Senior Library Assistant
Whitley Bay High School, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE25 9ASThis job expired on 22 April 2024 – see similar jobs
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
22 April 2024 at 9am
Date listed
20 March 2024
Job details
Job role
- Learning support or cover supervisor
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 52/52 Whole time or Term Time Only - 193 days considered
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Grade 6 SCP 12-15 (£26,421-£27,803) 52/52 (Whole time). Pro-rata for 193 Term-time only
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking to appoint a Senior Library Assistant to our busy and vibrant school library. Key duties of this role are to assist with the varied programme of activities, events and extra-curricular opportunities that the library provides, including the supported delivery of lessons and offering guidance and support to students from all years throughout the school day. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, keen to learn, flexible and enjoy working with young people aged 13-18.
Candidates should have excellent literacy, numeracy and IT skills. A passion for reading is essential, as is an understanding of the transformative power of literacy on a young person’s life. Training will be provided and we are keen to support the right candidate to help them excel in this varied and exciting role. Although helpful, previous library experience is not essential.
Please find the job description, application form, application details and school information on the website ‘Vacancies’ section at: www.whitleybayhighschool.org
Completed applications and a letter (500 words maximum) explaining why your experiences to date have prepared you for this role at Whitley Bay High School, should be sent to debbie.coulson@whitleybayhighschool.org before the closing date below.
Closing date for applications is Monday, 22nd April 2024 at 10am.
What the school offers its staff
Further details about the role
Whitley Bay High School Library is a large and well-resourced learning space that is used heavily and diversely throughout the school day. The Library supports a variety of teaching and learning opportunities across all year groups, as well as leading on a range of literacy and reading interventions and initiatives. The largest of these is the annual Literature Festival which aims to place young people in the company of a range of writers, performers and practitioners, as well as some of the nation’s most prominent literary figures. Past visitors have included Poets Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage, as well as bestselling crime writer Ann Cleeves, and YA authors Meg Rosoff, Alex Wheatle, and Dean Atta. Reading and its transformative power on the lives of young people is at the centre of everything we do, and the Library is at the forefront of delivering the school’s culture of reading and literacy. This also extends to collaborative work with our feeder middle schools and neighbouring first schools. Throughout the day, the Library provides a welcoming and purposeful environment for all year groups, particularly supporting the independent study of sixth formers, who use the Library extensively. Library staff also plan and deliver reading lessons in conjunction with the English department, and are responsible for delivering literacy interventions for students in Year 9. As well as these core duties, and those normally expected of a Library space, we also offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities including a Creative Writing Club, the hugely popular Comic & Manga Club, the North East Teenage Book Award group, the Carnegie Shadowing Scheme, the Staff / 6th Form Reading Group, and many others. The Library is an inclusive, positive and supportive places for many students, and the Library staff are a regular point of contact for the wider student body. The role of Senior Library Assistant is varied and busy. The postholder would be expected to join an established team and be an active team player whilst also being comfortable working alone and self-motivating. Creativity and new ideas are encouraged and although Library or education experience would be beneficial, a willingness to learn, an open and positive outlook, a good sense of humour, and an interest in developing teaching skills would be considered as important. The role offers a wide range of opportunities for a candidate who is looking to develop a varied skills set and who might be interested in pursuing a further career in libraries or education. Previous postholders have gone on to library management roles, higher education positions, and teaching. It is essential that candidates for this post understand the power of reading and are keen to share this with others, inspiring young people to engage in narratives and the written word. Candidates should also relish the opportunity to work closely with young people and be open to the range of experiences that might bring. WBHS Library welcomes a huge variety of students into its space and candidates should not assume that the Library is the preserve of only one kind of student. Flexibility, kindness, and understanding are therefore crucial to this role. The right candidate will be supported with an induction programme and regular training and will find the post exciting and rewarding.
Commitment to safeguarding
Whitley Bay High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As such an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure will be sought along with other relevant employment checks deemed appropriate
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About Whitley Bay High School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 13 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1744 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 13 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Whitley Bay High School website (opens in new tab)
- Email address
- debbie.coulson@whitleybayhighschool.org
See school website
School location
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