We are looking for a professional, kind and considerate Minibus Driver (starting in post on 1 September 2026) to drive our students to school in the mornings during term time and make a difference to their day.
Bedales School is a unique educational establishment, set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. Our aim is to create an environment where questioning, divergent thinking and freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged. Central to our success is the sense that each person is a member of our community whose voice is entitled to be heard and treated with respect. Both our staff and students expect of each other the best kind of relationships – co-operative, authentic and trustful.
Experience & Background
The successful candidate will have experience in a comparable role and will be a reliable and capable individual. With a warm and flexible approach, you will be confident interacting with children. Using your own initiative is essential, as well as being able to work as part of a team. You must hold a full, clean driving licence ideally with the D1 category to drive minibuses in the UK.
Duties
You will be responsible for:
- Driving a predetermined route to collect students, in a safe manner in accordance with road traffic legislation, the Highway Code and school policies.
- Ensuring prompt departure in accordance with the minibus schedule to ensure all students arrive on time.
- Recording accurate passenger registers for each journey.
- Ensuring students adhere to all school regulations throughout the journey including remaining seated and that seatbelts are in place and in use.
- Reporting all accidents and near misses to the Health & Safety Manager.
- Fully complying with vehicle security rules.
Please read the job description for the post for more details.
This post is Regulated Activity.
Hours of Work
This post works term time only (33 weeks a year) and you will be required to work Monday to Friday 2.5 hours a day starting at 6.00am, every other week. During term-time, you will also be required to work 3 hours on 12 Saturdays starting at 6.00am. Ad hoc additional hours may be available to cover colleagues or drive students to events and fixtures.
Salary
£3,859 per annum based on the above hours and weeks of work, which is pro-rata of the full time equivalent salary of £28,181 per annum.
Benefits
- Free on-site parking
- Funded Healthcare Cash Plan
- Pension with Royal London
- Salary Extras Benefits Platform
- Life Assurance
- Personal Accident Cover
- Employee Assistance Programme
Pre-Appointment Checks
All candidates will undergo a Safeguarding Suitability Interview and application for an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check and be asked to provide evidence they are eligible to work in the UK, on an on-going basis, at the shortlist stage of the selection process.
- Closing Date: 9.00am, Friday 12 June 2026
- Application reviews: via MS Teams on a rolling basis
- Interview Date: TBC
Please note we may close the vacancy early in light of a large response. Early application is advised as Bedales reserve the right to make an appointment at any stage of the application process.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this post, please read the Job Description which includes full details regarding the post. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines, CVs cannot be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application form.
To find out more about this opportunity, candidates can contact our Facilities and Domestic Operations Manager with their contact details and CV in the first instance by email to: [email protected] or by phone on 01730 711671.
All other enquiries relating to the recruitment process, should be forwarded to [email protected].
Safeguarding Statement:
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Prohibition from Teaching Checks, Prohibition from Management Checks.
The safeguarding responsibilities of the post include:
- Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children;
- fostering a culture of openness, safety, equality and protection;
- providing a safe and welcoming environment where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to;
- playing a key role in prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm;
- When concerned about the welfare of a student, acting in the best interests of the student.
All staff have a key role to play in identifying concerns early and in providing help for children and are expected to act in accordance with the school Safeguarding & Child Protection Policies.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job candidates to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
