Minibus Driver in Hemel Hempstead

Minibus Driver

Our mission is to develop academically successful, community minded, self-confident and well rounded individuals who are well prepared for their futures.

Westbrook Hay is a thriving co-educational independent day school. Pupils enjoy a broad curriculum, achieve excellent results and have the all-important confidence to succeed.

The school roll is currently at a record high of around 370 pupils and in September 2023 announced that it is growing its Senior Section of the school from Year 8 to Year 11 and will begin offering GCSEs. From September 2026 we welcome our first Year 10 cohort.

Our ethos is to be a welcoming, inclusive community that provides the best for, and expects the best from us all.

The school is well known locally for its warm and welcoming atmosphere. This is something we cherish and, even though we are potentially going to grow slightly in size, we do not want to lose this ethos. We believe our ethos separates us from larger competitor schools in our locality. This ethos is generated by the staff and their relationships with the pupils and parents. It has been regularly described as ‘friendly and professional’.

We are seeking a new Minibus Driver who can assist us with achieving our mission and thrive under this ethos.

Westbrook Hay School, founded in 1892 by Augustus Orlebar in Bedford, has evolved over 130 years, relocating and renaming itself multiple times. Originally a small establishment with just two pupils, it grew under successive leaderships and moved to its current location at Westbrook Hay in 1963. It transitioned from a boarding school for boys to accepting day pupils and girls in the late 1970s.

Located between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, the school’s beautiful location boasts 26 acres of parkland overlooking the Bourne Valley. For example, the school has a purpose-built Pre-Prep and has very recently upgraded many of its specialist facilities. The Performing Arts Centre, added in 2016, offers

impressive provision for dance, drama and music. Our new specialist facilities include two Science Laboratories with a prep room, a refurbished and modernised DT Workshop, a new ICT suite, an extended and upgraded Art Centre, six new changing rooms, and a state-of-the-art Food Technology room. These are in addition to our Sports Hall, Swimming Pool and modern, spacious classrooms.

Under various heads the school has expanded and modernised, while continuing to prepare students for prestigious senior schools such as Bedford, Berkhamsted, Haileybury, Millfield, Stowe and St Albans. The school now moves into a new phase of development becoming an all-through school to 16.

Long Term School Strategy

In September 2023, Westbrook Hay announced that it is growing its Senior Section from Year 8 to Year 11 to begin offering GCSEs.

The decision was made in reaction to the changing local market, from a position of financial strength and due to demand from current and prospective parents.

This process has started extremely well with record numbers of pupils joining into Year 7 and new starters into Year 8. Our First Year 9 cohort are now in place and thriving.

Structure of the School

The school is growing to form three main sections

Prep: for pupils from Year 3 to Year 6, this section of the school is two or three form entry and consists of approximately 175 boys and girls.

Pre-Prep: for pupils from Nursery to Year 2, this section of the school is two form entry and consists of approximately 115 boys and girls.

Seniors: currently just Years 7, 8 and 9 this section of the school consists of approximately 80 boys and girls. Under our long term strategy we will add Years 10 and 11, with the aim of having around 40 pupils in each year group.

Academics at Westbrook Hay

At Westbrook Hay we are dedicated to nurturing each pupil’s uniqueness. This spans from their formative years and continues into their GCSE years where we take pride in providing an environment where wellrounded individuals can flourish and succeed.

Academic life at Westbrook Hay encourages effective, life-long learning habits, through a broad and engaging curriculum. Key to our academic success is the fact that every pupil is well-known in our close-knit community. Classes are small and our teachers ensure that they do all they can to support pupils with their learning on an individual basis.

GCSE Programme

In their time at Westbrook Hay, pupils are given the opportunity to fully explore a wide curriculum, which promotes academic rigour and curiosity. Within our GCSE Programme, our goal is to offer a diverse array of options that allows each pupil to leverage their strengths, while enjoying a broad range of experiences. English, Maths, Science and the Humanities (Geography, History and RS) form the core of our GCSE curri culum, with each pupil encouraged to take a total of nine GCSEs.

While GCSE results are important, we understand that academic success holds different meanings for different people. In a world where external pressures on young minds are prevalent, Westbrook Hay provides a supportive and nurturing atmosphere in which to take GCSEs.

Pre-Senior Baccalaureate

In Years 7 and 8 our pupils undertake their Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB). As a PSB school, Westbrook Hay pupils follow an assessment model that has at its heart the develop ment of the right attitudes, behaviours, skills and values required for children to flourish in an ever-changing world.

The six core skills of collaboration, communication, independence, leadership, reviewing & improving and thinking & learning are developed through termly enrichment days. These new world skills will equip the children for the future. As they develop and eventually go to the workplace, they will be able to think critically and communicate effectively with people from a range of different cultures.

Learning Support

Our flourishing Learning Support Department monitors and puts in place support for pupils who have an identified learning difficulty or specific need. Within the department, pupils will gain on-going and practical support which will vary and change as they grow through their time at the school.

The Head of Learning Support monitors the progress of pupils, ensuring that lessons are appropriately differentiated and that the pupils’ needs are met within the classroom. A continuous cycle of monitoring and feedback means that pupils with a range of learning needs are fully supported and make excellent progress at Westbrook Hay.

Overview of the Role

Westbrook Hay School is seeking a reliable and dedicated Minibus Driver to join our school team from November 2026. The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the safe and punctual transport of pupils to and from school, which fostering a friendly and welcoming environment on board. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a vibrant and nurturing school community that places the happiness, confidence and success of each child at its heart.

Job Description

• Obtain keys and check minibus is in good working condition for the journey.
• Complete driver log before the journey.
• Ensure, on a daily basis, that you have the names, addresses and parent contact details of children travelling on the bus.
• Plan the most effective route for the children on the bus, taking into account likely traffic flows and conditions
• Collect children from the agreed pick up point
• Load children onto the bus and ensure seat belts are worn
• Deliver children to agreed drop off points
• Return the minibus to school, complete driver log and leave the bus in a clean condition replacing the keys in the office.
• Report any problems/issues with the bus or children to the Transport Manager
• Compliance with the School’s safeguarding policy and procedures

Salary £13.71 per hour

Hours
Wednesday 16:00-18:15
Thursday 16:00-18:15
Friday 16:00 - 18:15
(6.75 hours a week, term-time only)

Contract type Permanent

Reporting Manager Head’s PA

The position is subject to a 6 months probationary period.

Person Specification

Skills, Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge and Personal Attributes All staff at Westbrook Hay are expected to embrace and demonstrate in their professional lives the School’s values of courage, independence, integrity, reflective learner, responsibility and togetherness.

Essential: the attributes, skills, qualifications and experience that a candidate must have in order to be considered for the role.

Desirable: those that would strengthen an application but are not strictly necessary.

Advantageous: nice to have, but not a key requirement of the role.

• D1 category licence
• Essential
• Experience in driving minibuses/large vehicles
• Essential
• Local and surrounding areas road knowledge
• Desirable
• Experience within a school environment
• Desirable
• Ability to work on your own initiative
• A flexible approach to the role
• The capacity to remain calm and to cope with the unexpected
• A friendly manner

Salary and Benefits

The salary will be competitive and dependent on experience.

What can we offer you?

• A fantastic team of staff to work with and be a part of
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Enhanced Family Leave
• Cooked lunches and refreshments throughout the day provided
• Membership of the Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities to attend events organised by the Staff Social Committee
• Receipt of a ‘golden ticket’ for assisting with an overnight event, which enables staff to apply for a half day of leave either in the morning or afternoon
• Small class sizes, a beautiful rural location and excellent facilities
• The security and opportunity that comes from working in a school that is part of a charitable group of school (Mill Hill Foundation)
• The appointment is for November 2026, although the school may wait until the following term for the right candidate.

Key Dates

Application Deadline: 9am on Wednesday 30 September 2026 Interviews: To be held W/C 5 October 2026

The Mill Hill Education Group reserves the right to interview candidates ahead of the closing date and applications will be considered as they are received.

The Mill Hill Education Group is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children. As part of our Recruitment Checks, the appointed candidate will be subject to a Social Media and Enhanced DBS Check.

The schools apply for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for all positions at the schools which amount to regulated activity. The role you are applying f or meets the legal definition of regulated activity with children.

If you are successful in your application you will be required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application Form. Employment with the schools is conditional upon the schools being satisfied with the result of the Enhanced DBS Disclosure. Any criminal records information that is disclosed to the schools will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/ or code of practice published by the DBS. It is an offence for person barred from working with children to apply for this post.

The Mill Hill Education Group is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Successful applicants will also be expected to keep up to date with annual safeguarding training, DfE guidance and School specific safeguarding information.

Compliance Requirements

The appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks in accordance with DfES guidance, to satisfactory references, satisfactory clearance from the DBS, proof of identity and qualifications and a satisfactory medical report. Westbrook Hay is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening including checks with current and previous employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.