Shiplake College is an HMC co-educational boarding and day school offering a holistic education for around 580 pupils from Year 7 to Sixth Form. There has been a co-educational Sixth Form since 1998 and in September 2023 girls joined in Year 7 as we look to the future as a fully co-educational place of learning - as of September 2025 all co-educational year groups (Years 7-9 and Sixth Form) have 40% girls. As well as providing a fantastic learning and living environment for young people, Shiplake offers an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding working environment.
Take Our Fly-Through Drone Tour
Current Vacancies
Thank you for your interest in working at Shiplake College - please see below the current vacancies available!
Thomas Franks Catering - General Assistant
The College's catering company, Thomas Franks Ltd, has a fantastic opportunity for you to join the Thomas Franks team at Shiplake College as a General Assistant.
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: £12.21 per hour
Hours: 32.5 per week
This is a 7-day operation so working pattern would be 5 out of 7. Additional benefit of this location is free on site parking, use of gym in certain staff times, use of swimming pool in certain staff-only times during summer.
You will ideally have previous experience of working within a fast-paced catering environment.
You will enjoy what you do, working with a great team, for a company fanatical about food serving wonderful customers.
Key responsibilities:
- To support the team with serving customers, replenishing stocks, cleaning.
- Prepare all service areas for the days business relating to that meal service.
- Prepare, set-up, serve, clear, clean and store away any food, beverage or equipment required for special functions.
- Prepare basic food for sale/service, following good hygiene and safety practices and to the standard specified.
- Restock and replenish stocks and consumables as required during service periods, pre-empt customer needs and achieve optimum customer service delivery.
- Empty, remove and store rubbish / recycle rubbish in the correct place.
- Be prepared to occasionally work evening and/or weekend for functions and school events.
- Ensuring company food standards are adhered to and wastage controlled.
- Ensuring all Food Hygiene and Health & Safety policies and allergen control procedures are followed.
You will have the following skills:
- Team working abilities, Listening skills, the ability to work on own initiative, impeccable personal presentation, hygiene and behaviour to others, Food hygiene certificate preferred.
- The ability to be adaptable and be flexible as necessary. Reliable, Honest and able to demonstrate an open attentive approach to customer service.
- Willingness to learn new skills and take some responsibility.
- Ability to manage some moderately heavy lifting, carrying, and pushing.
Knowledge / competencies:
- Hold a level 2 food Hygiene qualification.
- Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good understanding and use of verbal English.
- Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good standard of written English and reading skills.
- Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is preferred.
Benefits
- Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
- Free meals on duty
- Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Recommend a friend bonus.
- Unrivalled individual training and development.
- Well established apprenticeship programme.
- Team & company social events.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Workplace pension.
- Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.
About Thomas Franks
Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.
To Apply
Please note this vacancy is not managed through Shiplake College's HR department. Please go to the Thomas Franks website for further details and click on Apply Now.
Thomas Franks Catering - Supervisor
The College's catering company, Thomas Franks Ltd, has a fantastic opportunity for you to join the Thomas Franks team at Shiplake College as a Supervisor.
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: £13.68 per hour
Hours: 40 per week
This is a 7-day operation so working pattern would be 5 out of 7. Additional benefit of this location is free on site parking, use of gym in certain staff times, use of swimming pool in certain staff-only times during summer.
- Shift timings between 0700 - 1900
- Weekends on rotation
You will ideally have previous experience of working within a fast-paced catering environment as a hospitality assistant or supervisor.
You will enjoy what you do, working with a great team, for a company fanatical about food serving wonderful customers.
Key responsibilities:
- To oversee the hospitality operation
- Ensuring company food standards are adhered to and wastage controlled.
- Ensuring all Food Hygiene and Health & Safety policies and allergen control procedures are followed.
- To support the team with serving customers, replenishing stocks, making hot drinks, clearing down (Barista skills essential).
You will have the following skills:
- Excellent customer service skills
- Hospitality experience required
- An all-round team player
- Organised with attention to detail
Knowledge / competencies:
- Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good understanding and use of verbal English.
- Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good standard of written English and reading skills.
- Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is preferred
Benefits
- Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
- Free meals on duty
- Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Recommend a friend bonus.
- Unrivalled individual training and development.
- Well established apprenticeship programme.
- Team & company social events.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Workplace pension.
- Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.
About us
Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.
To Apply
Please note this vacancy is not managed through Shiplake College's HR department. Please go to the Thomas Franks website for further details and click on Apply Now.
Domestic Team Member
20-40 hours per week with both full and part time applications welcome
£12.64 per hour plus benefits
Joining as soon as possible
We’re looking for a dedicated individual whose role is focused on ensuring a safe, well-maintained, and clean environment is sustained throughout Shiplake College. You must be dependable and trustworthy, comfortable working independently as well as being part of a larger team. Whilst prior cleaning experience is not essential, it would be desirable as well as flexibility to occasionally work evenings and weekends.
If this sounds like you and you like sweet treats in the staff room, the idea of dogs around site and a calendar of staff socials then, please, read on.
Working collaboratively with our domestic team your responsibilities could include efficient and prompt cleaning of day and boarding houses, offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, changing rooms and other areas of the College. This could include dusting, sweeping, vacuuming and mopping. You will also work in our onsite laundry on a rota basis washing, drying and organising the return of laundry to the right location across the College.
Domestic Team Member Candidate Pack
Support Staff Application Form
Closing date: Monday 10 November 2025
Interviews: Applications are considered upon receipt
To Apply
To apply for a current vacancy please complete the relevant application form provided and return, with a covering letter addressed to the Headmaster, via email to [email protected].
If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact, Ms Claire Smith, HR Administrator on [email protected] or 01189 405 218.
The College reserves the right to appoint before the application deadline.
If you should have any queries regarding employment at Shiplake College, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Safeguarding
Shiplake College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Shiplake College is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
About Working at Shiplake College
We strive to recruit the best possible teaching and support staff to drive the College forwards and ensure we continue to provide the best possible rounded education for our pupils. Our recruitment selection and disclosures policy can be accessed at the link below.
For all teaching appointments, a willingness to participate in the varied extra-curricular life of a busy boarding and day school is essential. Shiplake has a defined contribution pension scheme (APTIS or alternative option for support staff) and its own salary scale. Accommodation may be available on site and further paid responsibilities may also be available. Excellence in the classroom and an ability to inspire young people are paramount and non-negotiable.
Shiplake College offers a beautiful working environment, supportive colleagues and all staff enjoy a free lunch and evening meal if on duty. In addition, staff are encouraged to make use of the onsite gym facilities, open air swimming (during summer months), and join a variety of staff teams such as football, touch rugby and cricket.
Thinking School
At Shiplake College, we are proud to be a Thinking School, where metacognition forms a core part of our teaching and learning culture. Every lesson includes a metacognitive element, supporting pupils to develop awareness of how they learn as well as what they learn. This approach is firmly rooted in the science of learning, with all staff using consistent visual tools and shared language to help pupils articulate their thinking and learning strategies. New members of staff receive dedicated training in the principles of cognitive science and metacognitive practice as part of their induction, and this professional development continues throughout the year with ongoing guidance, resources, and reflective opportunities. As a result, we work together as a cohesive, thoughtful community, equipping our pupils with the skills to become confident, independent learners.
Learning Research Group
All teaching staff at Shiplake College are expected to contribute to the Learning Research Group within their first two years of joining the College, with Early Career Teachers (ECTs) expected to engage within their first year. The Learning Research Group is built around the model of practitioner research, where teachers undertake research into their own classroom practice with the specific aim of solving problems and improving teaching and learning. Unlike purely theoretical research, practitioner research is directly focused on enhancing professional practice. The process follows a one-year cycle: staff join or lead a research group in the autumn term, complete secondary research in the spring, and carry out and report on their research in the summer term. Findings are then published in an in-house journal at the start of the next academic year, with staff sharing their work through presentations at September INSET. Recent research projects have included topics such as metacognition for SEND learners, the use of AI in the classroom, pupil feedback to improve practice, and the merits of digital versus handwritten learning, among many others. This culture of reflective practice and professional enquiry is central to our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.