Frequently Asked Questions

General

Who should I contact about an application I have submitted?
The HR Administration team can be contacted at HR@cheltladiescollege.org or on +44(0)1242 707308. The HR Department is open from 8.00am to 5.00pm on Monday to Friday each week, throughout the year.

Who do I contact about any issues when completing the online application form?
Should you need any help whilst completing your application form, you can use the 'Live Chat' feature provided by Vacancy Filler, our on-line applicant management system provider. Alternatively you can email our provider on support@vacancyfiller.co.uk (please include the advert reference in the subject line). If you wish to speak to the technical support team, please call them +44(0)1509 236434. Assistance is available from 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.

When should I expect to hear about an application I have made?
The closing date, and where possible the recruitment day, are given in the advertisement or vacancy information. Shortlisting typically takes place within 24 hours of the closing date/time and you could expect to hear from us shortly after this has taken place – and contact with those to be invited will often be by phone initially.

What criteria does CLC use to determine suitability for a role?
All candidates are interviewed and assessed against the criteria set out in the job description and person specification, which can be found within the Vacancy Information Booklet for the role

What pre-employment checks are undertaken?
All employment offers are made subject to checks in line with the Independent Schools Inspectorate and National Minimum Boarding Standards legislation. These are as follows: clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service; Overseas Police checks (if applicable); satisfactory Department for Education and Barred List checks (including prohibition from Teaching and Management, if applicable); evidence of the right to work in the UK; satisfactory references; medical clearance.

How long does it take for pre-employment checks to be completed?
This can vary but typically it can take up to 6 weeks to complete these checks. 

Can I start before the checks are completed?
We take compliance and child protection very seriously here at College and therefore, in most circumstances you will not be able to start with us until all checks are completed.

Teaching 

Do you have to have worked in the Independent sector to apply for a role at Cheltenham Ladies’ College?
No - a significant number of our teaching staff have previously worked in the state sector and we genuinely welcome applications from those from all teaching backgrounds. 

Do you consider applications from those who have recently graduated with or without a PGCE?
We do need to ensure that we have the right level of skills and experience across the teachers in all departments, in order to ensure that we can provide the necessary skills to teach and support our girls. However, where there are opportunities we welcome applications from those who have recently graduated, with or without a teaching qualification. In these situations, you will be provided with a comprehensive support, mentoring and training programme. 

Will I be expected work every Saturday in a teaching role?
Generally all teachers are expected to work 6 Saturday mornings across the year, whether full time or part time.  There are some responsibility roles that require more than this, given the nature of the role.

Will I be expected to do some pastoral/boarding house duties in the evening or on weekends?
Unlike many other boarding schools, there is no expectation for teaching staff to undertake any duties in the boarding houses. We have a full team of pastoral staff to manage and work in the Boarding Houses. There are opportunities for teaching staff to undertake roles in the management of both day and boarding houses but this is not a requirement. In these circumstances a reduction in teaching load is given as well as appropriate additional remuneration. Teaching staff are, however, always very welcome to get involved in boarding house life if they wish to.

If I work at CLC, will there be the expectation that I will need to undertake co-curricular activities with the pupils? 
All teaching staff are expected to be involved in at least one co-curricular activity or club and this very much varies according to individual interests.

Can I have more information relating to the timetable? 
At CLC the teaching timetable commitment is typically less than other schools, particularly outside of the independent sector. As a full time teacher you will usually have 18 hours of ‘classroom’ teaching (with slightly more for those teaching Music or PE). Time is allocated for lesson preparation and marking, as well as report writing. A reduction in timetabled lessons, along with additional remuneration, is given if additional roles are undertaken – examples of this might include 2nd in department, tutor, EPQ co-ordinator, timetabler)

What should I expect from the recruitment day?
Changing jobs is an important decision and our recruitment and selection processes are designed to be a two-way process. Recruiting the right people is vital and therefore we ensure that we have in place a robust process. This includes providing all candidates with the opportunity to gain a good understanding of working at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, meeting potential colleagues and students along with getting a good understanding of the role. We do our best to ensure that you enjoy the experience; we will provide you with as much information as possible before the day and are always on hand to answer any questions you have before and on the interview day.