Artist in Residence from September 2026

Welcome to OSH

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. A large number of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now fully co-education.

OSH is calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. Parents, pupils and staff are all on the same side and our pupils want to learn before going out into the wider world and making their own contribution to it. 

We have had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. You can see these via our website www.oshsch.com  We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We’re not about league tables, however. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years.

Our extensive extra-curricular programme contributes to our pupils becoming happy, healthy and interested young people, for whom sport, music, art, drama, outdoor pursuits feature in their everyday lives. 

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills to help deliver high quality art activities and an ability to work with a range of age groups;
• Experience of delivering art activities to children;
• Show a commitment to CPD within the field of Art;
• An ability to think on their feet and organise and lead a range of suitable activities;
• Ability to support students in their learning;
• Good planning and organisational skills;
• Conscientious, reliable and enthusiastic;
• Ability to work independently and to be proactive either alone or as part of a team;
• Flexible attitude to work, willingness to work unsociable hours including evenings and weekend work;
• Displays commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.

Job Specification

The Artist in Residence is responsible to the Subject Leader for Art for their role within the Art Department and Deputy Headmaster for their role in Boarding.

Main Music Duties will include:

• To ensure that preparation is undertaken for all lessons and rooms are prepared ready for lessons;
• To act as classroom instructor for KS3 classes, and as and when required by the Subject leader of Art or a member of the SLT;
• To be a classroom assistant to large KS3 groups and assist with individual projects at KS4 and KS5.
• To assist other departments when requested by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
• To run co-curriculum clubs after school organised by the Deputy Headmaster;
• To help prepare teaching materials required for project and examination work, and other materials that may be required from time to time;
• To unpack deliveries and maintain order in the store cupboards and art rooms;
• To assist in maintaining a safe environment in the art rooms.
• To undertake appropriate training with regard to health and safety and any other areas that may be relevant to the role;
• To help record and maintain accurate records of data required for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and risk assessments for the safe use of any equipment or materials;
• To assist staff and students with work, including printing images, photocopying, arranging displays, photographing or scanning work and preparation of materials;
• To be responsible for keeping tidy all art materials, and tidying up after lessons;
• To assist with the organisation and administration of Art Department school trips;
• Any other tasks that may from time-to-time be reasonably required.

The Artist in Residence shall assist the designated Housemaster in the routine operation of the boarding house and be responsible for the good order and discipline of the house at all times when on duty. S/he shall take an interest in the welfare and progress of all the students in the house and support the house as appropriate in house activities, house competitions and the like. S/he shall take responsibility as a pastoral tutor for students in the house. The Artist in Residence shall undertake all duties in accordance with the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. As a Artist in Residence, you are expected to live in your accommodation when the school is in session.  Any individual nights when the Artist in Residence needs to be away from the accommodation it must be agreed in advance with the Deputy Headmaster. 

Main Boarding Duties will include:

• Attend House Assemblies;
• Undertake weekday House duties at least one day per week as part of a weekly rota. This shall include but not be limited to:
• Being on duty in the house in time for the formal start of Prep until the end of duty at 11.00 pm unless otherwise agreed.
• Supervising Breakfast and Supper in the Dining Hall on the House Duty Week as part of the Duty Rota.
• Undertake weekend house duties on at least as part of a termly rota. This shall include but not be limited to:
  • Being on duty in the house from during the allocated sessions.
  • Help cover Outweekend Duties.
  • Offer support to the House team at key points in the school calendar.
• Take an interest in the welfare and progress of all the students in the house and support the house as appropriate in supporting house activities and house competitions;
• Provide duty cover in the house in times of staff absence on a short term basis.
• To run co-curriculum clubs under the direction of the Deputy Headmaster.
• To assist with the weekend activity programme.
• To assist with Boarding House Open Events.
• To assist Matrons, when requested by the Deputy Headmaster.
• With the other Graduates work to ensure there is a programme of enrichment for our boarders that is appropriate and engaging.

Remuneration & Hours

The position is fixed term, full time contract from 1st September 2026 and lasting no longer than to 9th July 2027.

The salary for a full academic year is £13,751 paid in eleven monthly equal instalments. Accommodation is provided free of rent and all charges. Your accommodation will be either a single or shared flat in a boarding house, you are expected to live in during term time and no partners are allowed to stay. You will be entitled to eat all meals in the School Dining Room during term time. 

In line with current regulation, you will, if you are eligible, be offered a workplace pension through NEST.

Equal Opportunities

Old Swinford Services Limited welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to Work with Children

Old Swinford Services Limited is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The School reserves the right to close the job advert early where sufficient applications have been received and so we encourage early applications to ensure consideration for the post.