Undergraduate Student Placement – Education Assistant

Job Description for University Placement Students

Job Title: Undergraduate Student Placement – Education Assistant

Place of work: The Cranedale Centre, Kirby Grindalythe, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 8DB

You are invited to apply for the above post and join the Education Team at this Environmental
Education Charity. All employees at the Cranedale Centre work towards one simple aim – to strive to
deliver a first class, high quality residential experience for all our students.  Each and every member of
staff is relied upon and trusted to undertake their roles to the very best of their abilities and to maintain
the very high standards that customers now expect from this Centre.

The role of the Education Assistant is to support the Cranedale Centre tutor team in the delivery of
field courses.  They will be joining a teaching unit comprising of 7 Field Studies Tutors. The successful
candidate will need to be undertaking a relevant degree in Geography, Biology, Ecology,
Environmental or Natural Sciences.

During your placement year you will gain:

  Work experience that reflects an environmental educational charity.
  Experience of working with a range of age groups in an outdoor setting.
  Valuable, varied experience and work place skills to add to your CV.
  The opportunity to conduct research that will benefit both you and our organisation.
  Working knowledge of outdoor education practices.
  First Aid at Work Qualification.

Former students have shared their thoughts on their placement year with us, and what they feel they
gained, on our website. Please read them at www.cranedale.com/recruitment.

The specific duties for each Placement Student will be tailored to the interests and abilities of
the individual and time will be made available for individual research/dissertation projects.  The
following list of general tasks should therefore be considered as a guide to the normal duties
required:

  Supporting the teaching team. The Education Assistant should expect to be out in the ‘field’ on

most working days helping students with their fieldwork and assisting with packing and
preparation of fieldwork equipment.

  Education Assistants will not be required to teach on A level and GCSE courses but may be
asked to demonstrate various fieldwork techniques to student groups from time to time. If
teaching was of interest to the Educational Assistant we would  Some teaching will be
encouraged on environmental courses for junior children.

  The Education Assistant may from time to time be based at the Centre and be asked to

undertake a ‘technician’ role. This will require the Education Assistant to take responsibility for
the repair, maintenance and calibration of scientific meters and probes together with general
repairs to other field equipment.

  The Education Assistant will be required to attend staff meetings and departmental meetings

and integrate fully into the working life of the Centre.

  They will be allocated a ‘mentor’ for the duration of their placement and will be required to

attend personal review/appraisal sessions from time to time.

  Other duties will involve the Education Assistant in supporting the Prep Room, Waterproof

Store, and the stocking and tidying of teaching rooms.

  To provide the Education Assistant with a broad knowledge of the running of a busy Field
Studies Centre some time will be allocated within the year to work on short shifts in the
Catering and Cleaning Departments so that an appreciation can be gained of the amount of
work that goes into, and the importance of, these departments. Additional pay will be given for
this.

  Once trained in First Aid and in-house systems, the Education Assistant may be included on
the timetable as the Duty Tutor i.e. to be the overnight point of contact in case of visiting staff
requiring assistance.

  During closedown / non teaching periods the Education Assistant will not be required at the

Centre on certain weeks. On other weeks they will be required to assist with maintenance jobs
around the Centre.

Expectations and Requirements:

  Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
  Applicants should be studying a relevant degree in Geography, Biology, Ecology,

Environmental or Natural Sciences.

  The Placement Student will need to demonstrate that they have good communication, literacy

and numeracy skills and relate well to children and young adults.

  A good level of competence with ICT is desirable for this post.
  Applicants should have a positive work attitude and be motivated to learn new skills.
  A full, clean driving license is required.

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to cranedaleadministration@cranedale.com
Thank you

Statement of Main Terms of Employment

Employer: Cranedale Educational Charitable Trust Ltd

Employee:

Job Title:  Educational Assistant

Place of work:  You will normally be required to work at/from the Cranedale Centre, Kirby
Grindalythe, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 8DB. You will not be required to work outside the United
Kingdom.

Term: The Education Assistant post will commence on the 1st September 2025 and continue through
to the 24th July 2026.  The placement student will not be required at the Centre for some weeks in
December and January when the Centre is on closedown. The post has a one month probationary
period during which your suitability for the post will be assessed.

Hours of work:  The hours of work each week are those required to fulfil the responsibilities of your
position. The hours are based on an average of 40 hours per week but there is some variability to
meet the needs of the field courses. Some weekend and evening work may be required.

Remuneration:  The position is unpaid however the Placement Student will receive a nominal
allowance of £75 per week. Additional pay will be given on an hourly basis for any additional work
undertaken with the Catering/Cleaning Departments, should this be available and the placement
student wishes to undertake this work. This post is residential and the Education Assistant will
receive lodging in one of our well-appointed Tutor Houses in the village free of charge. This residential
package is provided 7 days per week. A packed lunch will also be provided free of charge most days
when the Centre is occupied.

Annual & Bank Holidays:  The holiday year for the Educational Assistant will run from September to
July and he/she will be entitled to 5.6 working weeks during a complete holiday year. This entitlement
includes the statutory Public/Bank holidays (8) or days in lieu of these if there is a requirement to work
on these days.

Sickness:  There is no contractual sickness/injury payments scheme in addition to SSP. Any
additional payments which may be made will be at our absolute discretion.

Child Protection:  An enhanced level DBS Disclosure is required for this post.

Driving Licence:  Full, clean driving licence required.

Signed:

Signed:                                                                on behalf of Cranedale Centre

Date: