Job Description
Position: Graduate Resident Houseparent
Hours of Work: Full Time
Contract terms: Permanent
Contract type: Term Time plus 8 weeks
Ideal Start date: 01/01/2026 or sooner
Place of Work: Rookwood School, Weyhill Road, Andover SP10 3AL
Rookwood School is seeking a Graduate Resident Houseparent to join our vibrant boarding community.
This is an exciting opportunity for a recent graduate who is enthusiastic, compassionate, and eager to make a difference in young people’s lives. The successful candidate will live on site and play a central role in supporting the day-to-day running of the boarding house, ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and happiness of our boarders and immersion pupils.
Nestled on a leafy site in Andover, Rookwood School is a happy and thriving learning environment for pupils aged 2 to 18. At the heart of our ethos is strong pastoral care, where every individual is treated with respect and dignity. Our school motto, ‘Sapere Aude,’ translates to ‘dare to know’ or ‘have the courage to understand’, perfectly capturing the essence of our identity. We encourage our pupils to question, explore, and achieve more than they ever thought possible.
Alongside boarding duties, the Graduate Resident Houseparent will have the chance to contribute to the wider life of the School, whether through sport, drama, music, clubs, or academics, depending on their skills and interests. This varied role offers excellent experience for anyone considering a career that involves working with children, while also providing the opportunity to be part of a warm and welcoming community.
Free accommodation is provided all year round, as well as meals during term time. The role will require the successful candidate to work term time plus an additional 8 weeks during the school holidays to ensure that immersion groups are provided with the best possible experience of Rookwood. The exact working schedule, which has a certain degree of flexibility, will be discussed during the interview stage of the recruitment process.
In return we will offer you:
• A professional, hardworking and supportive team of staff with the capability and desire to raise student achievement even further
• Enthusiastic students who are willing to learn and are proud of their learning environment
• Opportunities for further professional development
• Employee assistance provision
• Access to reduced educational fees for qualifying children
• A caring and supportive working environment within a vibrant school community
Applications are invited to be submitted via our online application portal: https://applicant.website/i/65A755/vacancy-info/0000000953
The closing date for application is – 3rd October 2025
The full Job Description can be obtained directly from the vacancies section on our school website - www.rookwoodschool.org/vacancies.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the date advertised. Although the start date is advertised as 1st January, we would welcome the successful candidate to start earlier, if possible.
Rookwood School is totally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, as all new staff will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance, identity checks, right to work in the UK, qualification checks and employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps within employment and two satisfactory references.
All positions which involve working with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).