For January 2026

CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Graduate or Gap Student

Our mission is to develop
academically successful, community
minded, self-confident and well
rounded individuals who are well
prepared for their futures.

Westbrook Hay is a thriving co-educational
independent day school. Pupils enjoy a broad
curriculum, achieve excellent results and have the
all-important confidence to succeed.

The school roll is currently at a record high of
around 380 pupils and in September 2023
announced that it is growing its Senior Section of
the school from Year 8 to Year 11 and will begin
offering GCSEs. From September 2025 we have
welcomed our first Year 9 cohort.

Our ethos is to be a welcoming,
inclusive community that provides
the best for, and expects the best
from us all.

The school is well known locally for its warm and
welcoming atmosphere. This is something we cherish
and, even though we are potentially going to grow
slightly in size, we do not want to lose this ethos.

We believe our ethos separates us from larger
competitor schools in our locality. This ethos is
generated by the staff and their relationships with
the pupils and parents. It has been regularly
described as ‘friendly and professional’.

We are seeking a new Graduate or Gap Student
who can assist us with achieving our mission and
thrive under this ethos.

Our History

Westbrook Hay School, founded in 1892 by
Augustus Orlebar in Bedford, has evolved over 130
years, relocating and renaming itself multiple times.
Originally a small establishment with just two pupils,
it grew under successive leaderships and moved
to its current location at Westbrook Hay in 1963.
It transitioned from a boarding school for boys to
accepting day pupils and girls in the late 1970s.

Located between Berkhamsted and Hemel
Hempstead in Hertfordshire, the school’s beautiful
location boasts 26 acres of parkland overlooking
the Bourne Valley. For example, the school has
a purpose-built Pre-Prep and has very recently
upgraded many of its specialist facilities. The
Performing Arts Centre, added in 2016, offers

impressive provision for dance, drama and music.
Our new specialist facilities include two Science
Laboratories with a prep room, a refurbished
and modernised DT Workshop, a new ICT suite,
an extended and upgraded Art Centre, six new
changing rooms, and a state-of-the-art Food
Technology room. These are in addition to our
Sports Hall, Swimming Pool and modern, spacious
classrooms.

Under various heads the school has expanded and
modernised, while continuing to prepare students
for prestigious senior schools such as Bedford,
Berkhamsted, Haileybury, Millfield, Stowe and St
Albans. The school now moves into a new phase of
development becoming an all-through school to 16.

Long Term School Strategy

In September 2023, Westbrook Hay
announced that it is growing its Senior Section
from Year 8 to Year 11 to begin offering
GCSEs.

The decision was made in reaction to the
changing local market, from a position of
financial strength and due to demand from
current and prospective parents.

This process has started extremely well with
record numbers of pupils joining into Year 7
and new starters into Year 8. Our First Year 9
cohort are now in place and thriving.

School Structure

The school is growing to form three main sections

Prep: for pupils from Year 3 to Year 6, this
section of the school is two or three form
entry and consists of approximately 190
boys and girls.

Pre-Prep: for pupils from Nursery to Year
2, this section of the school is two form
entry and consists of approximately 140
boys and girls.

Seniors: currently just year 7,8 and 9 this
section of the school consists of approximately
85 boys and girls. Under our long term
strategy we have added Upper Seniors, Years
9 to 11, with the aim of having around 40
pupils in each year group.

Academics at Westbrook Hay

The six core skills of collaboration, communication,
independence, leadership, reviewing & improving
and thinking & learning are developed through
termly enrichment days. These new world skills will
equip the children for the future. As they develop
and eventually go to the workplace, they will be
able to think critically and communicate effectively
with people from a range of different cultures.

Learning Support
Our flourishing Learning Support Department
monitors and puts in place support for pupils who
have an identified learning difficulty or specific
need. Within the department, pupils will gain
on-going and practical support which will vary
and change as they grow through their time at the
school.

The Head of Learning Support monitors the progress
of pupils, ensuring that lessons are appropriately
differentiated and that the pupils’ needs are met
within the classroom. A continuous cycle of
monitoring and feedback means that pupils with
a range of learning needs are fully supported and
make excellent progress at Westbrook Hay.

At Westbrook Hay we are dedicated to nurturing
each pupil’s uniqueness. This spans from their
formative years and continues into their GCSE years
where we take pride in providing an environment
where wellrounded individuals can flourish and
succeed.

Academic life at Westbrook Hay encourages
effective, life-long learning habits, through a broad
and engaging curriculum. Key to our academic
success is the fact that every pupil is well-known in
our close-knit community. Classes are small and our
teachers ensure that they do all they can to support
pupils with their learning on an individual basis.

GCSE Programme
In their time at Westbrook Hay, pupils are given the
opportunity to fully explore a wide curriculum, which
promotes academic rigour and curiosity. Within our
GCSE Programme, our goal is to offer a diverse
array of options that allows each pupil to leverage
their strengths, while enjoying a broad range of
experiences. English, Maths, Science and
the Humanities (Geography, History and RS) form
the core of our GCSE curri culum, with each pupil
encouraged to take a total of nine GCSEs.

While GCSE results are important, we understand
that academic success holds different meanings for
different people. In a world where external pressures
on young minds are prevalent, Westbrook Hay
provides a supportive and nurturing atmosphere in
which to take GCSEs.

Pre-Senior Baccalaureate
In Years 7 and 8 our pupils undertake their
Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB). As a PSB school,
Westbrook Hay pupils follow an assessment model
that has at its heart the develop ment of the right
attitudes, behaviours, skills and values required for
children to flourish in an ever-changing world.

Overview of the Role

The purpose of this job description is to outline the
main responsibilities of a Grad/Gap Student. It is
not restrictive and includes any other reasonable
requests that may arise.

The safety and well-being of the children in School
is paramount at all times. A Grad/Gap Student is
responsible for promoting and safeguarding the
welfare of children for whom they are responsible,
or with whom they come into contact. They will
adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s
Child Protection Policy at all times. If in the course

of carrying out their duties, a Grad/Gap Student
becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to
the safety or welfare of children in the School, it
is their responsibility to report any concerns to the
school’s Designated Senior Lead for Child Protection
or the Head.

Grad/Gap Students are responsible to the Deputy
Head Pastoral, although day to day tasks will be set
by teaching staff, with whom they are expected to
work closely.

Job Description

Graduate or Gap Responsibilities
•  Assist staff in the effective running of lessons

and the school day

•  Attend and contribute towards all relevant

staff meetings and inset days

•  Attend Speech Day, Open Mornings and

other relevant whole school events

•  Contribute to the breakfast, Westbrook+ and

after school provision

•  Contribute towards a safe and stimulating

learning environment

•  Enthusiasm for co-curricular activities, whether

drama, music or sport

•  Hear children read and record their progress
•  Help to maintain tidy classroom environments

and to prepare resources for lessons

•  Help to display children’s work and prepare

teaching displays

•  Meet the health and safety and safeguarding

requirements of the school at all times

Salary
Minimum Wage

•  Participate in co-curricular school activities
including clubs, day and residential trips

Hours
45 hours a week

•  Provide teaching cover as required throughout

the school

•  Undertake any reasonable additional task
in respect of the needs of the school at the
request of the Head or Deputy Heads.

Contract type
Fixed term contract

Holidays
As per the school calendar

Reporting Manager
Emilie Loveless

Person Specification

Skills, Experience, Qualifications,
Knowledge and Personal Attributes
All staff at Westbrook Hay are expected to
embrace and demonstrate in their professional
lives the School’s values of courage,
independence, integrity, reflective learner,
responsibility and togetherness.

Skills and Experience

Personal Qualities

Essential: the attributes, skills, qualifications and
experience that a candidate must have in order
to be considered for the role.

Desirable: those that would strengthen an
application but are not strictly necessary.

Advantageous: nice to have, but not a key
requirement of the role.

Able to demonstrate high levels of interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence

Patient and kind, yet determined

Loyal to the school and an embodiment of Westbrook Hay’s School Values (Courage,
Independence, Integrity, Reflective Learner, Responsibility and Togetherness) and its vision,
mission and ethos

A lover of learning who is always willing to learn themselves

Empathetic to the plight/work of others

Understanding of the impact of their own behaviours on others, being a personal and
professional role model for the community

Professional Qualities

Committed to putting our children first

A supporter of the Westbrook Way Charter

Courteous, discrete, professional and respectful to all, at all times

Resilient and able to recover quickly from professional setbacks

Proactive and creative when problem solving

Organised and able to meet deadlines

An excellent communicator with children, colleagues and parents

Able to work effectively in a team and independently

Confident, articulate and eager to offer ideas

Hardworking, positive and enthusiastic

Essential

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Essential

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Essential

Salary and Benefits

The salary will be competitive and dependent on
experience.

What can we offer you?
• A fantastic team of staff to work with and be a part of
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Enhanced Family Leave
• Cooked lunches and refreshments throughout the day

provided

• Membership of the Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities to attend events organised by the Staff

Social Committee

• Receipt of a ‘golden ticket’ for assisting with an

overnight event, which enables staff to apply for a half
day of leave either in the morning or afternoon
• Small class sizes, a beautiful rural location and

excellent facilities

• The security and opportunity that comes from working
in a school that is part of a charitable group of school
(Mill Hill Foundation)

Application and Recruitment Process

We have 2 vacant GAP/Grad roles, one for an immediate start and
one for 1st January 2026.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: 9am on Tuesday14 October

Please note that we are unable to accept
applications unless they are made on our
own application form. Due to the number of
applications the School receives shortlisted
candidates will be contacted to be invited for an
interview.

The Mill Hill Education Group reserves the right
to interview candidates ahead of the closing date
and applications will be considered as they are
received.

The Mill Hill Education Group is committed to
safeguarding the welfare of children. As part of
our Recruitment Checks, the appointed candidate
will be subject to a Social Media and Enhanced
DBS Check.

The schools apply for an Enhanced Disclosure
from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
for all positions at the schools which amount to
regulated activity. The role you are applying f
or meets the legal definition of regulated activity
with children.

If you are successful in your application you will be
required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application
Form. Employment with the schools is conditional
upon the schools being satisfied with the result of
the Enhanced DBS Disclosure. Any criminal records
information that is disclosed to the schools will be
handled in accordance with any guidance and/
or code of practice published by the DBS. It is
an offence for person barred from working with
children to apply for this post.

The Mill Hill Education Group is committed to Equal
Opportunities and welcomes applications from all
sections of the community.

Successful applicants will also be expected to
keep up to date with annual safeguarding training,
DfE guidance and School specific safeguarding
information.

If this new opportunity sparks your enthusiasm and
you wish to be part of our team, please click the
button to complete your Application Form.

APPLY

Compliance Requirements

The appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks in accordance
with DfES guidance, to satisfactory references, satisfactory clearance from the DBS,
proof of identity and qualifications and a satisfactory medical report. Westbrook
Hay is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young
people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will
be required to undergo child protection screening including checks with current and
previous employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

Westbrook Hay
London Road
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP1 2RF

Telephone 01442 256143
Email charlotte_hearne@westbrookhay.co.uk