House Parent (Summer School)

Location: Claremont School Senior School site, Bodiam, UK  

Line Manager: Director of Summer School

Role context

The Summer School at Claremont runs over a 6-week period from July to August, and accommodates 100 students per week. Claremont School is a member of the International Schools Partnership (ISP). ISP have 63 Schools around the globe with over 56,000 students attending those schools. The Summer School will initially be offered to students aged 11 to 17 from within the group.

The main aim of the Summer School is for the students to improve their English in an interactive, inclusive, cultural and fun environment. The House Parents will be responsible for the day-to-day running of a Boarding House, ensuring the safety and emotional well-being of students and upholding the good name of Claremont Summer School, ensuring their enjoyment, safety and well-being.

Key Responsibilities

• To undertake the day-to-day running of a Boarding House by holding Welcome and House Meetings, ensuring all domestic systems are in place and functioning optimally (cleaning, laundry, maintenance), making sure bedtimes are adhered to, carrying out room inspections and conducting Health & Safety checks in order to provide a clean, tidy and safe living community in which students feel comfortable and cared for.
• To ensure student bedrooms are kept clean, tidy, making beds each day and clearing rubbish from the bedroom and make sure that all bedrooms are ready for when the students return to them each day.
• Together with the Director of Summer School, to create a House Supervision Rota to provide adequate levels of staff supervision in the Boarding House at all times, making sure that staff on duty observe and manage students’ behaviour effectively in order to ensure the well-being of every student and uphold the good name of Claremont School.
• To observe, monitor and manage student conduct and behaviour and deal with any incidents of aggressive behaviour or bullying immediately in order to promote a harmonious international community in which every student can be confident, unafraid to voice opinions and thrive, no matter what their beliefs, customs or differences may be.
• To work collaboratively with all residential staff, sharing information as necessary so as to provide a strong, competent and consistent welfare service to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of all attending students, constantly being mindful of their attitude, demeanour and performance and dealing with minor problems and referring serious problems to the Director of Summer School. To take personal responsibility for any homesick students and ensure all safeguarding 
• To look after any sick students who are under the care of the Nurse, but who need to stay in bed, making sure they are comfortable and have access to food and water, in order to provide students with a first-class care and welfare service. 
• To take House registers at the appropriate times during the day (wake up, afternoon and evening), following protocol at all times in case any student is absent or goes missing, in order to ensure students’ safety.
• To actively manage and supervise students during meal times (queue, serving area & seating areas) in order to ensure a calm and pleasant catering experience for students, catering staff being particularly mindful of and acting upon students who seem to not be eating.    
• To assist the Activities Leaders with (and when appropriate, lead) a range of sports and activities sessions positively, competently, professionally and safely (reading and understanding all relevant Risk Assessments) in order to provide a first-class Social Programme for all students attending the Summer School.
• To take personal responsibility for ensuring that every student in the Boarding House completes their online arrival/departure questionnaire on time and to act upon any negative feedback given by students in order to provide a first-class programme of study, sports, social events and excursions.
• To undertake airport transfers warmly and positively, following all timings accurately, to provide a competent and professional meeting and departure service of the highest quality and with minimal waiting times.
• When in the Boarding House, deal with any emergency situation that may arise during the night in order to ensure the safety of the students, staff.
• To turn around the Boarding House ready for the next intake, including the making of beds.

Other Responsibilities

• Undertake such other reasonable responsibilities and tasks that may be assigned by the Director of Summer School.

Candidate Profile

Person specification

• Must be legally entitled to work in the UK (no visas will be issued)
• Previous experience of working with children is essential.
• Experience dealing with international students is preferred.
• Experience of working in a summer school or education context is preferred.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced, highly changeable, highly pressured and often challenging environment is essential.
• A strong awareness of Health & Safety, specifically as it relates to preparing and executing sports & activities, is essential.
• Strong and demonstrable organisation skills.
• Ability and disposition to solve minor issues and problems with/between students is required.

• Cultural sensitivity and awareness .

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment

Claremont School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.   All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years employment history.

About Claremont

Claremont School is an independent day and boarding school. The Nursery and the Prep School are based in St Leonards on Sea, and the Senior School is located in Bodiam, East Sussex. The school is non selective and welcomes children and young people from a large catchment area spanning 25 miles. In addition, one third of the students in the Senior School are international boarders.

Children join Claremont aged 1, and the school offers a British curriculum throughout with GCSEs and iGCSEs at KS4, and A Level and BTechs at KS5. In addition, the school delivers outstanding programmes in Performing Arts (winning an award for outstanding School for Performing Arts in 2021) and in football where students can join the Football academy and look to become professional players.

Results and Value-Added at Claremont are outstanding, with Senior School results beating national averages year on year, as well as more local independent selective schools. We believe that successful schools are the ones that put learning at the heart of everything they do, always aiming to create rounded individuals that can forge successful careers and lives, in a rapidly changing world. Claremont aims to be the School of Choice for the local area, and supports its young people to excel in all that they do in a safe and inspiring environment.

Claremont School is also part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) group, comprising committed colleagues in financially responsible schools around the world, where learning is at the heart of everything we do for our students, colleagues, and parents. We are committed to getting better, all the time.

ISP was founded by an experienced team of committed educationalists and operators who have worked together over many years. ISP’s growing group of private schools are located in the UK, the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Switzerland Costa Rica, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, educating children and students from 2–18 years of age. ISP has expanded to 63 schools that employ over 8,000 staff and deliver multiple curricula to over 56,000 students located across the globe.