Current Vacancies
We currently have no teaching staff vacancies. Our current support staff opportunities are listed below — click a role to see the full details and how to apply.
Support Staff Head Chef
We are seeking to appoint a Head Chef to join Clayesmore School’s Cafe Bistro (The Writer’s Block). This is an exciting opportunity to join and work within our fantastic bistro restaurant serving food made with local produce to a high standard.
The Writer’s Block is a successful café ready for its next chapter. We’re looking for a Head Chef to help shape its evolution into an all-day café bistro, with wood-fired cooking at the heart of the experience.
The Head Chef will be responsible for leading the kitchen operation for Clayesmore School’s Cafe Bistro (The Writer’s Block), delivering consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, safety and value.
We are looking for a head chef who will be responsible for planning and developing menus, managing food production, purchasing, stock and kitchen costs, and leading, training and motivating the kitchen team. Working closely with the Cafe Bistro and wider School teams, the Head Chef will ensure an excellent food offer for pupils, staff, parents, visitors and guests. The Head Chef may also provide culinary support for weddings, functions and other events held at the School, working in conjunction with the School Catering Team, but will not hold overall responsibility for their planning or delivery.
You’ll lead the kitchen team and turn that vision into menus that work for breakfast and brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. You’ll have room to bring your own ideas, alongside responsibility for food standards, team development, purchasing, stock, costs, allergens and kitchen safety. You’ll work closely with the café bistro and wider School teams, and provide culinary support for School events and functions when needed.
We’d love to hear from an experienced senior chef who enjoys building something with a team. You’ll be a hands-on, calm leader with strong menu and costing skills, a sound grasp of food safety, and the judgement to deliver quality at pace. Experience with wood-fired cooking would be especially welcome, as would an interest in seasonal produce and working with local suppliers where it makes sense.
This is a chance to put your mark on an established café as it grows into a new dining destination for the School community, local residents and visitors.
Application Form Support Staff
Support Staff Restaurant Manager
Restaurant manager – Cafe Bistro & Events
Clayesmore School, The Writers Block
Contract type: 52 Weeks a year
Hours of Work: Full time, 40 hours per week
Contract term: Permanent
Start date: asap
We are seeking to appoint a Restaurant Manager to join Clayesmore School’s Cafe Bistro (The Writer’s Block). This is an exciting opportunity to join and work within our fantastic bistro restaurant serving food made with local produce to a high standard.
The Writer’s Block is a successful café ready for its next chapter. We’re looking for a Restaurant Manager to lead and help shape its evolution into an all-day café bistro, with wood-fired cooking at the heart of the experience.
The Restaurant Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and commercial operation of The Writers Block delivering consistently high standards of hospitality, customer care, presentation and operational control. The postholder will lead and develop the team, manage budgets, stock, suppliers and compliance, and work collaboratively to provide a welcoming service for pupils, staff, parents, guests and the public.
The role also has operational responsibility for the planning and delivery of weddings, functions and other events held at the School, from pre-event preparation through to on-the-day delivery and post-event review.
We’d love to hear from an experienced hospitality or restaurant manager who enjoys building something with a team. You’ll be a hands-on, calm leader with strong communication skills, a sound grasp of food safety, and the judgement to deliver results at pace. Proven supervisory or management experience in a busy cafe, restaurant, hotel, venue or comparable hospitality operation is essential for this role.
This is a chance to put your mark on an established café as it grows into a new dining destination for the School community, local residents and visitors.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the date advertised. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis, as applications are received.
Clayesmore School is totally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and 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, qualification checks and employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps within employment, two satisfactory references and registration with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Support Staff Examination Invigilator
To commence from April 2027
Some of the duties you will undertake are:
Assisting with the setting up of exam locations in accordance with strict procedures.
Ensuring that the examination room is conducive to examination conditions and responding to any emergency that may arise.
Supervising of entry and exit of pupils to the examination room.
Opportunities for reading and scribing.
No previous experience is required and full training will be given.
The ideal candidates will be able to commit to working 2 or 3 days or 4 – 6 sessions per week during the examination period.
Support Staff Catering Assistant
Clayesmore has an exciting opportunity for a Catering Assistant/s to join our team of talented and experienced staff in the heart of Dorset. Clayesmore prides itself in providing a comprehensive, in-house fresh food service to its pupils and staff.
The successful candidate/s will be well presented and a hard-working team player with a good sense of humour. Experience within the catering trade would be an advantage but not essential as full training will be given.
The hours to be worked are 40 hours per week all year round or this could be split into 2 roles whereas each candidate could work 20 hours per week.
Benefits include pension scheme, Death in Service benefits, a free meal and free membership of the Clayesmore Sports Facilities.
Applications will be considered as soon as they are received and so the deadline may close earlier if we find the right candidate, therefore early applications are advised.
Clayesmore School is totally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and 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, qualification checks and employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps within employment, two satisfactory references and registration with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Support Staff Healthcare Assistant (Overnight) and Prep Boarding Matron
Evening & Overnight Roles
Exciting opportunities have arisen for responsible and well organised individuals to be part of our friendly team, working evening and overnight shifts to ensure that the highest standards of pastoral and medical care are in place.
Candidates are welcome to apply for either of the roles below individually, or for the combination of both roles.
Role 1 – Healthcare Assistant (Overnight)
Working two evenings per week including overnight, the hours to be worked are:
- Tuesday 5.30pm until 9.30am on Wednesday morning
- Sunday 4.30pm until 8.30am on Monday morning
- There is provision for the post holder to sleep during the hours of 10.00pm until 6.00am if pupils are not requiring attention.
The successful candidate will be confident working unsupervised and have excellent personal interactive skills with young people, their parents and staff. Preferably qualified in Paediatric and general First Aid (training can be provided if not already qualified) and with previous experience of working with young people, you will work with the team of nursing staff to ensure the smooth running of the Centre.
Role 2 – Prep Boarding House Matron
Working with the team of Houseparents and nursing staff to ensure the smooth running of the Prep Boarding House and the highest standards of pastoral care, the hours to be worked are:
- Monday 5.00pm until 9.00am on Tuesday morning
- Saturday 10.30am until 8.00pm
- Overnight accommodation is provided.
The successful candidate will provide pastoral and first aid support to Prep boarders, including administering medication as required, supporting pupils with medical needs and liaising with parents and nursing staff. The role will also involve supervising pupils, providing evening activities and supporting prep and school transport arrangements, as well as helping to maintain a calm, happy and welcoming boarding environment.
Candidates should be caring, approachable, well organised and flexible, with good interpersonal skills and experience of working with young people. A Paediatric and general First Aid qualification and a driving licence are essential. Experience of working in a school, hospital or care setting would be desirable.
Combined Role
There is also an opportunity for a candidate to undertake both roles, working across the Health & Wellbeing Centre and Prep Boarding House. This would suit someone who enjoys a varied role and would like to work as part of both teams, providing continuity of pastoral and medical care across the school.
Benefits include pension scheme, Death in Service benefits, a free meal and free membership of the Clayesmore Sports Facilities.
Application Form Support Staff
Support Staff · Nursery Early Years Practitioners
We are seeking to appoint Early Years Practitioners to join Clayesmore Nursery. This is an exciting opportunity to join, work in and shape the setup and development of our nursery, creating a nurturing and inspiring environment for young children. Opening in early 2026, the nursery at Clayesmore will extend our excellent offering to our youngest pupils.
If you are able to demonstrate the following, we would welcome your application:
- Level 2 or 3 qualified in Early Years.
- Able to inspire our pupils with enthusiasm and a love of learning.
- A sound knowledge of the requirements of the Early Years curriculum.
- Able to plan and prepare engaging and stimulating activities for pupils of every ability.
- Able to positively impact pupils in every aspect of their education, including pastoral care.
- Able to encourage learning and development through play and teaching.
- Able to work with parents and carers to support their children.
If you are an experienced or newly qualified practitioner ready to take on a rewarding new challenge, we look forward to your application.
How to Apply
To apply, please download and complete the relevant application form below and return it as instructed on the form, along with any supporting documents. You can also find us on LinkedIn.
- Support Staff Application Form
- Teaching Staff Application Form
- Supplementary Form for Teaching Applications
- Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Please also review our Safe Staff Recruitment Policy and our Gender Pay Gap Report.
Clayesmore School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, identity and qualification checks, and satisfactory references.