January 2013

Bancroft’s School Woodford Green • Essex • IG8 0RF

www.bancrofts.org

Library Assistant and Assistant Archivist

January 2013

CONTENTS ________________

The Role

Responsibilities

The Department

Background

Remuneration

How to Apply

School Library and Archivist Assistant

Bancroft’s School

3 | Candidate brief

THE ROLE ______________________________________________________________________________________________

The successful candidate will assist the School Librarian in promoting and developing the school library, and providing

an efficient service to pupils and staff. You will also be assisting in maintaining and promoting the school archive, with

the opportunity to eventually oversee the running of the school archives. This provides an ideal opportunity for

someone who is interested in librarianship to obtain training and experience prior to gaining a professional qualification,

and to develop the skills required to manage the school archive. Full support and training will be given.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Supporting the school librarian with the supervision of students using the library and Archive

Managing the issuing and returning of the library’s stock

Shelving stock and keeping the library in good order

Tidying shelves so resources can be located efficiently

Withdrawing stock under the direction of the school librarian

Provide support for cataloguing of new material to the library collection. Processing new material so that it is ready for shelving

Running the overdue system

Help library users find material to meet their needs

Keep the computers /printers/ photocopier functioning and stocked with toner, paper etc.

Encourage pupils and staff in using the library through supporting a range of library based activities

Work towards and support the school vision and current school objectives as outlined in the school development

plan

Other duties reasonable to assist in the smooth operation of the library.

Management of the school’s archive collection

Provision of a response service to enquiries directed to the school archive from a wide range of former students,

staff and researchers

Bancroft’s School

4 | Candidate brief

Maintain and develop the digitised archive catalogue

Develop contents and archives especially building archive of recent school events

Promotion of the archive collection within the Bancroft’s community as required

Undertake or assist with research into archived items as necessary

liaise with donors and depositors of archives

advise users on how best to access, use and interpret archives

identify ways of protecting and preserving collections

Maintain links with Old Bancroftians Association

Maintain and develop links with the archive of school material held at the Drapers Hall

Reporting Structure:

Bursar

Chief Librarian

LibrarianLibrary and

Archivist Assistant

Bancroft’s School

5 | Candidate brief

Additional Work Elements:

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities or duties but reflects the major core of the role.

The organisation reserves the right to alter the content of this job description after consultation to reflect changes

to the job or services provided, without altering the general character or level of responsibility.

In the event of a major incident or disaster, you may be required to provide assistance, in whatever capacity

necessary and participate in any training to ensure the School is fully prepared for such events.

Bancroft’s School is committed to providing the best possible care and education to its pupils and to safeguarding

and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The School expects all staff, contractors, Governors and

volunteers to share this commitment.

To demonstrate a commitment to improving and developing the organisation’s processes and facilities.

To carry out such duties that may be reasonably required by your line manager.

THE PERSON ______________________________________________________________________________________________

The ideal candidate will:

Essential Desirable Method of

Assessment

Experience:

(Types of experience needed)

Demonstrable experience of using ICT skills to access and retrieve information.

Previous experience of working in a school or library environment and engaging with staff and pupils

Previous experience of working with archive material

Application form

Interview

Previous experience

Skills & Abilities:

(Written/oral communication, dealing with public, team working, etc.)

A good standard of general education, good communication skills, a flexible but methodical approach to their work and the ability to engage with students, and all members of the Bancroft community

Good standard of IT skills

Previous experience of having worked with young people.

Application form

Interview

Previous experience

Competences: Motivation to work with younger people

Ability to work alone

Reliability

Application form

Interview

Previous experience

Bancroft’s School

6 | Candidate brief

Confidence to supervise groups of young people

Confidence to promote and display archive material and to liaise with donors.

Knowledge: Good knowledge and interest in literature

Be willing to acquire knowledge of contemporary children’s literature.

Be willing to acquire knowledge to support and maintain the Archive.

Safeguarding

Previous experience of Library system - Oliver

Application form

Interview

Previous experience

THE LIBRARY ______________________________________________________________________________________________

All members of the school community are members of the library. A light and airy area with a high hammer beamed

roof it provides seating for approximately 60 pupils with a further 30 accommodated in the computer area on the

mezzanine floor. The library is well used by both pupils and staff and provides an environment where staff and pupils

can read more widely and think more deeply. Pupils are encouraged to maintain an atmosphere conducive to quiet

study and recreational reading.

Resources

In the senior school there are approximately 22,000 books supporting the curriculum, leisure reading and activities.

There are also DVDs, audio CDs, online subscription websites, magazines and periodicals.

Staffing

The Libraries are staffed by 2 librarians - the senior library is open Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm and is staffed all day. It

is also open by arrangement 4 weeks of the school holidays usually, 1 week October half term, 1 week Christmas holiday,

Bancroft’s School

7 | Candidate brief

1 week Easter holiday and Summer half term. The Prep Library is open from 8.30 am – 3.30 pm and is staffed at break

and in the afternoons.

Prep

The Prep School library is placed at the heart of the school, is bright, colourful and also well used. It provides an essential

resource for pupils and staff by supporting the curriculum and reading for pleasure. The prep has approximately 8,000

titles. In addition there are Audio books and periodicals.

Hours

This is a full time post 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, which includes 2 late evenings to 6.00pm. The position

is term-time, plus 4 weeks during the school holidays.

BACKGROUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________

The School

Bancroft’s School was founded by the Drapers’ Company in 1737 on the Mile End Road as a day-school for local boys from

a diverse range of backgrounds; the School has come a long way geographically and institutionally since then but remains

committed to pupils from a wide range of backgrounds and has a long tradition of excellence.

We are now a co-educational independent day school for around 1200 pupils from 7 to 18 and an unashamedly

aspirational school, devoted to scholarship and intellectual inquiry. We aim to provide an atmosphere in which each child

can flourish and we believe that children succeed when they take full advantage of the huge range of different

opportunities we provide – whether immersed in academic research, being out on the sports fields, taking part in

charitable activities, acting on the stage, playing music and attending some of our numerous clubs and societies, our pupils

challenge themselves and learn by taking part wholeheartedly in school life.

We have the highest expectations for every child in the School and we support, encourage and nurture each individual;

we want our pupils to enjoy life to the full, make enduring friendships and grow up in a friendly, safe but challenging

environment.

Bancroft’s School

8 | Candidate brief

At Bancroft’s we continually strive to ensure that all our pupils leave here with the confidence, self-awareness and

knowledge to thrive in the world beyond, as well as taking with them an awareness of others and an abiding curiosity

about the world.

Bancroft’s has a selective 5 or 6 form entry at 11+, with just under half the pupils coming from the Preparatory School.

The school uses its own entrance exam and admits boys and girls in equal proportions. There is a further small entry at

16+, and most pupils stay into the Sixth Form. Public examination results are very strong and place Bancroft’s among the

top co-educational schools in the country.

In 2017, 90% of all A-level exams taken by Bancroftians were graded A*, A or B, and 67.4% A* or A compared with the

national level of 25.8%. 32.6% of all A-levels sat achieved the top grade of A*, again significantly higher than the national

average which has been around 8% over the past years.

Almost all of the Upper Sixth go on to Higher Education, with the majority to top Russell Group universities and in 2017,

23 to Oxford and Cambridge.

Bancroft’s is a forward-looking, modern school; a centre of excellence for the twenty-first century.

Bancroft’s School

9 | Candidate brief

REMUNERATION ______________________________________________________________________________________________

The successful applicant will receive an attractive salary package according to experience and expertise. Benefits include

private medical insurance, pension, and concessionary fees for children attending the school (dependent upon academic

assessment).

The successful applicant will be expected to work additional hours as required to meet the school needs. Your line

manager will make you aware of any requirements in advance. This position carries a 6 month probationary period.

HOW TO APPLY ______________________________________________________________________________________________

An application form is available to download from the School website, http://www.bancrofts.org/about-us/employment-

opportunities/ or by emailing recruitment@bancrofts.org

Applications must be received by the closing date of 30 November 2017.

Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 4 December 2017.

Bancroft’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants will be required

to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the

Disclosure and Barring Service.