Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a deadline for applications?
Activities Staff: We offer a rolling recruitment for Activities Staff positions, focussed around three assessment days. The first deadline is Monday 6th February 2012, the second Monday 26th March 2012. Staff who have worked for us previously should apply by Monday 16th January 2012.
Teachers: Applications from teachers are invited throughout the year, although available positions may be limited after January when returning teachers are allocated courses. New teachers are interviewed for positions from February onwards.
What is the interview process?
New applicants for Activities Staff positions (including House Parents & Office Staff) are required to attend an assessment day at Harrow School. This will include group tasks and an individual interview. We will then contact all candidates, whether successful or not, within four weeks of their assessment centre. Applicants will be given a choice of day for their assessment centre at the time of their application process. Those applicants who live abroad will be subject to an interview via Skype. Assessment dates are:
Saturday 17th February 2012 - 1030-1600
Friday 13th April 2012 - 1030-1600
Saturday 14th April 2012 - 1030-1600
EFL Teachers are interviewed at Harrow School on an ad hoc basis by the EFL Coordinator. It is usually possible to arrange telephone or Skype interviews for candidates living overseas.
If I am successful at interview, when will I receive my contract?
EFL contracts are sent out to returning teachers working on international courses in February and to those working on closed courses, normally by the end of May. New teachers are issued with contracts on being offered a teaching position. Activities Staff contracts are sent out from late February for returning staff, and by the end of May for new staff. All contracts are based on achieving student numbers, and could be cancelled due to external circumstances beyond our control.
Am I allowed to be away from the school during the course of my employment?
Activities Staff are entitled to paid holiday and time off each week; this is detailed in the job description. Due to the complexity of the staff schedule it is not possible for staff to choose their days off and this will be done in advance by senior management. If you have an important prior engagement (e.g. a wedding) please let us know as soon as possible and we will try to accommodate your request. EFL teachers are free to be away from the school when they are not required in the classroom or for occasional other duties (e.g. attendance at Awards Ceremonies). If an EFL teacher is unavailable on days when there are scheduled lessons, it is unlikely they will be offered a position on that course. Provisional teaching schedules are sent out in May.
Is accommodation available?
We offer accommodation to all staff that do not live within reasonable distance of the school. This is available free of charge. All Activities Staff are required to perform residential duties overnight on occasion (for additional pay), regardless of distance from the school. Accommodation is provided in one or more of the school’s Boarding Houses. It is not usually possible to accommodate staff in a separate Boarding House from the children. Staff are all provided with single rooms.
When can I arrive?
Accommodation is available from the night before the induction day (Wednesday 11th July). Those on contracts starting later in the summer also have access to accommodation on the night before their contract begins (Activities Staff are required to arrive on site the night before their contract commences). It is sometimes possible to accommodate staff earlier than this if requested in advance.
Until when will my accommodation be available?
You will be asked to vacate your room on the day after your contract has finished. It may be possible to accommodate you for a further night if requested in advance.
What about meals?
We provide three meals per day for all staff, free of charge.
When and how will I be paid?
You will be paid on the last Friday of July, and/or August and/or September, depending on the dates of your employment, via the PAYE scheme. Payment is made by bank transfer. It is not possible to pay staff by cash. On occasions it may be possible to pay staff by cheque, but this is the exception, not the rule. For staff living oversees we pay via an international banking card which they can use in their country to withdraw their pay.
Is there a laundry service?
The School laundry washes clothes and bed linen for students and staff once per week, free of charge.
What is the reporting structure?
Activities Staff report to Activities Leaders, who in turn report to the Activities Manager, and in turn the Activities Director. House Parents report to the Pastoral Manager, and Office Staff report to the Operations Manager and Coordinator. EFL Teachers report to the Director of Studies and the Assistant Director of Studies. All staff ultimately report to the Business Manager and Business Director of Harrow School Enterprises Limited.
Do I need to apply for a CRB check?
All staff working with children have to undergo an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check, even if you usually work abroad or have worked for us before. Overseas staff will also be required to apply for the CRB equivalent for the country they are living in.
Do I have to follow any kind of syllabus (EFL teachers only)?
BABSSCo provides an outline of the topics which are to be covered for each level and for each age group. Teachers are responsible for the detailed planning of their lessons, although resources, support and guidance are available from the Director of Studies. Course books are available should teachers wish to use them, but we ask teachers to select and adapt course book material to suit the individuals in their class and to use a range of materials from our extensive BABSSCo resources, as well as the internet, television, DVD and music resources. If a teacher prefers not to use a course book they may give their class an alternative to take home such as a reader or dictionary.
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