Junior School Librarian (Fixed-term to 20th December 2025)
The Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh, City of
- New
- Job type:
- Full Time, Part Time, Fixed Term
- Apply by:
- 13 December 2024
Job overview
The Edinburgh Academy is seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic Librarian to join our Junior School team from February 2025. This role is fixed-term until 20th December 2025.
You will support the school’s vision and values (which are ambition, compassion, collaboration, integrity and engagement), place the library at the heart of the school’s learning community and enhance the quality of teaching and learning and support all children on their reading journey and foster a reading for pleasure culture.
This is a full time role but we welcome applications on both a full-time and part-time basis. If you are interested in part-time work, please indicate your preferred hours in your application. Job share arrangements may be considered, depending on the needs of the role and the candidates' preferences.
Interviews will be scheduled in week commencing Monday 6 January 2025.
Conditions of employment
The appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, verification of identity and proof of right to work in the UK.
Child Protection
The Edinburgh Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and at the enhanced PVG level.
Package Description
The school prides itself on its warm and welcoming community, inclusive of all staff. Our teaching staff work alongside the operational teams to ensure the smooth running of the school. We value the contribution of all team members.
Through involvement in the co-curricular programme all those who work with us can bring their passions to work. Developing our talent is important to us. Access to training and professional development is available and encouraged.
Our reward package includes:
- Generous pension (11% employer contribution)
- Access to onsite gym
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Fee discount
- A three-course lunch is provided during term time
Main Responsibilities
- In conjunction with other key members of staff, implement a policy for the library that reflects the educational aims and objectives of the school, and monitor the effectiveness of this policy on a regular basis
- Develop a good working relationship with the Librarian of our Senior School library, sharing resources and areas of expertise
- Plan and oversee the organisation and management of the library for effective use
- Actively promote the library as a resource that is at the heart of the school
- Deliver library sessions to all classes
- Provide advice and guidance on the resources available to maximise learning opportunities
- Select, organise, promote and maintain book and non-book materials to cover the full range of ages and abilities of the school community within the agreed budget
- Ensure the library offers diversity of authors, genres, publishers, subject matter and protagonists within fiction texts so that all pupils feel represented
- Ensure the library provides a suitable and welcoming atmosphere which fosters reading for pleasure
- Guide pupils on the choice of literature to meet their needs and interests
- Promote reading for pleasure throughout the school, including engaging with parents
- Compile reading recommendations and booklists in a n engaging and exciting manner
- Organise and promote special events such as World Book Day or Scottish Book Week
- Run reading clubs at lunchtime and after school as appropriate
- Manage a Primary 6 Junior Librarian team, including all training and support
- Network with other partners, e.g. other local schools, Scottish Book Trust, SLS, SLA, keeping abreast of national and local reading and literacy initiatives
- Maintain personal CPD including extensive reading of children’s fiction
The Ideal Candidate
- Knowledge of safeguarding (training will be provided in line with school policy)
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to relate well to young people
- Self-motivated and able to work without continual direction and supervision
- Knowledge of current children’s literature
- Knowledge of children’s reading and literacy organisations to assist with school’s offer to pupils
- Knowledge of library classification and organisation schemes
- Computer literate
- Creative
- Ability to work with all colleagues within school and externally
- Ability to multitask
About the school/organisation
The Edinburgh Academy is a fully co-educational school. The School consists of a Senior School, Junior School and a Nursery Department. The School is a member of HMC. The Edinburgh Academy moved to full co-education across the whole school in 2008. The Junior and Senior Schools are on separate sites, both of which have spacious grounds and sports facilities including extensive playing fields, an all-weather sports area, and a large Sports Hall and Centre.
About The Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy
Introduction
The Edinburgh Academy is an academically selective, independent, co-educational day school for pupils aged 5-18 years with a reputation for being caring and friendly. It aims to provide co-educational excellence with a first-class all-round education to those of intellectual promise and academic potential, regardless of background, race or creed. The Edinburgh Academy aims to be forward-looking and progressive but also greatly values its long held traditions.
Although the School is not academically exclusive, the ability range of pupils is well above the national average. Great emphasis is placed on the pursuit of co-curricular interests alongside academic studies for all our pupils. The School has a strong reputation for individual attention and excellence in its pastoral care and co-curricular provision.
The School is oversubscribed at all entry points and this creates a competitive pressure on admissions places at the School.
School Background
The Edinburgh Academy is a fully co-educational school. The School consists of a Senior School containing approximately 590 pupils and a Junior School containing approximately 390 pupils, and we have a Nursery department of around 100 pupils. The School is a member of HMC. The Edinburgh Academy moved to full co-education across the whole school in 2008. Previously girls were only admitted in the Sixth Form (S5 and S6).
The Junior and Senior Schools are on separate sites, both of which have spacious grounds and sports facilities including extensive playing fields, an all-weather sports area, and a large Sports Hall and Centre.
The School’s Place in Edinburgh
The School was founded in 1824 and has been regarded as a leading educational establishment within the City of Edinburgh and across Scotland ever since. Original Directors included the leading literary names of their age such as Sir Walter Scott. Robert Louis Stevenson and James Clerk Maxwell were also pupils at the School. More recent Former Pupils (Academicals or ‘Accies’) include: Nicky Campbell - radio and TV broadcaster; Guy Berryman - bass guitarist with Coldplay; Will Whitehorn – past President of Virgin Galactic - Space Tourism Company; Mike Blair - Scottish rugby; Dragon’s Den star, James Ingham.
The Senior School occupies a site in Henderson Row, less than a mile from Princes Street and at the northern limits of the Georgian ‘New Town’, of which it was designed to be a part. The buildings include an iconic school hall and the James Clerk Maxwell Science Centre, which was completed in November 2006. The playing fields are about half a mile from the main buildings – Raeburn Place (8 ½ acres) (shared with the Academicals - Former Pupils), New Field in Inverleith Place (20 acres) and a further five acres at the Junior School and Nursery, also at Inverleith, with a 400 metre grass running track.
An investment programme in facilities of over £15m has in the last 5 years seen a new Junior School library and classroom block, 2 floodlight all weather pitches, a Performing Arts Centre at Senior School and new sports pavilions. A bespoke climbing wall facility was officially opened in 2015. The School has further ambitious plans beyond this current phase of development, which will see a wholescale redevelopment on our Senior School site over the coming decade.
The Edinburgh Academy is a highly regarded school within the local community, across Edinburgh and beyond. Staff and pupils take great pride in this reputation, and the commitment from all is evident in the continuing success and progress of the School.
The Edinburgh Academy is committed to sharing its facilities with the local community and has established a series of projects that provides the use of its estates and premises for the public good.
Further details about the School and its resources can be found on the School website - www.edinburghacademy.org.uk
Classes and Assembly
7ths (S6) and 6ths (S5) classes are organised by tutor groups studying either Highers, Advanced Highers or GCE A-level. Across the Senior School no teaching group consists of more than 24 pupils and many are substantially smaller.
A School Assembly is held at 8.50am each morning, and is attended by the whole school. School Services for the whole school are held on several occasions during the session.
Exam Results
The Edinburgh Academy uses both English and Scottish examination boards. Nearly all subjects now present SQA National 5 and Advanced Higher examinations. Each year, a significant number of our 7ths (S6) have conditional places at very competitively sought universities on the basis of their Advanced Higher/A-level and Higher results.
Yearly academic results can be found on the School website.
Games and Activities
At the Edinburgh Academy, sport offers opportunities at all levels. The PE curriculum is varied, encompassing a wide variety of team games and individual sports. The School runs teams in a large number of major and minor sports and encourages pupils to represent the School at one or more sports at any age group.
In Music, there are about 20 performing groups including orchestras, choirs, wind bands, a big band and several chamber groups.
In Drama, there are usually three or four main productions each year. There is a fully active LAMDA qualification schedule in acting, reading for performance, mime, public speaking and Musical Theatre in place. This occurs at break time and lunchtimes. In addition, the Drama and Music department liaise to produce an annual musical, with potential to increase this.
All pupils currently join the CCF or The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 4ths (S3).
All members of staff are expected to play a full part in supporting the co-curricular life of the School.
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