Librarian

HARRIS FEDERATION; Slough; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academy in Slough is seeking a knowledgeable Learning Resources Centre Manager. The position focuses on managing the Learning Resources Centre, ensuring resources are maintained, and providing guidance to staff and students. Ideal candidates will hold a degree or its equivalent, have at least three years’ experience in an educational setting, and possess strong library management skills. This role also offers professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Protected time for examiners

Free on-site parking

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification is necessary for this role.
• Minimum of three years' experience in an educational establishment is required.
• Experience managing a library service will be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise the Learning Resources Centre effectively.
• Maintain learning-resources equipment and report faults.
• Provide guidance to staff and students regarding learning resources.

Skills

Library management

Knowledge of Accelerated Reading

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Education

Degree or equivalent

English and Mathematics GCSE or equivalent

Job description

Join our success

• Judged "Outstanding" in all categories by Ofsted (Feb 2023) – more information: https://www.harrissutton.org.uk/469/ofsted
• Progress 8 scores of +1.10 & +0.91 in our first two sets of GCSE results (2023 and 2024)
• Attainment 8 scores of 60.6, 59.9, 58.2
• High‑achieving sixth form with multiple Russell Group alumni (including University of Cambridge, Durham University, and London School of Economics)
• Hugely oversubscribed in both Year 7 and Year 12 – the "Comprehensive of Choice" in a borough with several grammar schools

We believe that a happy and settled staff body helps drive the very best performance from our students. We are committed to a high‑quality professional development programme and can draw on expertise from across the Harris Federation. As a HASU member of staff at any level you will receive the training and support that you need to carry out your role effectively and develop at a pace that suits you.

We are committed to ensuring that our staff have the right balance between work and home life. Our policies and procedures are aimed at allowing our teaching staff to spend as much time as possible planning and delivering lessons. We work in an award‑winning building with excellent facilities, a broad and diverse curriculum and a fully comprehensive intake of students.

Benefits

• Regular dialogue about workload and how to manage it effectively
• Protected time for examiners
• Internal promotion and progression opportunities
• Staff CPD breakfasts
• Harris subject networks
• Clear communication and manageable deadlines
• High‑quality staff induction programme
• Regular recognition and celebration of staff excellence
• Free on‑site parking
• Exemplary student behaviour
• All SLT teach
• Fully centralised behaviour system including rapid and effective support with any student behavioural issues

Salary: £29,425.24 – £31,221.12 (38 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week). This is a maternity cover position to January 2027.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Management, organisation and supervision of the Learning Resources Centre
• Ensuring learning‑resources equipment is well maintained, reporting all computer faults immediately
• Contributing to presentation and consultation evenings and meeting with parents to encourage reading beyond curriculum time
• Providing advice to staff, students and the community on learning resources
• Developing and offering INSET activities in teaching and learning techniques and training in the use of learning‑resource materials
• Time‑tailling LRC/enterprise centre/post‑16 study centre and other resources
• Liaising with the English and media team and external providers to publicise and organise an annual book week
• Liaising with the English and media team to organise frequent visits from writers to raise the profile of reading and writing for pleasure
• Encouraging the effective use of the Learning Resource Centre across the curriculum
• Providing guidance to groups and individuals using the Learning Resource Centre
• Liaising with other information agencies, including other resource areas and LRC managers across the Federation
• Development and implementation of study and information skills linked into the curriculum
• Participating in community links, including opening out of academy hours
• Managing the Centre's budgets
• Keeping robust records to enable efficient management of resources across the academy
• Disseminating information on resources and access to staff and students
• Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing the use and development of the area
• Organising and supervising after‑hours, lunch time and break time use of resources for students
• Overseeing the chosen reading‑scheme programme (e.g. Accelerated Reading) for KS3 students
• Devising and delivering INSET activities on reading schemes for KS3
• Devising intervention programmes to support and challenge targeted students to accelerate reading skills
• Analysing data and providing detailed reports to evaluate success rates of students
• Liaising with the provider of the chosen reading scheme to ensure that licences are accurate and that all aspects of the programme are exploited to maximise student success rates
• Managing the rewards systems for the chosen reading scheme to maximise student engagement and motivation

Qualifications and Experience

• English and Mathematics GCSE or equivalent
• Degree or equivalent
• Knowledge of library systems
• Knowledge of Accelerated Reading, or similar reading scheme
• Knowledge of the National Curriculum, particularly for English
• Three years’ experience of working in an inner‑city school or educational establishment
• Experience of managing a library service
• Experience of a range of reading schemes

Professional development and benefits: We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We deliver support, coaching, mentoring and a wide range of top‑quality training programmes at every level. In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes the Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice: The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities: The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve and are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps: If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation. Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application and throughout the recruitment process. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.