post at one of
the Schools.
Being a Course Manager at Vacational Studies
In General
The Course Manager is responsible for
the day-to-day running of the Course in a similar way to a Head
Teacher running a school.
Accommodation
The post is resident with accommodation
provided in the school. Generally, single accommodation only
is available. Accommodation is provided at no charge, as are
all meals.
Duties
Duties involve overseeing the academic,
social and domestic well-being of the children and organising
the staff in such a way that the Course runs efficiently and
in a friendly and co-operative atmosphere.
As Course Director, I have responsibility for both Courses.
In consultation with the staff and with me, the Course Manager
arranges a staff duty rota and ensures that duties are carried
out in accordance with the guidelines issued. The Course Manager
will also have discussions with the Course Tutor who places
students in graded teaching groups, advises staff, inspects
classes and advises on teaching methods. Familiarity with
boarding education and pastoral care is essential.
A regular sports and social programme is
agreed with the Sports/Social Organiser with staff assistance
on a rota basis. Three of the excursion days will have been
arranged in advanced, but the fourth excursion, the grouping
of students on all excursions and the rota for accompanying
staff will be the responsibility of the Course Manager. The
various sporting and social events are mentioned in the brochure.
In addition, visits to the theatre, cinema and additional
excursions are arranged for those students wishing to go.
Arrangements have also to be made for the Catholics who must
attend Mass. Course Managers attend Sports Day.
The Course Manager distributes pocket money
daily and is responsible for the students’ ‘internal
bank accounts’. Other financial responsibilities include
keeping petty cash, authorising and recording its use by staff.
The Course Manager will be the parents’
point of contact with the School. Parents are invited to find
out about their children’s progress, so a check must
be kept on how each student is performing.
With the Course’s established tradition
of good behaviour and the impementation of standard practices
set out in the 'Notes for Staff', there should not be many
problems of a disciplinary nature. The tradition needs to
be re-established each year, however. Problems that do arise
are dealt with by the Course Manager in the first place, but
may be referred to the Director if this is appropriate. In
any case, the Director must be kept informed of all developments
on the Course. Students and their parents are given clear,
written ‘rules’ before the start of the Course
so they know just what is expected of them.
The domestic side of the Course is handled
by Matron who deals with laundry and linen changing as well
as medical matters. The cleaners answer to Matron in the
first place. On Matron's days off, the Course Manager or
Assistant Course Manager provide cover.
Progress reports on each student are written
(in multiple-choice format) by the teaching staff after the
first ten days and, at the end, they write an academic report.
The Course Manager writes a report on each student’s
general progress and social behaviour.
Dates, Duration and Pay
One post is available at The Mary Hare
School from 9 July to 8 August. The duration of the appointment
is from the morning of the day before the students arrive until
at the latest the early afternoon of the day after the students
leave. There are two full ‘days off’ when the Assistant
Course Manager (ACM) assumes responsibility. The ACM will stand
in for the Course Manager on other occasions by arrangement.
Pay is at least £3000.00 (three thousand pounds) for
the duration of the employment, depending on experience/qualifications.
Payment is by cheque at the end of the Course. On request,
the Course Manager can be paid a 25% advance by cheque at
the end of the first week, to be deducted from the final balance.
As employment is temporary, we are not at present required
to deduct PAYE from British staff at source unless they are
ordinarily resident in the UK and, therefore, liable to PAYE.
Staff must advise us if they are ordinarily resident in the
UK. Anyone defined as a ‘student’ for this tax
year is not liable to PAYE. Deductions will be on a ‘Week
1/Month 1’ basis. NI is deducted at the prevailing rate.
The next step
If you wish to take your application further,
we shall require a letter of application, a description of how
you see the post, your CV, a recent photograph and the names
and addresses of two British referees. If we wish to take your
application further, we shall contact your referees. As is standard
procedure for British Council accredited schools, referees are
asked specifically if there is any impediment to a prospective
staff member being employed in a situation where there is responsibility
for and substantial access to children; standard DfEE and Police
checks are made; proof of qualifications is requested - as is
an explanation for any gaps in CVs. We shall then send you our
‘Notes for Course Managers 2008’ which describes
the post in more detail and invite you here for interview. We
pay your rail fare at the ‘saver’ day-return rate.
If appointed, your acceptance of the contents of this information
sheet and the 'Notes for Course Managers 2008' together with
our letter offering the post and your acceptance of it form
the contract.
Finally
The Course Manager holds a most responsible
position, ensuring that the reputation of the Course is maintained
and that the Governors of the School are satisfied that the
Course is properly run. At our suggestion, the appointment of
a Course Manager must be approved by the Head and Governors
before it can be confirmed.
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