Full time
12 month fixed term contract
Extensive individual support enables pupils to...develop a breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm for scholarship. This is a significant strength of the school.
ISI Inspection - 2025
Leaders maintain a school culture that actively promotes inclusion and mutual respect highly successfully. This is a significant strength of the school.
ISI Inspection - 2025
Co-education: phased entry from 2027
See our brochure for further details
Thank you for your interest in a position at the Royal Grammar School Guildford.
The RGS boasts a diverse, vibrant community of individuals in both teaching and support roles and we take pride in the success of our School.
The latest ISI inspection report identified two significant strengths within our School; "mutual respect" and "scholarship". We are incredibly proud of this achievement. Not only does it recognise the consistently high efforts by staff across the School, but the award of not just one, but two significant strengths by the ISI is extremely rare.
The academic standards in the School are excellent and are enriched by an extensive extra-curricular programme in which all academic staff are expected to participate; sports and the arts are important elements in School life.
We announced in December last year the exciting news that, beginning with Year 12 in 2027, RGS will become co-educational, offering girls the same opportunities that our boys enjoy. Transition will be phased and will progress organically through the year groups. You can read more in our brochure (see opposite).
The benefits of working at the RGS go beyond those listed in the job description. If you accept an offer of employment, you would be joining a staff body that collaborates professionally and socially across all departments.
The RGS is an exciting place in which to be a member of staff; I look forward to receiving an application from you.
Dr Jon Cox, Headmaster
The school is an inclusive and welcoming environment where pupils succeed academically and make the most of the extensive range of opportunities
Royal Grammar School Guildford serves approximately 1,300 students and over 300 staff across multiple sites, supported by a comprehensive technology infrastructure comprising over 1,500 managed devices, predominantly Microsoft Surface endpoints. The IT Services team is responsible for the delivery and maintenance of this infrastructure, encompassing network and systems administration, endpoint management, data governance, and the integration of core business systems including our Management Information System. The team also provides frontline technical support, audio-visual services for school events, staff training and development, and the ongoing lifecycle management of hardware and software assets.
You will be joining a close-knit team of ten dedicated professionals in the IT Services department. Our team is diverse, comprising first and second line technicians, systems engineers, and data management professionals. We pride ourselves on our collaborative spirit and our commitment to providing exceptional IT support across the school.
As a member of the support staff, you will be part of a large and friendly community of professionals dedicated to enhancing our students' education and overall experience. Our support staff play a vital role in creating a positive and effective learning environment, ensuring that both students and staff have the resources and assistance they need to succeed.
You will work across both of our UK school sites based in Guildford, each with its unique character and needs. This will provide you with a diverse and dynamic work environment, offering varied experiences and opportunities for professional growth. You will collaborate closely with teachers, students, support staff and parents fostering a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere.
By joining our team, you will have the chance to make a meaningful impact on the day-to-day operations of our schools, contributing to the smooth running of IT services and supporting the educational mission of our institution. Your efforts will directly influence the quality of education and the student experience, making your role both rewarding and impactful.
Job Title: Data Migration Specialist
Responsible to: Data Manager
Responsible for: No direct reports
Job Purpose
The Data Migration Specialist will be responsible for managing the integration of, and migration between, the School's core data systems. This role focuses specifically on data management, cleansing, validation, and migration activities.
Additionally, the post holder will support the implementation and integration of the new cloud-based HR system, ensuring seamless data flows between school data systems and the HR platform throughAPI connections and data synchronisation processes.
This is a critical role requiring deep technical expertise in school data systems, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Data Migration
• Lead the export, transformation and migration of data from legacy systems to a new platform.
• Conduct thorough data cleansing activities to identify and resolve inconsistencies, duplicates, and data quality issues prior to migration.
• Manage the integration of multiple third-party services.
• Create and maintain detailed data dictionaries and mapping documentation.
• Design and implement validation rules and testing protocols to ensure data integrity throughout the migration process.
• Coordinate staged data migration activities including pilot testing with subset data before full migration.
• Develop rollback procedures and contingency plans for data recovery scenarios.
• Support the integration of the new cloud-based HR system with school data systems.
• Configure and test API connections between systems to ensure accurate and timely data synchronisation.
• Map data fields between HR and school systems to maintain consistency across platforms.
• Establish automated data feeds and synchronisation schedules.
• Troubleshoot integration issues and work with vendors to resolve technical problems.
• Develop and document data governance procedures for core systems.
• Create data validation reports and dashboards to track migration progress and data quality metrics.
• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations throughout all data handling activities.
• Work closely with departmental data owners to understand data requirements and validate migration outcomes.
• Provide technical guidance and training to staff on data management best practices.
• Liaise with external vendors and implementation consultants on technical data matters.
• Produce regular progress reports and technical documentation for project stakeholders.
Essential
• Significant experience working with school data systems in an educational setting.
• In-depth knowledge of school data structures, including pupil records, academic data, attendance, assessment, and pastoral information.
• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced functions (VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, pivot tables), Power Query, and data manipulation techniques.
• Demonstrable experience with data migration projects, preferably within the education sector.
• Understanding of API integrations and experience configuring data connections between systems.
• Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience with data cleansing, validation, and quality assurance processes.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
• Experience with cloud-based school and HR platforms.
• Knowledge of SQL or other database query languages.
• Experience with data visualisation tools and reporting platforms.
• Understanding of independent school operations and data requirements.
• Familiarity with data protection legislation (UK GDPR) in an educational context.
• Project management experience or relevant certification.
• Methodical and organised approach to work with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Problem-solving mindset with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive data appropriately.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing project requirements.
Your career at the RGS begins with a warm welcome and comprehensive induction. You will be introduced to department colleagues, key people within the School and fellow new starters from across the departments.
Opportunities to get involved in wider school activities are many and varied; sporting fixtures, theatre productions and field trips to name just a few. Then there are the social groups set up by and for colleagues which include a running group, book club, theatre trips, football and a wind band. However you choose to get involved, you are guaranteed to find yourself among like-minded individuals.
Abinash
System Engineer, joined 2011
What do you love about your department? Team work, Friendly co-workers, Flexibility.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Cooking, Gardening, Watching movies.
Jill Deputy Head, joined 2016
What's the best thing about working at the RGS?
Working in a school where you are given professional freedom, trust and the resources to do your job.
If you could give one bit of advice to your younger self what would it be? Enjoy the moment.
Sean Service Delivery Manager, joined 2021
What's the best thing about working at the RGS? The team I work with. The varied work we do. Working on the High Street.
Which staff social groups are you involved in? Staff football.
In addition to joining a successful and sociable staff body you will also receive the following benefits:
Hours of work
Remuneration
Employee Assistance Programme
Annual Leave
Private healthcare
Pension
Dining
08:30 – 16:30. Some flexibility in working hours may be required during critical migration phases. The role is based on-site at the School, with potential for hybrid working arrangements subject to agreement.
£35,000 - £40,000 pro rata
A free, confidential counselling & wellbeing support service that can support you, your partner or spouse, and dependent children over 16 still living at home.
28 days' leave plus bank holidays.
Private medical cover is available for all staff. This is paid for by the School, but is a taxable benefit so there is an indirect cost to the individual.
All support staff are automatically enrolled into the company pension scheme. The level of contribution by the individual is 5% the School will contribute 10%.
A choice of hot lunches, a delicious salad bar and range of desserts are provided daily in the staff dining room during term time.
The RGS is a kind, inclusive, tolerant community where diverse opportunity, personal development, high achievement and collaborative partnership define who we are.
Our values of inclusivity, scholarship, integrity, respect, courage and collaboration underpin all we do.
Students come to the RGS from around 140 different schools in Surrey and the neighbouring home counties and this number is growing each year. We regularly receive four applications for every place.
The RGS curriculum aims to combine breadth with balance. In the first three years all pupils study a broad range of subjects, choosing options at the end of their third year which sees them sitting ten GCSE subjects including English Language, English Literature, a Modern Foreign Language, Mathematics, three separate sciences and a humanities subject. From the Third Form, a Tutor Period is introduced during which boys study Information Technology, Problem Solving, First Aid, Health Education and Study Skills. It is also during this time that initial careers and higher education guidance is given which then continues throughout the boys’ time at the School.
The RGS boasts a thriving Sixth Form with all students studying four subjects in the Lower Sixth and then continuing with three or four subjects to A Level in the Upper Sixth. This is complemented by a range of General Studies courses which are coeducational, organised jointly with Guildford High School.
All students are encouraged to engage in independent research and activities throughout their time in the School via our Scholarship for all programme. Whilst not curricular, there is an expectation that staff will support this provision as their experience and expertise enables.
All members of the teaching staff help with co- and extra-curricular activities, of which there is an impressively wide range. Music, Art and Drama all flourish with performances, exhibitions and workshops. There is a well-equipped auditorium, a large Art School and a purpose built Music Department. We have a very active clubs and societies programme that takes place before, during and after school each day. All the Third Form take part in our curricular, weekly expedition and adventure programme, EXAD. We have five Field Days per year and also offer overseas expeditions, a large Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme and numerous sports tours. Staff are invited to attend and support all of these events.
Guildford is a vibrant and exciting place in which to live. Rich in history, it is a welcoming town with a flourishing and varied cultural life. Entertainment is diverse with a number of lively and nationally renowned venues including G Live, the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and the eclectic Electric Theatre. There are outstanding sport and leisure facilities which include the state-of-the-art training venues and sports complexes of Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum. Guildford offers one of the south east’s best shopping experiences with the iconic High Street combining exclusive and popular national chains as well as a number of independent retailers. Dining options cater for every taste and budget with local traditional and gastro pubs in nearby Surrey villages drawing customers from a wide area.
Educationally, Guildford is thriving. RGS Guildford and Guildford High School are regularly ranked in the top ten single-sex schools in the country. RGS also enjoys close links with other girls’ schools, Tormead School and St Catherine’s, Bramley. The University of Surrey was awarded ‘University of the Year for Graduate Employment’ by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Guildford has the advantage of being very accessible and enjoys excellent transport links. London is just over a 30-mile drive via the A3 and well served by trains (just 29 minutes to Clapham Junction and 39 minutes to London Waterloo). International airports London Gatwick and London Heathrow are only 30 minutes from the town.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are close by; the Surrey Hills and North Downs are on the School's doorstep and provide opportunities to enjoy the stunning countryside; the south coast is approximately one hour by car.
William Cobbett “
The town of Guildford, which I, who have seen so many, many towns, think is the prettiest, and…most happylooking, that I ever saw in my life.
The setting:
The Surrey Hills
North Downs
South Downs
Picturesque villages
The south coast
Travel by rail:
Clapham Junction 29 minutes
London Waterloo 39 minutes
Portsmouth Harbour 60 minutes
Gatwick Airport 45 minutes
Travel by road:
London 32 miles via the A3; Heathrow 22 miles; Gatwick 34 miles via A3 and M25; Portsmouth 44 miles; Brighton 59 miles
North Downs
The Royal Grammar School Guildford meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check from the DBS before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. It is of fundamental importance to The Royal Grammar School to ensure, so far as possible, that those who take up appointments do not pose a risk to the children in its care.
We are proactively committed to creating a diverse staff body, which reflects the community that we teach. At RGS we value diversity and inclusion; we want to attract the best people for the roles available. This is regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, socioeconomic status or religious beliefs.
Please note: applications will be considered on receipt and we reserve the right to close applications early.
