Full year, 0.8 FTE
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
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.
This success was recognised in the latest ISI inspection report which identified two significant strengths within our School; "mutual respect" and "scholarship". The academic standards in the School are excellent and are enriched by an extensive extracurricular programme in which all academic staff are expected to participate; sports and the arts are important elements in School life.
This brochure will give you a flavour of our School, but the benefits of working here 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. ISI Inspection - 2025 “ “
Job Title: PA to the DFO and Governing Body
Responsible to: Director of Finance and Operations
Responsible for: No direct reports
Job Purpose
To provide support to the Chair, Governors and Director of Finance and Operations in all aspects of their roles, through the provision of efficient administrative support.
Key Responsibilities
Governance and meeting support
• Draft and agree the agenda for all Governor meetings, liaising as appropriate with the Chair, Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Finance and Operations to ensure the appropriate business is included.
• Compile papers for meetings and ensure that they are sent out to members in good time.
• Take minutes at Governor and committee meetings, seek the relevant approvals from speakers and the Chair, and distribute these promptly.
• Organise meeting dates for the Governing Body and its committees and ensure these are booked into relevant diaries. Book rooms and catering as required.
• Make any necessary travel and accommodation arrangements for the Governing Body.
Compliance
• Ensure the governance information on the School website is updated as necessary in conjunction with the marketing and communications team.
• In conjunction with the HR team, be responsible for coordinating (and compiling the relevant information) for the Governing Body to meet induction, training and compliance requirements.
• Ensure that all relevant bodies are notified of changes to the Governing Body, where they occur.
• Organise and maintain the diary of the Director of Finance and Operations, including booking rooms, making travel arrangements and organising refreshments and equipment for meetings/events as needed.
• Arrange internal and external meetings as required.
• Provide administrative support on projects as required by the Director of Finance and Operations and Chief Strategy Officer, including undertaking basic research, making contact with relevant professional bodies, correspondence writing, minute taking and general other duties.
• Proof read reports and documents.
• Provide support to the Finance and Operations team, answering queries, collecting/opening post, ordering stationery as required, and overseeing a general standard of organisation for the office.
• Maintain a logical filing system using our Sharepoint information system.
• Work closely with administrative colleagues across the School, providing cover and support where appropriate.
• Assist with booking transportation (e.g. for School field trips).
• Be prepared to support with School activities and events where requested.
• Provide administrative support to the Chief Strategy Officer as and when required.
Essential
• Experience in an administrative role.
• Highly proactive and able to use initiative, with meticulous organisation skills and a keen eye for detail.
• A high level of confidentiality and the ability to exercise discretion when necessary.
• The ability to manage your own workload and to prioritise when working to tight deadlines.
• The ability to manage upwards and to give constructive feedback to senior colleagues.
• A flexible approach to the role and the hours required for attendance at Governors’ meetings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with internal and external stakeholders with professionalism.
• Excellent IT skills and proficiency in MS Office applications.
• A positive can-do and solution finding attitude to all aspects of the role.
• Confident and able to liaise with people from a diverse range of backgrounds and deal with all situations calmly and professionally.
• Experience of working in a governance role and/or of supporting senior committee meetings.
This is a part time role and it is important to note that the postholder will be expected to attend Governor meetings which take place out of school hours, usually on weekday evenings. Time off in lieu will be given for these hours.
“
Tolerance, kindness and mutual respect pervade every aspect of school life...This results in a highly positive and inclusive learning environment. ISI Inspection - 2025
”
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.
Jill Thorpe
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.
Matthew Baggs
Head of Lower School, Head of PSHME, joined 2010
What’s the best thing about the RGS?
The enthusiastic, positive pupils who have a real desire to learn.
If you could give one bit of advice to your younger self what would it be? Do what you enjoy, not what you feel you should do.
Abinash Budha
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.
In addition to joining a successful and sociable staff body you will also receive the following benefits:
Hours of work
Remuneration
Fee reduction
Annual Leave
Private healthcare
Pension
Commuting Loan
Gym
Dining
Employee Assistance Programme
Full year, 0.8FTE
Circa £24K - £28K (£30K - £35K FTE)
Fee reduction for son(s) of staff is available (after a qualifying period and subject to success at the entrance examination).
28 days' leave plus bank holidays (pro rata) to be taken during school 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%.
Interest-free loans are available for rail season ticket holders.
Use of on-site gym at certain times of the day.
A choice of hot lunches, a delicious salad bar and range of desserts are provided daily in the staff dining room during term time.
A free, confidential counselling & wellbeing support service that can support you, your partner or spouse, and dependent children over 16 still living at home.
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.
Boys 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 boys 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 boys 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 co-educational, organised jointly with Guildford High School.
All boys 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 it 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.
