A unique outdoor education and farm job.
We’re looking for a residential Assistant Farm Manager to support staff and students in our dynamic Outdoor Work Department (ODW).
This is a brilliant opportunity to work with animals and children in a leading boarding school, known for its innovative approach to practical, outdoor work in a hugely varied, educational role. For one lesson you might be supporting a blacksmithing or timber-framing class, the next driving a tractor or vaccinating sheep. The following day you might be designing jar labels for our homegrown honey, planting daffodils, delivering piglets, or running a small, pony training club.
You’ll be living and working in a beautiful countryside location in a busy school community. The farm is well resourced, and you’ll be given the time to get to know and properly care for your livestock and to share your love and expertise in animals, farming, and the natural environment with a variety of engaged students and teachers, as you help ensure the delivery of first-rate lessons and the management of a safe and productive farm.
You will take charge of the day-to-day management and care of all school livestock, which includes chickens, ponies, cattle, goats, and sheep and provide agricultural technical support to ODW. Coaching and instructing students on animal husbandry and agricultural skills will be another responsibility, as will producing learning aids, such as information sheets and step-by-step instructions and supporting teaching staff in maintaining and making available the appropriate equipment and resources, ensuring learning environments are set up for students.
Experience & Background
Excellent observational skills and attention to detail are essential, along with a passion for sharing your animal husbandry skills in an educational setting.
You must have a degree or relevant experience in an agricultural discipline with extensive animal husbandry experience, along with the knowledge on how to run an agricultural workplace, and how to keep it tidy plus a willingness to learn more about the subject. Above all you’ll need to have a flexible and enthusiastic approach to all duties associated with the running of the farm
You must have a driving licence and ideally experience of driving a range of farm machinery and trailers.
It would be beneficial if you had some experience in the use and maintenance of workshop tools and machinery, and across a range of different materials (woods, metals and building material).
You must practice excellent health and safety. Most importantly you have a genuine love of working with teenagers and animals!
This post is Regulated Activity.
About us
Situated in the rolling hills of Hampshire, Bedales is known as one of the most progressive, creative schools in the country. ODW has been a cornerstone of the school since its inception in 1893. We are renowned for running an ethical and sustainable farm/smallholding of 50 acres, that has education at its heart. Our aim is to create an environment where questioning, divergent thinking and freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged. Central to our success is the sense that each person is a member of our community whose voice is entitled to be heard and treated with respect. Both our staff and students expect of each other the best kind of relationships – co-operative, authentic and trustful.
Hours of Work
You will work on a rota system that provides continuous cover for the farm and vegetable plots throughout the year. There will be a considerable amount of weekend work involved for the successful candidate who will provide care and manage all the livestock during this time, which currently includes pigs, sheep and poultry.
More details can be found in the terms & conditions.
Salary
£ 27,884 annual starting salary based on the above hours and weeks of work.
What’s in it for you? The benefits:
- Accommodation
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Funded Healthcare Cash Plan
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Pension with Royal London
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Salary Extras Benefits Platform
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Lifeworks Employee Assistance Programme
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Free lunch and breakfast is provided during term time
- Free on-site parking
Pre-Appointment Checks
All candidates will undergo a Safeguarding Suitability Interview and application for an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check and be asked to provide evidence they are eligible to work in the UK, on an on-going basis, at the shortlist stage of the selection process.
Closing Date: 24.04.2023
TEAMS screening: 27 & 28.04.2023
Interview Date: 05.05.2023
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this post please read the Job Description and Terms & Conditions which includes full details regarding the post. CVs cannot be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application form.
To find out more about this opportunity, candidates can contact Andrew Martin by email to: amartin@bedales.org.uk
All other enquiries relating to the recruitment process, should be forwarded to recruitment@bedales.org.uk
Safeguarding Statement:
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Prohibition from Teaching Checks, Prohibition from Management Checks.
The safeguarding responsibilities of the post include:
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Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children;
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fostering a culture of openness, safety, equality and protection;
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providing a safe and welcoming environment where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to;
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playing a key role in prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm;
- When concerned about the welfare of a pupil, acting in the best interests of the pupil.
All staff have a key role to play in identifying concerns early and in providing help for children and are expected to act in accordance with the school Safeguarding & Child Protection Policies.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job candidates to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are \"spent\" unless they are \"protected\" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.