Overview
Graduate Assistant Jobs in London Area, United Kingdom at Herne Hill School
Title: Graduate Assistant
Company: Herne Hill School
Location: London Area, United Kingdom
Summary
This full-time position, required from 1 September 2026 for the academic year 2026-27, offers an excellent job opportunity to a recent university graduate who enjoys working with young children aged 2-7, the educational period in which you can have the greatest impact shaping their futures. It is envisaged as a one-year placement but could be extended for a second year (or potentially even longer); it may be particularly suitable to someone considering a career in teaching.
As part of a fun team of colleagues, you will contribute flexibly to teaching and learning in all aspects of school-life. We offer a uniquely friendly and supportive environment, well-resourced facilities and a competitive term-time only salary of £21,610 for the year.
School background
Herne Hill School is a well-established independent Pre-Preparatory and Pre-School in South London. It is the largest stand-alone independent school in the country focusing exclusively for two-year-olds through to Year 2.
Since its foundation in 1976, it has had only one purpose: providing young children with the best possible start for a successful and balanced academic life. There are about 300 pupils on roll, split into the Kindergarten at our new, dedicated and state-of-the art site at 99 Herne Hill, which then feeds into Pre-Reception, Reception, Year 1 and ultimately Year 2 classes at our main site at 127 Herne Hill.
There are approximately 82 staff members (about 29 teachers and peripatetic instructors, 46 teaching assistants and 7 support staff), who are overseen by the Headteacher, Ngaire Telford, and the Director/Proprietor, Dominik Magyar. Everyone works towards fulfilling our common purpose:
“At Herne Hill School, we prepare young children for life …
by providing the finest individual education …
… based on a bedrock of love and care.”
The school’s ethos of Love ∙ Care ∙ Excellence encapsulates our commitment to excellence and our belief that love and care are prerequisites for a top-quality education. The school’s atmosphere lives this philosophy. It is a caring, friendly, fun, supportive and well-resourced environment conducive to optimal learning and development.
Our website and the last ISI inspection report, which can also be found there, provide a good overview of our values, approach to teaching and learning and modus operandi.
Candidates who would like to see more detailed information on the school’s provision and daily life can email our Registrar Catherine Ross at [email protected] to request access to the password-protected Prospective Parent Area on our website.
Job description
Teaching Assistants have historically made huge contributions to raising our teaching and learning standards and to the efficient running of the school. Graduate Assistants (and Gap Year Assistants, whom we also employ annually) have the same professional duties as other Assistants. However, their expected attainment of professional standards is naturally lower, and they tend to be deployed more flexibly to provide extra support where it is needed. This also enables them to gain insight into our various year groups and gain broad exposure to our amazing teachers. They also participate in our wrap-around provision, supporting either the Breakfast Club or the After-School Club/Care offering, or both.
The main duties and responsibilities include:
· Supporting the teacher(s) and wrap-around care leaders by:
o Helping with the preparation and maintenance of an effective and safe learning environment
o Contributing to the preparation of learning activities, supporting their delivery and monitoring their success and pupils‘ response, feeding back information as appropriate
o Contributing to the maintenance of pupil and classroom records and the teacher’s effective communication with parents
· Supporting children and their learning by:
o Establishing fair, respectful, trusting, supportive and constructive relationships with them
o Safeguarding and promoting their welfare through all possible means, including the provision of a safe, secure and trusting environment
o Having high developmental and behavioural expectations of all children and a commitment to help them achieve their full potential, giving them constructive feedback as appropriate
o Motivating and encouraging them to develop their own ideas and creativity and promoting their creativity
o Promoting their self-esteem, independence, positive values, behaviours and attitudes
o Monitoring and assessing their progress and taking appropriate action
Additional duties and responsibilities we expect all of our employees to meet include:
· Understanding and living out the HHS ethos of “love, care and an excellent education“ and its implications for day-to-day interactions with children and adults
· Getting along well with others on the team and demonstrating strong commitment to team culture, always placing overall team success above self
· Taking an active role in developing your own professional skills and expertise and helping the development of others
· Participating in appraisal reviews of yourself and others
· Participating in meetings and school events
· Contributing to the development, image and well-being of the whole school
Two types of Graduate Assistant positions are available, with different hours to support wrap-around care:
· AM Graduate Assistant (including Breakfast Club support): 7.30am – 3.45pm
· PM Graduate Assistant (including After-School Club/Care support): 8.30am – 5.00pm
Candidates may express their preference for either type in the Application Form but this not a requirement. The availability of and preference for either type is usually discussed at interview stage.
The actual annual salary of £21,610 is the same for both the AM and PM Graduate Assistants. It is for the hours indicated above, Term-Time Only (34-35 school/working weeks as well as pay for the 5.6 weeks of statutory holiday entitlement), starting on Tuesday 1 September 2026 through Thursday 8 July 2027. The detailed term dates are published on our website.
The salary includes payment for the lunch and morning breaks, which is not always the case at other schools. It also includes attendance on typically two open mornings per year as well as, occasionally, parent evenings and school events; this is considered to be part of the job. It is paid in monthly instalments – for Graduate Assistants who the entire year, this is over 12 months, from September 2026 through August 2027.
From time to time, there is an opportunity for additional remuneration by working further wrap-around care hours, including supporting the extended after-school care provision until 5.30pm or 6.00pm. Furthermore, there is an additional earning opportunity by working additional weeks as part of our holiday provision for 2-4 year-olds.
Person specification
Successful candidates will:
· Have graduated recently from university and obtained a good result
· Love young children and possess the gift of working with them, finding ways to engage their imagination and innate sense of fun, energy and enthusiasm for learning
· Have experience of working with young children
· Share our commitment to excellence, high standards and expectations as well as our belief that love and care are prerequisites for a top quality education
· Have drive, energy and enthusiasm
· Be flexible, adaptive, innovative and creative
· Have a happy personality with a good sense of humour
· Be a constructive team player who will successfully work with fellow staff members
· Have excellent interpersonal skills with adults and children
· Be organised and efficient
Safeguarding and child protection
· Herne Hill School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share that commitment. The School’s safeguarding policy is available on our website.
· Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children.
· The School will perform all required pre-employment checks on successful candidates, including with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and, where appropriate, a check of the Barred List maintained by the DBS. Any offer of employment will be conditional on obtaining satisfactory results for all checks.
· It is an offence to apply for the role if they are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
How to apply
Please download the application form from our website or other recruiting websites. Once completed, email it to [email protected], addressed to the Headteacher, Mrs Ngaire Telford. Early applications are welcome and encouraged.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
