Casual School Session Leader - Reading Museum Learning Team

Reading Borough Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A local council is seeking passionate individuals to join as School Session Leaders, delivering enjoyable educational experiences at the Reading Museum. Ideal candidates will have experience with children and a keen interest in history, delivering sessions that engage and inspire young minds. This role offers flexible hours during term time, with a focus on creating memorable learning experiences in a museum setting.

Qualifications

• Experience working in education, theatre/drama, or museums.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Confidence in communication and presentation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver interactive learning sessions for school groups.
• Manage the safe handling of museum objects.
• Contribute to the development of learning sessions.

Skills

Experience working with children

Confident communication

Team collaboration

IT systems confidence

Enthusiasm for history

Job description

Job Description

Are you passionate about bringing history to life and inspiring young minds? Reading Museum is seeking enthusiastic and engaging individuals to join our team as School Session Leaders on a casual basis. In this rewarding role, you’ll deliver fun, high-quality learning experiences to school groups including our much-loved Victorian Schoolroom session. You’ll work across our museum galleries, the historic Abbey Gateway, and the atmospheric Abbey Ruins, helping children explore history through immersive, hands‑on learning.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About The Role

Please visit the Reading Museum website to find out more about the venue - https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk

As a School Session Leader, you’ll play a key part in bringing history to life for visiting school groups. You’ll deliver interactive, pre‑planned sessions for up to 35 children, using museum resources and costumed performance to create memorable learning experiences.

A practical and organised approach will help you manage the safe handling of museum objects and materials, while providing excellent customer service to teachers, pupils, and accompanying adults.

Working closely with the Learning Officer and the wider museum team, you’ll contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of our learning sessions, helping to inspire the next generation through hands‑on history.

The post holder will be offered work on an ‘as and when’ basis, reflecting the needs of the service. Our sessions are usually scheduled in term time – Tuesday to Friday between 9:00am and 3:00pm.

We’re seeking someone curious and adaptable, who enjoys learning about the past and sharing that enthusiasm with young people. You’ll develop your knowledge of historical periods linked to our sessions, using this to spark children’s curiosity and engagement. You’ll also tailor your delivery to meet the needs of each group, considering age, ability, learning needs, language and cultural background.

About You

• Experience working with children in education, theatre/drama, or museum environments.
• Confident communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Confidence using IT systems (emails, website, etc).
• A genuine enthusiasm for museums (Reading Museum in particular) and history.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Benefits

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

• Work Together as one team – work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
• Drive Efficiency – show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
• Be Ambitious – be demanding of our own performance striving to be even better and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
• Make a Difference to Reading – maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

To find out more about this position please contact Guja Bandini – Learning Officer.