St John's College School - Minibus Driver

Cambridgeshire
St John's College School
Part-time | Term Time

Summary

St John’s College School is seeking a professional and reliable Minibus Driver to join our dedicated team in one of the leading independent schools in Central Cambridge.

Detail

St John’s College School is seeking a professional and reliable Minibus Driver to join our dedicated team in one of the leading independent schools in Central Cambridge and contribute to a vibrant school community dedicated to excellence in education and care. The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the safety and comfort of our pupils during their journeys to and from school, as well as for extra-curricular activities and trips. While the full role is for both morning and afternoon shifts, applications from candidates wishing to work only mornings or only afternoons will be considered.

There is also the possibility to be considered for the additional duty of Minibus Co-ordinator to act as a liaison with the School’s chosen transport organisation partner, for which hours will be increased by half an hour a day.

Line Management

Reporting directly to the Facilities Manager, the School Minibus Driver will be responsible for the daily collection and return of pupils to and from several outlying villages. Working weekdays only for 34 weeks per year, the School Minibus Driver will be responsible for the safe and timely delivery and collection of our pupils to and from school.

Key Responsibilities

At all times you will be responsible for ensuring compliance with Health and Safety protocols.

Transportation of students: Safely and punctually transport pupils between designated pick-up and drop off points and the school site in the mornings and afternoons as well as for occasional off-site school activities.

Vehicle Maintenance: Conduct daily vehicle safety checks, ensuring the minibus is clean, roadworthy, and compliant with all legal requirements. Reporting any maintenance needs promptly. You will also be expected to ensure the minibus has enough fuel onboard to complete any journey. (School to facilitate).

Safety and compliance: Adhere to all road safety regulations and school policies, including The Highway Code and the requirement to report all road traffic accidents and near misses to the school. Observe all relevant legal requirements for drivers including reporting accidents to the police as well as reporting medical conditions to the DVLA.

Safeguarding: Adhere to legislative requirements for working with children, including safeguarding protocols and the requirement for reporting of behaviour incidents to the Safeguarding Lead.

Risk Management: Actively participate in the regular review of the minibus risk assessment and the effectiveness of mitigation actions.

Professional conduct: Maintain impeccable standards of behaviour and driving, ensuring a positive and reassuring presence for students, parents and colleagues. Demonstrate a high level of responsibility, punctuality and reliability.

Communication expectations: Act as a courteous and professional representative of the school, liaising effectively with students, staff and parents. Make use of the communication tools and systems stipulated by the school only.

Ad hoc duties: Support the school with additional transport requirements, such as sporting fixtures and school trips as necessary.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Attributes:

Qualifications and Experience

Driving Licence: You must hold a full, valid, clean UK driving licence; D1 entitlement would be an advantage but is not essential.

Current MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness) qualification or the willingness to undertake the training provided by the School

Current Paediatric First Aid qualification or the willingness to undertake the training provided by the School

Experience: Proven experience in a similar role, ideally involving the safe transport of children.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Hours

You will work for 34 weeks of the year, during term time, plus an additional 15 hours outside of term to attend essential training and termly team meetings. If working both the morning and afternoon shift, your normal working hours will be Monday to Friday, 6:00am to 9:00am and 3:30pm to 6:00pm (5.5 hours per day). The Minibus Co-ordinator will be required to work an additional half an hour a day across the week, which could be worked remotely, the schedule for which will be decided by the Facilities Manager.

The hours worked outside of term will be directed by the Facilities Manager and subject to the schedule for whole-staff training at the start of each term. If you are required to attend training which exceeds the 15 hours included in your contract you will be remunerated for this.

You may be asked to work extra hours for Sports fixtures and/or trips etc; this will be paid extra as agreed with the Facilities Manager.

Beyond the requirement to attend training and meetings as described above, you will not be required to work during the school holidays, unless otherwise instructed.

Salary

The full time equivalent salary for 52 weeks, including holiday pay is £25,382 per annum. For the standard morning and afternoon shift role, based on working 27.5 hours per week for 34 weeks, an additional 15 hours outside of term time for training and meetings and including holiday pay, this equates to 54.68% of full time and an Actual Salary of £13,879 per annum. For those working only one shift per day or completing the additional duties of Minibus Co-ordinator, the salary will be calculated pro rata.

For more information, please see the Job Description.

Applications

A handwritten letter of application should be sent with a fully completed application form (see ‘Application and Recruitment Process Explanatory Notes’) to Mr Tom Wood, Facilities Manager, St John's College School, 75 Grange Road, Cambridge CB3 9AB (recruitment@sjcs.co.uk).

Long-listed candidates will be invited to attend a first-round interview. Those who are successful after the long-list stage will be invited to complete a skills assessment to inform the short-listing decision. References will be taken up on short-listed candidates who will be invited to return for a second-round interview, including a tour of the school and the final interview itself which will include questions relating to safeguarding children.

All reasonable interview expenses will be reimbursed by the School.

St John’s College School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

All appointments are subject to a criminal background check and proof of qualifications in accordance with the requirements of the Children Act.