1. education

April 2015
Dear Candidate,
Graduate Trainee Education Worker (Permanent positions)
My name is Rachel Carr and I am one of the founders of IntoUniversity and its current CEO. We’re an awardwinning charity that provides an education programme addressing underachievement and social exclusion. We
target children and young people most at risk of failing to meet their potential to go to university due to
economic, social, cultural, or linguistic disadvantage. IntoUniversity provides practical learning support and
motivational and confidence-building activities for children and young people aged 7-18. We currently have
eighteen centres across London, Nottingham, Bristol, Leeds, Oxford and Brighton and are planning to open 3
new centres in Bristol, Leeds and Southampton in autumn 2015. We have ambitious future plans to scale-up
our service provision further across the country over the coming years.
At this exciting time in our evolution we are looking for high-calibre recent graduates to join our teams in
London as Graduate Trainee Education Workers delivering our widening participation programme to children
and young people aged 7-18. Graduate Trainee Education Workers will be based at one or more of our
education centres in London and will have responsibility for working with Centre/Team Leaders to plan and
deliver the IntoUniversity programme either in one IntoUniversity centre, or across a Cluster of several
IntoUniversity centres. Salaries start at £20,400 plus a contribution of £600 towards the costs of living and
working in London. In addition to UK bank holidays we offer 25 days’ annual leave (plus a discretionary 3 days
at Christmas), a generous pension scheme and a comprehensive training programme for which we are seeking
accreditation.
You will have a minimum 2.1 honours degree (or a 2.2 degree in addition to a PGCE) and paid or voluntary
experience working with children and young people, be ambitious to progress within our charity, have
excellent written and verbal communication skills, and have passion for the mission of our charity. These are
graduate-entry posts for people who have graduated within the past five years and are seeking to gain a broad
range of experience in the charity and education sectors. We seek to provide future career opportunities for
our employees and there are clear prospects for Education Workers to seek promotion to Senior Education
Worker or Team/Centre Leader.
The role will be fast-paced and challenging. Each day you will be contributing directly to the success of the
charity and transforming the fortunes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. You will need to
have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people including leading a class of 30 from the
front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support. You will have strong
interpersonal and communication skills. Flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to multi-task are all
necessary for your day-to-day routine. You will be proactive and able to use your initiative at all times. You will
have excellent organisational skills, be able to demonstrate exceptional written skills and will be highly
efficient. You will also have a genuine passion for the mission of IntoUniversity.
We welcome all applications and all those that are sent on time will be read and carefully considered. We
particularly welcome applications from male and/or black and minority ethnic candidates as they are currently
under-represented within IntoUniversity.
www.intouniversity.org
We expect a commitment from successful candidates of a minimum of 2 years. After 6 months in post,
following successful completion of the training and probationary period, you will become a fully-fledged
Graduate Education Worker and will receive a pay increase to reflect your new position. After 12 months in
post you will be eligible to apply for promotion to Senior Education Worker which, if successful, results in
additional responsibilities and a pay increase to £23,280 (plus the London contribution of £600). There may be
further opportunities for promotion within this time, for example to Team Leader, as long as you meet the
requirements for the role. At the end of the two year Graduate Scheme we hope you will continue your career
with us – these are permanent posts will lots of opportunity for progression.
And finally, our aim as a charity is to become the pre-eminent provider of widening-participation services in the
UK and we are looking for someone who will be committed to helping us to achieve that goal. You will need to
have a genuine passion for the mission and values of IntoUniversity. If you believe that all young people
deserve the chance to achieve their potential regardless of their background and want to play a part in helping
them succeed then we would be delighted to hear from you.
If you wish to apply for these posts please email your application to [email protected] by 9am on
Monday 18th May 2015. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to a selection day which will take place on
22nd, 23rd or 24th June in London. Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete one or more online
assessments prior to these selection days. This post begins on 10th August 2015. Please do not apply if you are
unable to start on this date.
Thank you very much for your interest in this post and the on-going development of our charity. I very much
look forward to receiving your application.
Dr Rachel Carr
Chief Executive
IntoUniversity
www.intouniversity.org
This job description does not constitute a 'term and condition of employment'. It is provided only as a guide to assist the employee in
the performance of his/her job. IntoUniversity and The ClementJames Centre are evolving organisations and therefore changes to the
employee’s duties may be necessary from time to time. The Job Description is not intended to be inflexible or a finite list of tasks and
may be varied from time to time after consultation/discussion with the post-holder.
IntoUniversity Graduate Trainee Education Workers
PLACE OF WORK: London
START DATE: 10 August 2015. Please do not apply for this post if you are unable to start on this date.
RATE OF PAY: £20,400 per annum plus the London contribution of £600 per annum and employer’s pension
contribution at 5% (following enrolment in the charity’s pension scheme). There will be a pay increase after 6
months (subject to satisfactory performance) and an annual pay review.
HOURS OF WORK: 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday. Some additional weekend and unsocial hours will be
required. Time off in lieu will be awarded in accordance with our policy document.
HOLIDAY: 25 days per annum + 8 Bank Holidays + a discretionary 3 days over Christmas + additional length-ofservice entitlement.
MANAGEMENT: This post holder will be line managed by the IntoUniversity Centre/Team Leader.
TRAINING: There will be an intensive training period starting on 10 August 2015. Please see below for further
details of training.
APPLICATION: By application form only. Closing date: 9am, Monday 18th May. Selection process: 22nd, 23rd or
24th June at IntoUniversity Head Office, 95 Sirdar Road, London W11 4EQ.
We are unable to offer interviews via telephone or Skype. Please do not apply if you are not available on any
of these dates.
Find out here what it’s like to work for IntoUniversity
“With only 5 weeks under my belt I have met so many positive, hardworking and genuine people”
- Becky Kendall (Education Worker, IntoUniversity Brixton)
Watch a video here about our innovative programme of support
“University has always been something I wanted to do, but it’s only really happened because of IntoUniversity”
- Ayisha Adedeji, student on the IU programme
www.intouniversity.org
What will your main duties be?

To work with IntoUniversity Team/Centre Leaders to plan and deliver all parts of the IntoUniversity programme,
including leading a class of 30 secondary students from the front, working with small teams of primary aged children
and providing occasional one-to-one support.

If you join our Cross-Centre team, you will work in one of our Clusters across two IntoUniversity centres delivering
the full IntoUniversity programme. You will also take responsibility, with full support, for specific areas of the
IntoUniversity programme in your Cluster. This might include planning, delivering and training volunteers for the
Buddy programme, leading cross-centre events, or planning the Holiday FOCUS programme.You will also support,
with the oversight and assistance of your line manager and the Volunteer Development Manager, the planning and
delivery of the Business in FOCUS programme across your whole Cluster, and the recruitment of volunteers to all
parts of the IntoUniversity programme across the London network. You will also take responsibility for developing
organisational knowledge and leading programme delivery on alternative education pathways such as
apprenticeships.

If you join an individual centre team, you will deliver the full IntoUniversity programme in your centre. You will also
take responsibility, with full support, for one specific area of the IntoUniversity programme at your centre; either
Primary or Secondary FOCUS or Mentoring. This might include, for example, taking the lead in planning FOCUS
Weeks, training new mentors or liaising with your centre’s Secondary Schools.
Whether you work as a Cross-Centre worker or in an individual centre, you will be an integral part of our dynamic
staff team.

To effectively lead delivery of the IntoUniversity programme to children and young people in different settings,
including schools-based workshops, Academic Support sessions and educational visits. This includes positive
behaviour management and adherence to the IntoUniversity safeguarding policy.

To assist with the organisation and delivery of the Academic Support, FOCUS and Mentoring Programmes

To assist IntoUniversity Team/Centre Leaders in liaising with schools and other partner bodies, in organising the
classroom and resources and in planning project delivery

To update and maintain IntoUniversity displays, publicity and resources

To work with IntoUniversity Team/Centre Leaders to recruit children and young people to the Programme, including
after-school Academic Support and FOCUS Weeks

To develop basic & appealing study packs/worksheets

To ensure compliance with all necessary regulations and legal requirements, including the Children’s Act, Equal
Opportunities, Health & Safety and Working with Vulnerable Groups

To undertake any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of
this post.
Who are we looking for?
The applicant must:

Have completed an undergraduate degree to a 2.1 or higher within the past five years (we will consider candidates
who have achieved a 2.2 within the past 5 years if they have successfully completed a PGCE)

Have achieved a grade C or higher in GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent)

Have some previous experience (voluntary or paid) of working with children or young people

Be self-motivated with a positive and enthusiastic personality and able to work well as part of a small team

Be able to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines, prioritise tasks, carry out effective planning, and
undertake monitoring and evaluation

Be able to motivate and interact effectively with children and young people

Be able to plan, organise and deliver activities for children and young people (with full support), taking into account
their pastoral and academic needs

Be able to acquire and apply knowledge of further and higher education procedures (e.g. UCAS applications) to help
young people make decisions about their futures

Be ambitious to enhance their professional development, and to learn about the charity sector and project delivery

Be able to demonstrate flexibility and commitment to taking a full and active part in the life of IntoUniversity

Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to write reports, plan workshops and prepare
educational materials

Be highly computer literate and conversant with Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.
www.intouniversity.org
Example Education Worker calendar
Office time might include:
Preparing programme resources
Communicating with volunteers
Having meetings with your team
Uploading student data to the database
Writing Head Office paperwork
Speaking to parents on the phone
Going on a pre-visit to a workshop location
www.intouniversity.org
Training and Career Progression
What support will you receive?
Our Graduate Trainee Education Workers are supported from the moment they are appointed. If you are successful, you’ll
embark upon a programme of support from day one. You’ll be invited to meet the team and other successful candidates
ahead of joining us. You’ll also receive an IntoUniversity ‘Buddy’ who will be a point of contact should you have any
questions via email or phone, and who will keep in touch to tell you more about the charity and the role which you will be
settling into when you join us. You will also take part in an intensive training programme.
What will the training programme involve?
As an Education Worker you will be on our graduate-entry training programme. There is an initial, intensive two-month
training programme in London which includes:
 A weekly review meeting for the first six weeks;
 Classroom-based training on topics including the aims and ethos of the IU education programme, details of how
each strand is delivered and child protection.
 Practical workshops, e.g. planning a FOCUS Week and using the database;
 ‘On the job’ training with children and young people - observing, then shadowing and team teaching on every
activity of the programme;
At the end of the intensive training period there is then an on-going training programme over the following 12 months
which includes:
 Phase one and two of Investment in Excellence (total of five days); a course designed by the Pacific Institute
 A further month of Education Worker in-house training on behaviour management, charity governance etc
 In-house whole team training workshops for example on fundraising and budgeting;
 A 3 day in-house Leadership training programme for aspiring Senior Education Workers and Team/Centre
Leaders;
 An annual whole team challenge.
Continuing training opportunities are then provided as appropriate whilst you are in your full time role.
What opportunities are there for career progression within the organisation?
Education Workers begin employment on £20,400 (plus London contribution of £600). There is a six-month probationary
period, on successful completion of this there is an automatic pay rise. There is also an annual pay review.
There are currently several progression routes for Education Workers. After 12 months in post all Education Workers may
apply to take on additional responsibilities and duties and become a Senior Education Worker which results in a pay rise
to £23,280 (plus London contribution of £600). These posts are for staff who wish to continue to develop existing work
with children and young people while developing special areas of expertise within the programme and taking a lead on
them. Promotion to Senior Education Worker is not automatic however there are not a limited number of vacancies and
all Education Workers have the opportunity to apply. These posts are currently internal appointments only and are not
advertised externally.
All Education Workers and Senior Education Workers are entitled to apply to become a Team Leader at any point there is
a vacancy – i.e. you do not have to be a Senior Education Worker before becoming a Team Leader. However, the job
specification for Team Leader requires a minimum of two years’ full-time experience working with children and/or young
people. We have a policy of promoting from within wherever appropriate for the development of the charity.
www.intouniversity.org
Further Information about IntoUniversity
What are the distinctive features of our IntoUniversity model?
 We offer a centre-based service away from school
 We are a ‘home-from-home’ rather than a ‘school-from-school’
 We use a pastoral model
 We maintain a high staff/student ratio
 We have excellent existing educational partnerships at local and national level
 We start working with young people from age 7 and work with them over the long term until university access
 We provide a positive aspirational ethos
 We take a multi-stranded approach
What does IntoUniversity’s programme of support include?
 Primary & Secondary Academic Support: After-school tutored help with homework as well as one-to-one
support with: GSCE, AS Level, A Level and degree options, coursework, revision, exam techniques; UCAS forms,
interview techniques, gap years.
 Secondary FOCUS Workshops: An innovative series of workshops designed to give students a clear
understanding of what a university is and why they should aspire to enter Higher Education.
 Primary FOCUS Workshops, Weeks & Days: Themed weeks and days of out-of-school experiential learning for
Years 5 and 6. Workshops include ‘What is a University?’ and ‘Transition to Secondary School’ FOCUS Days and
Weeks include, WW2, Science and Performing Arts.
 Leadership in FOCUS: Training days to encourage and motivate young people.
 Extending Horizons FOCUS trips: Educational weekends which help to raise aspirations and motivation to achieve
at school and promote the importance of team building.
 Mentoring: We work with top-tier universities, pairing undergraduates with our users. We also run a corporate
mentoring scheme to support students from Year 13 through to their first year at university. The programme
promotes self-worth, social development, responsibility and aspiration.
What do Experts in the Charity Sector think about IntoUniversity?
NPC's research reports dig deep into social issues ... exploring which approaches work and which don't,
what government is doing to tackle the issue and what difference private donations can make.
‘IntoUniversity is a charity that demonstrates excellent optimisation of resources, and is one of the bestrun charities that NPC has come across. There has been impressive growth at IntoUniversity since NPC
wrote the long analysis two years ago, though the fundamentals of the charity’s vision, strategy and
approach remain constant.’
Research Report on IntoUniversity available from NPC’s website www.philanthropycapital.org
The Impetus Trust is a leader in Venture Philanthropy in the UK, and one of our key partners.
‘The Impetus portfolio consists of 14 high-performing charities, with IntoUniversity, which inspires and
engages young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain either a university place or another
chosen aspiration, showing the highest performance in the portfolio this year. IntoUniversity has been
able to grow its average number of children helped by 177% a year, since it obtained Impetus backing.’
Awards
LSE
Voluntary Organisation
of the Year
2013
www.intouniversity.org
Online Information about IntoUniversity
Please visit www.intouniversity.org for further information
Read the IntoUniversity Blog
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook
Watch a video here about our innovative programme of support
University has always been something I wanted to do, but it’s only really happened because of
IntoUniversity.
Watch a video here from our Centre for Social Justice Award
Read here the National Foundation for Education Research evaluation of IntoUniversity
The evidence in this report supports the conclusion that the IntoUniversity programme has a
positive, transformational impact on children and young people in terms of their academic success,
attitudes to learning and social skills; all of which are key elements of helping children and young
people to aspire and achieve.
Read here the Evaluation Report on IntoUniversity by charity analysts NPC
IntoUniversity is ... one of the best-run organisations that NPC has seen: it has an effective model,
impressive management, strong finances, and increasing evidence of its impact.
Click here for media coverage of IntoUniversity
www.intouniversity.org