Summary

We are seeking Minibus Drivers to join our team of drivers to provide support to cover staff absences for transporting our students to/from school. There may be other ad hoc opportunities for supporting events across the school calendar during term-time, which might include driving students to sports fixtures or events.

Detail

An introduction to King’s Ely

Purpose, Ethos and Values

King’s Ely exists to make the most and best of childhood, and in particular to give the very best education, opportunities and pastoral care to as diverse a community of children as we can. In doing so we aim to prepare each one to live positive, productive, successful and fulfilled lives, for the betterment of themselves and the world around them. We achieve this through the operation of a family of schools centred around a 2-19 co-educational day and boarding school in Ely, aiming to draw fully on our exceptional environment, history, physical, cultural, spiritual and human resources in doing so.

History

King’s Ely can trace its origins from at least 970AD, making it one of the oldest schools in Europe. The School was first established to educate the choristers of the worshipping community of Ely and throughout our history we have maintained strong links with Ely Cathedral.

In 1541, King Henry VIII founded a College of Canons at Ely Cathedral to replace the monks whose monastery has been dissolved in 1539 and the School received its Royal Charter, later becoming known as “The King’s School”.

King’s Ely Today

In recent years King’s has expanded rapidly, becoming co-educational in 1970, and today educating around 1100 children aged 2-18 at Ely, including 185 boarders.

The school is divided into three sections: King’s Ely Senior (age 13-18) and King’s Ely Prep (age 7-13), which occupy adjacent campuses and benefit from shared facilities, and King’s Ely Acremont and Nursery (ages 2-6) which have their own self-contained campus about 400m from the main site. Additionally, Fairstead House School in Newmarket (for pupils aged 1-11) joined the King’s Ely family of schools in 2022.

The main campus extends to around 75 acres and contains buildings spanning the thirteenth to twenty-first centuries, including many of the historic monastic buildings adjacent to Ely Cathedral as well as more recent, purpose-built facilities and almost 40 acres of playing fields.

King’s Ely plays a key role in the local community. We are one of Ely’s largest employers and contribute greatly to the local economy, and we also continue to educate the choristers of Ely Cathedral. King’s Ely also offers a number of bursaries to enable pupils from all walks of life to benefit from the education it offers.

In its recent ISI Inspection (March 2025), King’s Ely was found to meet or to exceed all regulatory standards. In addition, the Inspectors judged the School to have a significant strength in the way in which its high quality pastoral care is interwoven with a dynamic enrichment programme. This enables “pupils of all ages to develop their independence, intellectual curiosity, creativity and socialization particularly well”.

The School is rightfully proud of the Inspection. It is testament to the community spirit of King’s Ely and the commitment and respect shown each day by pupils, staff and their families.

King’s Ely is affiliated with the HMC, Society of Heads, IAPS, the Boarding Schools’ Association and the Choir Schools’ Association.

Job Description

The post holder will provide support to cover staff absences transporting our students to and from school covering any one of the routes from/to a number of destinations and some villages along the route (Bar Hill, Bottisham, Bury St Edmunds, Chatteris, Huntingdon, Kentford, Newmarket, Trumpington, Saffron Walden). Other routes/stops might be added in the future.   

The job holder will need to drive up to 17 seat minibuses and hold a D1 category licence.  Applicants should be willing to undergo full D1 training and testing (if they presently hold a D1 with a 101 restriction (not for hire or reward)) to ensure the School’s service can be maintained if legislation changes around charities using Section 19 permits for minibus driving. 

There may be other ad hoc opportunities as requested by the School if the job holder is available/willing. Flexibility, sometimes at short notice, is quite a key part of the position for those who wish to make themselves available for being called to be offered additional work during the school days. 

This description is not exhaustive and may well be subject to change over time. The intention is to offer candidates an accurate impression of the expectations commensurate with the post and an outline of the role as it is envisaged at this time.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Ideally a “clean”/no points full UK driving licence. If you have points, 3 points or less would be acceptable unless linked to any form of dangerous or reckless driving offence

• Understanding of general vehicle function and basic maintenance

• An awareness of Safeguarding/Child Protection (training will be given)

• Basic awareness of Health & Safety (training will be given)

• Must be able to pass a minibus driving assessment as part of the selection process, demonstrating confidence and safe driving of a 17-seat minibus/large vehicle

• Good verbal communication and interpersonal skills

• Able to work flexibly and independently, sometimes at short notice

• Reliable, demonstrating good time management

• Professional, presentable, and able to deal pleasantly with customers (children, parents and colleagues)

• Strong safety awareness concerning road and passenger safety

• Patience and a sense of humour

Desirable:

• First Aid certificate (training can be provided)

• Comfortable using technology (GPS/Sat Nav, internet, smart phones, SMS, email)

• Ideally living locally/within a short commuting distance of Ely (to allow for maximum flexibility)

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• UK full car driving licence with Category D1 or D1(101) held for a minimum of 2 years (or EU licence if it complies with UK Government requirements – see DVLA website)

• Minimum age of 21 years

• Medically fit to drive under DVLA regulations

Desirable:

• Previous experience as a passenger vehicle driver

• PCV Category licence

• Full D1 +E Category UK Licence

• MIDAS certification/training

Remuneration and Hours

• Casual hours
• Start Date: September 2026
• Salary: £14.44 per hour

Terms and Conditions

• Enrolment in the statutory auto-enrolment pension scheme. The employer and employee contribution rates for the auto-enrolment pension scheme are currently: Employee contribution 5% and Employer contribution 3%.
• Members of staff may educate their own children in any of the three parts of the school or at Fairstead House, subject to availability of places and successful admissions procedures. Staff currently enjoy a discretionary discount on fees for children in Reception year onwards, details of which will be provided upon request.
• School lunch provided when at work over lunch time and tea and coffee throughout the day.
• Limited use of school gym facilities (during specific times) and use of the school swimming pool at specific times (during summer school holidays – small fee applies)
• Limited free on-site parking.
• Employees and their dependants have access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to Salary Sacrifice Schemes such as: Cycle2Work, Home and Tech Scheme and Local Gym Membership.
• Members of staff are entitled to 10% discount on all King’s Ely school uniform ordered for their own children from Schoolblazer.
• Discounts at local businesses including Poet's House, The Almonry Kitchen & Tearoom, Ely Grazing Company, Sushi and Salad, Griddle Bar and Meathouse, and The Pantry (Newmarket).

• King’s Ely is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

• If you are selected for interview, you will need to provide and bring with you photographic proof of identity (eg passport or photo driving license), birth certificate, documentation confirming your National Insurance Number or your right to work in the United Kingdom, proof of address (eg recent bank statement/HMRC correspondence/utility bill) and certification of declared qualifications

We appreciate your effort in completing this application and for your interest in working for King’s Ely.

Documents

• Info pack - Casual Minibus Driver May 26 PDF Document