AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY
AAT Apprentice
Information for prospective staff
About Freemen's
Our mission is to inspire our people to learn, to lead and to make a difference.
We believe that if we can motivate pupils and staff to always give their best, the School will continue to grow and thrive. Community engagement and our impact on the world beyond our walls are at the forefront of everything we do at Freemen’s.
The School was founded in Brixton in 1854 to provide an education for the orphaned children of Freemen of the City of London before moving to the present site, Ashtead Park, in 1926. We have a magnificent site with modern buildings alongside the original Main House set in a stunning 57 acres of parkland. This idyllic setting further supports the wellbeing of our students and staff, as being here, in the park, makes coming to work a pleasure. It looks striking in every season and we are lucky to have a vast array of wildlife living in our woods.
Today, Freemen’s is an independent day and boarding school for students aged 7-18, with a strong ethos of community and service in accordance with the values on which the School
was founded. We are proudly co-educational and have been since 1854, which was radical at the time, and we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our forward-thinking, progressive approach.
You can expect stellar exam results and academic excellence, but that’s not all. The focus within the School is on every individual finding a path which is appropriate for them, be that in the classroom, on a sports pitch or in one of the many co-curricular activities we encourage our young people to throw themselves into. Our mission is built upon four pillars of the Freemen’s education: pastoral support, House activities, academic achievement, and our varied cocurricular programme (including sport) to ensure every student realises their potential to be able to learn, lead and make a difference. Freemen’s is a place where students are keen to learn and eager to engage in the wider aspects of life at our School.
Teachers at Freemen's embody our principles for excellent classroom practice, offering innovative and forward-thinking approaches, enabling us to be a beacon of learning and teaching. We take risks in the pursuit of excellence by being brave and radical, willing to challenge the status quo. Through our 1-1 iPad programme, we
Learn, lead and make a difference
aim to create discerning users of technology, so that staff and students can thrive in the modern dynamic world. We do all of this, in an environment where staff feel supported, by investing in life-long learning through research-led enquiry and building learning communities. The emphasis in the Junior School is on Kindness, Honesty and Fun and the Senior School picks up that message with a pastoral programme that emphasizes the importance of a strong, supportive community in which every member, staff and student, feels respected, supported and valued. As a result, we are able to support our young people to successfully navigate the tests of life they face every day.
The School is one of four independent schools managed by the City of London Corporation (The City). The City provides financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships. Other links with the City of London and the Livery Companies are strong, which presents opportunities for staff to attend events at Guildhall and elsewhere in the City, as well as the possibility of gaining the honour of the Freedom of the City of London.
Transport links are good; the School is a mile from Ashtead station with regular services to Epsom and London and south to Leatherhead and Guildford. The M25 junction 9 is a seven-minute drive from the School.
Information about the role
We are looking for a Level 2 AAT Apprentice. This is a full time role, starting in October 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Reporting to: Fees Manager
Purpose of the post: To assist the Finance Team in providing a high-quality customer focused financial accounting and information service to the City of London Freemen’s School
Main duties and responsibilities
• To assist the Fees Manager with:
• Raising Fee invoices, credit notes and journals and recover monies due to Freemen’s in respect of education, lunches, trips etc. using Oasis and Oracle.
• Pro-actively chase aged debts as directed by Fees Manager and assist in completing the monthly debt reports.
• Raising queries to debtors in writing and dealing with follow-up correspondence.
• Reconciling the Fees bank account each month.
• Ensuring the pupil ledgers in Oasis are up to date.
• Setting up and collecting monies via Direct Debit.
• To support the Accounts Payable team with creating purchase orders in the City’s financial accounting system (Oracle).
• Answering enquiries from suppliers and staff as to financial coding by using the Corporation's computerised accounting system, Oracle.
• To undertake any other duties that may be requested appropriate to the grade.
Other responsibilities
• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.
• Reporting all accidents to the COO via the School’s Accident Report Form procedure..
• Informing the COO of any concerns regarding Health & Safety and safe working practices.
Technical Skills/Relevant Education & Training
• Educated to A level standard or equivalent with GCSE standard English and Mathematics
• An excellent standard of written and spoken English
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise and effectively manage time.
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as on own initiative.
• Ability to be a self-starter and actively seek work
• Familiarity with MS Office, particularly Word and Excel
Other relevant information
• Good knowledge of mobile/ portable/ Apple device hardware such as Ipad or Apple Mac is highly desirable.
• A good understanding of Printers, photocopies and multifunction devices.
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Professional expectations of staff
Safeguarding
Staff will be kind, fair and respectful to students and each other, challenge others when they are unkind, unfair or disrespectful and have the highest regard for the students’ safety and their safeguarding duties, whether on or off the school premises.
Appearance
Smart professional dress, or appropriate co-curricular clothing, at all times.
Availability
Prompt attendance during the School’s operating hours and a commitment to completing School business is expected.
Awareness and use of Freemen’s policies
Staff will be able to access and use policies as necessary, and read and act upon them appropriately.
Behaviour
Staff will establish Freemen’s as a place of learning and will determine clear boundaries of behaviour, based on mutual respect and trust. Staff will have high expectations of students and will manage their behaviour effectively.
Collective responsibility
Staff share collective responsibility for Freemen’s standards, reputation and property, should treat them with respect and care, and insist others do likewise.
Communication
Staff will expect high standards of communication from students and will, in turn, demonstrate accurate, timely and appropriate communication when dealing with students, parents and colleagues.
Ethics and behaviour
Staff will uphold public trust in the profession and the reputation of Freemen’s by maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside School. They will be respectful and tolerant of the rights of others, including colleagues, and not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. They will ensure that their personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
Learn, lead and make a difference
Leaders
Staff will be leaders in the School, exercising good judgement and modelling the behaviour and habits that are expected of the students.
Learners
Staff will show and share a passion for their subject or discipline(s). They will seek to develop as professionals and as specialists, will be open to feedback and will seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and engage with relevant research.
Planning
Teaching staff will have a sense of where the lesson fits within the scheme of work and plan well-structured lessons using an appropriate range of pedagogies.
Use of feedback
Staff will seek to use feedback for themselves and if appropriate, their students and will complete assessments and reports in a timely fashion in the appropriate manner and style.
How to apply
Applicants should send a covering letter and a completed application form to the School via CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk, by 9am on Friday 27th September 2024.
Interviews will take at the School shortly afterwards although candidates are asked to note that Freemen’s retains the right to interview and appoint at any time during the application process.
Freemen’s acknowledges receipt of all applications, if you have not received confirmation of the safe receipt of your application within three working days please call the school or email CLFS-Recruitment@ cityoflondon.gov.uk to check on its status.
The successful candidate must be able to satisfy the City of London’s health requirements and a confidential medical assessment by the City of London’s Medical Officer is required. City of London Freemen’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced Disclosure).
"Friendly was the single most uttered word used to describe the school by students, while parents report that their offspring are happy. ‘Kind’ and ‘nonjudgemental,’ we also heard, with support on tap."
The Good Schools Guide
Your benefits
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Contributory defined benefit
Family friendly
Significantly enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement
Free lunch and refreshments
The option to join Supper Club at a subsidised rate
Annual Leave 25/29 days (subject to grade) plus bank holidays increasing with service.
Cycle to work scheme
Up to £3,000 salary sacrifice
Season Ticket Loan
Free parking on site
Access to on-site facilities
City of London benefits:
• CityBenefits - discounts and cashback.
• Wellbeing resources.
• Sponsorship to become a Freeman of the City of London.
Sports and Leisure:
• Discounted gym membership.
• Free use of the fitness suite.
• Staff social and sporting opportunities including pilates, yoga and five-a-side football.
• Free staff swimming and weekend family swimming for staff.
Learning and Development:
• In-house and externally run CPL
• Enquiring Schools project
• Support for professional development appropriate to the role including Apprenticeships/Masters.
Wellbeing:
• Up to 2 days’ paid leave for volunteering.
• Cash back on private health care treatment.
• Access to on-site Medical Centre.
• Staff Wellbeing Committee.
• Confidential Employee Assistance for staff and their families.
• Emergencies-only approach to out of hours email.
Campus Map
1. Visitor parking
Reception
Philp House
Science and Technology
Medical Centre
Art and Design
Stable Block
Ferndale Theatre
Dining Hall
Haywood Centre
Junior School (Kemp House)
Boarding (Walbrook House)
13. Music School and Recital Hall
14. Main House
15. Sports Hall 16. Swimming Pool 17. Cricket Pavilion
Tennis and Netball Courts
Astro Pitch
Cricket Nets
Cricket Pitch
Italian Garden
Rugby and Football Pitches
Green Room
25. Fire Assembly Point
Bus Stop
Upper Car Park
Lower Car Park 29. Service Gate (KT21 1JB)
"A down-to-earth, friendly school that’s comfortable in its own skin rather than relentlessly trying to show off its most polished side – and is all the better for it. Just the ticket for parents after a high-quality, stress-free route for their academically bright sons and daughters from age 7 right through to 18. Almost unique around here."
The Good Schools Guide
