The Drama Department
Winchester College has a strong tradition of dramatic endeavour. The Drama Department generally delivers five or six productions per year, ranging from Shakespeare through to contemporary drama. In addition to our programme of school and house plays, we host workshops, run drama clubs and a make-up club, and take pupils to see productions locally and in London. All first-year pupils tread the boards in the annual Junior Drama Festival. We regularly collaborate with the English and Music Departments, and with pupils from other schools. The dramatic home of the school is the QEII theatre, which seats approx. 240. We have an extensive wardrobe.
Purpose of Job
This is a multi-faceted role which will include some traditional costume design/alteration work alongside a number of other duties (rehearsal supervision, assisting the Head of Drama with administration, etc.).
The Wardrobe Supervisor and Drama Administrator will provide an in-house costume service for school theatre productions. This will involve regular collaboration with the Head of Drama, Directors, House Masters and pupils. It will involve fully costuming some productions, and assisting the directors and producers of others in the process of self-costuming. They will also undertake a variety of other duties as directed by the Head of Drama including the role of Centre Coordinator for LAMDA, management of the department calendar and events and rehearsal supervision.
Main Responsibilities
In-house costume service
Drama Administration
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Skills/Personal Qualities
Terms of Service
Start Date
This appointment will commence from May 2022. This is one year, fixed term position (maternity cover).
Salary
This is a term-time only position with a FTE salary of £28,000 gross per annum. The pro rata salary will be £22,800 gross per annum.
Hours
This position will be full time during term time with an average of 40 hours per week. Typical hours of work will be Monday to Friday 8:30 – 5pm in weeks when there is no show. At other times more flexibility will be needed, and the postholder will be expected to work flexible and additional hours in show weeks and in the week preceding a show (eg to attend weekend rehearsals, evening dress rehearsals, Saturday performances and the get-out). All evening and weekend work will be agreed in advance and time off in lieu agreed at non-busy times of the term.
Probation, Notice Periods
The first four months of employment will be a probationary period. During this time, conduct and performance will be reviewed. The College may extend the probationary period if it is deemed to be required. During the probationary period, the notice required by either party to terminate employment will be four weeks. If employment is confirmed, the notice period will increase to one full term.
Induction and Continuous Training and Development
The school is fully committed to the induction, training and development of all our staff, with staff supported to grow and reach their full potential.
We deliver a range of training, run by both our own staff and external providers, varying from highly practical First Aid courses to seminars and learning lunches on many aspects of teaching and learning.
There is an annual cycle of appraisal offering the opportunity to reflect on professional practice and development opportunities.
Pension and Life Cover
On employment, employees will be auto-enrolled into the College’s pension scheme according to legislative thresholds. Those who are not eligible for auto-enrolment may still elect to join the College’s pension scheme. Initially, when joining the College’s pension scheme, employees will become a member of the College’s Group Personal Pension Plan (GPP). For this Plan, known as Tier 1, currently the employee contributes 4% and the employer 3%.
After nine months’ membership of the Tier 1 plan employees may opt to join Tier 2, which is also a Group Personal Pension Plan but contribution rates are 5% from the employee and 9% from the College. Employees in Tier 1 automatically qualify for a Life Cover of 2 times salary. On entry to Tier 2 Life Cover changes to 4 times salary.
Annual Leave
This is a term-time only position, with the successful candidate benefitting from school holidays.
Sports Facilities
The school offers all staff free access to its sports facilities, including a gym, tennis courts and in spring 2023, a new 25m swimming pool. Exercise classes, including spinning and circuits are also offered.
Wider Benefits
Winchester College is situated in the heart of beautiful, historic Winchester. Staff are offered a free tour of the College, with discounted rates available for booking venues within the school’s grounds for hospitality events.
Disclosure Check
As Winchester College is an educational establishment, a condition of employment will be that the successful candidate must consent to the school obtaining an Enhanced Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service. This will reveal all spent and unspent convictions, warnings, cautions and bind-overs. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on the school’s portal.
The jobholder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact with, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times. The French Assistant should be conversant with the responsibilities and procedures detailed in this policy and with the Department for Education’s Keeping Children Safe in Education. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the French Assistant becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, they must report any concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or in their absence the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
References and Other Pre-employment Checks
The appointment will be dependent on the receipt of satisfactory references. The College will usually seek references from shortlisted candidates before interview and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications. At least one referee must be the current or most recent employer. Where applicants are not currently working with children but have done so in the past, one referee must be the person by whom they were most recently employed when working with children.
Data Protection Statement
Winchester College collects and processes relevant personal data as part of its everyday operations and is obliged to process it in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
The school is the Data Controller of this data under the Act and is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office; its registration number is Z5751669.
Any queries about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school should be referred to the Data Protection Liaison Officer.