xxxxxxxxx History of Berkhamsted Schools Group
Berkhamsted School is situated in the historic Hertfordshire town of Berkhamsted, a prosperous community surrounded by Chiltern countryside and within easy reach of London Berkhamsted is a leading Independent School for pupils aged 3 to 18 years, the foundation of which dates back to 1541 (when John Incent, the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, successfully applied to King Henry the VIII for a license to purchase a piece of land for a ‘freescole’).
In 1888 a Girls School was founded in Berkhamsted under the same governing body, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools merged to form a diamond school in 1997 The Prep School was also integrated at this stage, and the School became Berkhamsted Collegiate School.
In 2011 the School merged with Heatherton House, a small independent day School for girls in Chesham Bois, and became the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Operating as a satellite Prep School, Heatherton provides a feed of Girls to the Berkhamsted Girls School every year. In 2012 Berkhamsted Schools Group acquired Haresfoot, a small proprietary prep school in Berkhamsted. This site now houses the Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited, and Berkhamsted Prep takes children from age 7-11.
Berkhamsted is the only School in the Herts, Beds and Bucks region, and one of only a small number of Schools in the country, to offer a ‘diamond’ structure that combines the best of both single-sex and coeducational teaching. Boys and Girls are taught together until the age of 11 (Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep), separately from the age of 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint sixth form (Berkhamsted Sixth).
Job Description
Responsible to: Director of IT
Job Purpose:
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
To manage the day-to-day operations of Centenary Theatre providing design, creative input, technical assistance for all dramatic & musical productions, competitions and in-house large-scale events. Oversee and assist in events across the group including online broadcasts. Maintain, upgrade and have technical oversight of all AV (audio visual) equipment in other event spaces across the group. Manage and develop the commercial use of the Theatre and other event spaces in line with the commercial strategy, ensuring that external lets have the required technical assistance.
Hours of Work:
Full time, all year round.
Flexible working hours to accommodate out-of-hours events. Any weekend / holidays work for Berkhamsted School Enterprises (Commercial Activities) will be paid separately.
Annual leave mainly to be taken during the school holidays, however term time holidays can be approved subject to workload and schedule.
Areas of Responsibilities:
Duties during term time include but are not limited to:
Attend and fully contribute to regular meetings and regularly liaise with the artistic team (Drama or Music Dept staff), set construction team and Commercial Operations staff (who are responsible for site Health and Safety).
Job Description
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Attend production meetings as required and advise staff on all technical issues including lighting, sound, stage management and front of house as well as health and safety factors. Prepare estimates of any additional costs for the Director of Drama. These would include accurate estimation of additional man-hours (rigging) and hiring of any additional resources. Provide training (as necessary) and manage ‘casual’ technical staff and / or members of the School community who are involved with technical roles in the theatre.
Report any unorthodox use of the space / equipment to the Commercial Manager for the formulation of initial Risk Assessments Examples of this might include managing a ‘promenade’ style performance or use of naked flames. Create appropriate sound and lighting designs in consultation with the organiser(s) / director(s) of events.
Source and prepare any sound effects as required.
Source (hire if necessary) all relevant equipment in consultation with the Director of Drama. Set up and manage a ‘Technical Theatre Group’ made up of students from a variety of year groups and advertise any suitable technical theatre opportunities to members of this group Rig equipment following health and safety codes of practice. Attend rehearsals as requested and show leadership in technical rehearsal(s).
Provide clear instruction to technical operators (student or staff for lighting, sound and stage management (and Front of House duties if requested) in consultation with the Director of Drama. It will also be necessary for the Theatre Manager to act as ‘operator’ for some events. Line manage the theatre staff and a rotation system to ensure that there is technical theatre support for all school wide events and that the hours are logged
Job Description
Be responsible for the smooth running of events in accordance with Risk Assessments and Health and Safety codes of practice in consultation with the Director of Drama. Be responsible for the safe de-rigging and return of equipment as appropriate.
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
To support drama department lessons and activities as required. Duties included would be to:
Liaise with the Director of Drama and attend departmental meetings as requested. Provide technical assistance for curriculum drama activities on a ‘day-to-day’ basis
Provide technical support for GCSE and A Level practical classes and exam performances, including lighting, sound design and operation and some AV work.
Provide specific guidance for students wishing to specialise in technical theatre options at GCSE and A Levels.
To manage and run Technical Theatre Group: an in-house society, which offers technical theatre opportunities and training to pupils in the Senior School and Sixth Form Duties included would be to:
Advertise and recruit interested pupils for Technical Theatre Group. Devise a technical theatre training programme or use the STSG Performance Support Award, tailored to meet the demands of the various music and drama events over the year in consultation with the Director of Drama.
To provide technical assistance for ‘school-wide’ activities in the Centenary Theatre and other venues across the School’s Group: this may include lectures and presentations to parents and pupils Duties included would be to:
Liaise with organisers of events – being pro-active in finding out specific requirements.
Job Description
Set up equipment for presentations including microphones, lap-top / projector (power-point presentations etc).
Advise on health and safety issues
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Responsible for the general management of technical resources, including equipment housed in the Centenary Theatre; the Studio Theatre; Deans’ Hall, Churchill Hall, Pre-Prep and Heatherton Duties included would be to:
Maintain all theatre technical equipment including an annual clean, PAT and general maintenance checks. Formal reports are required. Make inspections of the quality of stage flooring, ladders, tools, fire exits and general appearance of the stage and backstage areas. Report any anomalies or breakages. Analyse any upgrading requirements and advise on the purchase of new equipment, improvement and/or repair of existing resources.
Responsible for the management of the inventory of equipment; i e ensure it is up to date and that ‘signing in and out’ procedures are followed
Duties relating to Commercial Activities include but are not limited to:
Responsible for appropriate storage of materials: maintaining orderly, clean work areas (inc. control room, bridge, storage and stage areas) in the Centenary Theatre and other performance venues as directed Meet with external customers to discuss commercial opportunities. Liaise with the Commercial Manager to confirm Theatre availability and hire charges Manage the Theatre staffing rota to cover external lets. Complete timesheets for Enterprises overtime cover.
Job Description
Prepare chargeback invoices for the hire of technical equipment. Track income and expenditure to meet agreed Enterprises targets. Work with admin staff to set up ticketing for external hirers.
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Skills and Experience
Excellent experience of technical theatre with a keen interest in both sound and lighting
Excellent interpersonal and people-management skills.
Highly motivated individual with first class time management and administrative skills. You need to be comfortable working independently but also as part of a team – having good communication skills, both written and oral. Good IT skills are essential.
BenefitsBenefits
We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme
The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have a developed programme for staff with initiatives and support in the areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social wellbeing.
Free classes and advisory services. memberships and discounted rates in local establishments, together with cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, free daily lunch, and fee reduction for staff's children are examples of some of the non-contractual benefits on offer in this programme.
Watch our video
Watch our video and hear from our colleagues why they enjoy working at the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Find out more about what it is really like to be a member of the community.
BenefitsSafeguarding and Child Protection
Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding.
A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630.
Application and Next Steps
The closing date for applications is 16 August 2023
Make sure to use Gills Sans Font
It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children; applicants must be willing to undertake a number of safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS). This post is also subject to receipt of written references which must be satisfactory to Berkhamsted Schools Group along with documentary evidence of qualifications
Successful applicants will need to provide confirmation of permission to work in the UK. Please note that under the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the school has an obligation to ensure applicants have the right to work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. (If it is found that those documents do not meet the legal requirement, an offer of employment will be withdrawn).
Where the successful candidate has worked or been a resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance.
We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race
Candidates with a disability who are invited to interview should inform the School of any necessary reasonable adjustments or arrangements to assist them in attending the interview.
If you have any questions relating to this role please contact the HR department at recruitment@berkhamsted.com
