Casual Minibus Driver

Our School is alive with learning, aiming for all students to gain confidence and aspire to make the best progress in a safe, caring and supportive environment. We have high expectations and high levels of achievement, with enjoyment at the heart of our work. We provide high quality experiences through an exciting curriculum and extensive wider opportunities, celebrating everyone’s achievement in all aspects of academic and personal development. Our schools operate under the Trust, with leadership and governance that support every school’s uniqueness.

Oldbury Wells School is seeking to appoint a reliable, flexible driver to join our school transport team. The role involves transporting students to and from school, sports fixtures and school trips. Hours vary and occasional short notice may be required. The ideal candidate will have experience of driving a minibus in a school setting, with responsibilities that include pre- and post-journey vehicle checks, keeping the vehicle clean, refuelling and assisting/supervising students. A full clean UK driving licence with Category D1 entitlement is required, to be evidenced as part of recruitment checks, along with a practical driving assessment and study of the Driving a Minibus manual and Highway Code. A medical to assess fitness to drive will be required to become a registered driver.

Oldbury Wells School is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory DBS check, pre-employment and online checks. We are committed to broadening staff diversity and to gender equality and flexible working. We welcome flexible working and part-time alternatives to full-time posts where possible.

Responsibilities

• To check designated vehicle before use against a predetermined safety checklist and return it to the Senior Caretaker daily, noting any defaults.
• Transport pupils from designated pick-up points to school in the morning and return them in the evening on school days.
• Transport pupils on educational visits, trips and/or sporting events; may include transporting pupils from other Trust schools and non-Trust schools between sites.
• Liaise with parents of pupils regarding day-to-day requirements, referring finance matters to the School Business and Operations Manager.
• Responsible for refuelling, maintenance and cleaning of minibuses.
• Provide paperwork for extra bus runs for billing purposes.
• Carry out other reasonable duties within the post’s responsibilities and capabilities as required by the line manager.
• Comply with school/Trust health and safety policies and undertake risk assessments as appropriate.
• Follow no-smoking policy and report any incidents.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Full, clean UK driving licence with D1 entitlement.
• First Aid qualification (where applicable) and relevant experience, ideally in an educational setting.
• Experience of driving larger vehicles or minibuses and working with children or vulnerable adults.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to relate well to children, staff and parents.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, with initiative, enthusiasm and commitment.
• Flexibility, reliability and punctuality; ability to work independently and responsibly.

Oldbury Wells is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory DBS checks and pre-employment/online checks. We are committed to broadening our staff diversity and to gender equality, and to being a family-friendly employer. We consider requests for flexible working.

Oldbury Wells School is part of the TrustEd Schools Partnership, a family of nine schools. The Trust provides central services and supports headteachers with governance and school improvement. The Trust’s leadership includes the CEO and Deputy Directors, with local governing bodies and delegated powers at each school. Our central services team supports finance, HR and premises, while HR is managed through the Trust as the employer of all staff, including headteachers. Oldbury Wells is the founding school of the Trust, established in Summer 2015, with member schools across the region.