Librarian

The Sigma Trust; Colchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Perkbox membership

Blue Light Card eligibility

Job summary

Philip Morant School and College, part of The Sigma Trust in Colchester, is seeking a Librarian to lead the school library. You will oversee budgeting, stock, cataloguing and respond to queries, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment that promotes a love of reading.

The role is 37 hours per week, 40 weeks per year (term time plus non-pupil days), with a 30-minute lunch break. You will support teaching and learning by providing resources, delivering reading assessments and liaising with

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in a learning environment.
• A passion for reading.
• Training to support the role, if appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the library budget, stocking and cataloguing, and respond to queries.
• Create an inclusive and welcoming environment promoting a love of reading.
• Support library sessions and deliver reading assessments and interventions.
• Develop and maintain links with external library services, suppliers, retailers, etc. to enhance resources.
• Oversee the computerised operation of the library system including loans/returns, cataloguing and indexing periodicals.
• Ensure the school library is tidy and resources are in good condition and in the correct order on the shelves.

Skills

Experience with children in learning

Passion for reading

Training to support the role

Job description

Working closely with teaching and pastoral teams, you will oversee the library budget, be responsible for stocking and cataloguing, and responding to all library queries. The Librarian will create an inclusive and welcoming environment that promotes a love of reading, celebrates diversity and enriches students' educational experiences both within and beyond the classroom.

• The successful candidate will work 37 hours per week (8.00am - 4.00pm Mon to Thurs; 8.00am - 3.30pm Fri) with a 30-minute unpaid break which would have to be taken outside of the normal school lunch break.
• This is a 40-week per year role (38 weeks term time + 1-week non-pupil days + 1 additional week).

A Day in the Life

You'll be responsible for bringing your passion and expertise to the following areas:

• Provide advice and assistance to staff and students in the use of the library's resources, including the delivery of Sparx reader and NGRT testing.
• Liaise with teaching staff to arrange for the availability of resources relevant to the curriculum.
• Support library sessions and deliver reading assessments and interventions.
• Develop, maintain and use links with external library services, suppliers, retailers etc to enhance and develop resources.
• Oversee the computerised operation of the library system including: loans/returns, cataloguing and indexing periodicals.
• Responsibility for ensuring the school library is tidy and accessible by maintaining resources in good condition and in the correct order on the shelves.

Are you wanting to work as a part of a team whose purpose is to enable every member of the community to feel they belong? Do you have the skills to contribute to a learning environment that enables staff and students to be the best they can be?, You are the perfect fit for our team if you have:

• Successful recent experience working with children in a learning environment.
• A passion for reading.
• Successful completion of training to support the role if appropriate.

Philip Morant School and College was judged as "Good" in all areas by Ofsted in September 2023. We are looking for a Librarian who can be a key part in our ongoing improvement journey.

Our school is a calm and orderly place. We work hard to ensure everyone feels welcome. As the largest school in Colchester, we have exceptional facilities. Through the Sigma Trust there are many opportunities to work with staff in other schools and to have opportunities for development. Living and breathing our vision and values starts from interview day, with every applicant welcomed by the Headteacher. From there every member of staff is part of a strong team and support and opportunity is always available. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to lead and develop a vibrant school library at the heart of our learning community. The role involves shaping, promoting and evaluating an outstanding library and learning resource provision that supports high-quality teaching and learning across the school.

Please note that an integration period applies to all new staff joining the Trust, to support introduction into the organisation.

Why Choose The Sigma Trust?

We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development

• A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish.
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships.

Employee Benefits

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme
• A Health Cash Plan to help manage your everyday healthcare costs
• Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme to support your well-being
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, access to discounts via free membership to Perkbox, eligibility for a Blue Light Card, and more

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools. The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision 'To Be Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts', where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.