Shape tomorrow's
role models

The Downs Malvern is a fantastic place to work. Check out our current job vacancies and apply online.

Only at The Downs Malvern

Founded in 1900, The Downs Malvern is a busy, vibrant and successful co-educational preparatory school for boarding and day children aged between 2 and 13 years. Our close-knit school community, a part of the Malvern College Family of Schools, celebrates individuality, where pupils can investigate new experiences and discover their passions, developing skills and characteristics that support lifelong learning and set them on the path for continued success. We aim to provide children with a fulfilling education based on exploration, challenge, and success. We can only do this with exceptional people who help develop and role model these skills and values.

All Vacancies

The Downs Malvern is a vibrant and inspiring place to work, explore our teaching and operational vacancies to find the perfect fit for you.

We encourage staff to immerse themselves fully in school life and in return offer generous benefits as well as being part of our fantastic staff working at our extensive, beautiful and safe grounds on the Herefordshire side of the Malvern Hills. Take a look at our teaching and operational vacancies to find the perfect fit for you.

Grounds to Inspire

Together with our senior school, Malvern College, we are a highly respected English boarding and day school and are proud of our reputation for delivering a broad, diverse, yet balanced curriculum. Boys and girls aged 2 to 18 are taught in idyllic locations where we are enveloped by the spectacular Malvern Hills. We are proud to be part of the Malvern College Family of Schools, allowing us to share best practice, celebrate each others’ cultures and recognise a shared global outlook and world-wide opportunities.

Top Tips When You Come for Interview

What to do when you arrive at The Downs Malvern

When you first pull into the car park at The Downs Malvern, you would be forgiven for thinking you’re in a residential village road. Head straight over to our well signposted reception and ring the doorbell, you’ll get a really warm welcome from our Receptionist.

What’s your address and telephone number?

Our address is Brockhill Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6EY and our main telephone number is +44 (0)1684 544 100. Human Resources can be contacted directly on 01684 581 647.

If you’re running late or have changed your mind about coming, please just let us know.

What should I wear?

As we are a school, our pupils all wear a uniform. As staff are Role Models and should look smart too, teachers and administrative staff all dress smartly. Men wear a suit and tie and women ‘office wear’. If you are coming for a cleaning or Estates type role, please don’t feel you need to buy a suit just for the interview. Dress as smartly as you feel able to. If you are offered one of these roles, you’ll be given a uniform to wear.

During the school holidays, we dress more casually, and you’ll often see us in jeans, T-shirts and jumpers. We might dress up a bit for the interview but, if you want to, please dress more casually if you are coming for interview during the holidays.

What can I expect in the interview?

You’ll more than likely have been told who you will be meeting whilst you’re with us.

If you have applied for an operational role, you can expect to meet your potential Line Manager, a member of Human Resources and possibly other team members as well. If you are applying for a role which is pupil facing, you’ll probably meet some pupils. You might also be asked to carry out a task or exercise as part of your interview.

If you’re being interviewed for a teaching role, you will teach a lesson, meet the Head of Department and members of the academic Senior Leadership Team, have lunch with pupils and a tour of the campus.

It’s likely that you’ll be asked about the school and what we stand for so don’t forget to come up with some examples of your experiences for each of them. There might also be a question or two about your experience of being an Explorer or Role Model. Don’t be put off by this, have a think about some examples beforehand. They don’t need to be specifically work related.

Have a couple of questions ready for us too – it’s a two-way process so we want you to find out about the role, the school and your colleagues so that you can decide about whether you want to join us.

When can I expect to hear back?

Sometimes we’ll be able to let you know within 24 hours of your interview and sometimes it will take longer than that. We will endeavour to let you know a timescale during your interview, but you can contact Human Resources if you need to at human.resources@malverncollege.org.uk

I’ve never been to Colwall before. What’s the area like?

The school is on a beautiful 55-acre campus, and our Senior School, Malvern College, is on the other side of the Malvern Hills, about 3 miles away. You can see the Hills from pretty much anywhere on the campus and they look beautiful all year round. They are easily accessible from the school so you can pop up them in your lunch break if you want.

Colwall itself has a population of around 2,400 people (as at the 2021 census). It is a lovely large village with a few, limited, amenities. It does, however, have a train station and is easily accessible. Malvern is just over the Malvern Hills and has shops such as Waitrose and Morrisons. It has a retail park with Boots, Marks & Spencer and other high street names too.

Safeguarding

The Downs Malvern is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Candidates must be prepared to undergo child protection screening and DBS checks as part of their pre-employment enquiries.

You will be required to provide proof of your identity, right to work in the UK and qualifications during the selection process. We will seek references on short-listed candidates that will include questions about past disciplinary actions or allegations in relation to behaviour with children and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications before interview. An online search will also be carried out as part of due diligence on all short-listed candidates.

Policies

PDF
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
PDF
Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy

Got a burning question?

Why do I have to complete an application form?

As a school, we are inspected by the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) and have to comply with KCSIE (Keeping Children Safe in Education). It is a requirement that anyone who applies for a role at the College must complete an application form. We appreciate that this can be onerous and not all employers require this, but we do, to ensure that we are able to keep our pupils safe. You can attach your CV to your application should you wish to.

I'd love to work for The Downs Malvern, but there aren’t any vacancies that I’m interested in at the moment. Can I send you my CV?

If you’d like to send us your CV then you can do so. However, our advice is to look regularly at the vacancies page on our website as this is where you will find the roles that might be of interest to you.

Do you offer internships or work placements

We offer apprenticeships for some roles, and these will be advertised on our website. We employ Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants and GAPs.

We will also occasionally provide placements for PGCE students.

I don't see a closing date/I'm running a bit late. When's the deadline?

The closing date will be clearly noted on the advert. If you are away or are going to miss it, please contact HR to let them know and we may be able to give you a day or so extra, so long as shortlisting hasn’t already taken place when you contact us.

Your adverts state that you may close the vacancy early or invite applicants in for interview before the closing date. What does this mean?

We want the very best people to come to work at The Downs Malvern. If we have a candidate whose application looks strong, we may invite them in for interview and may even offer them the role. Early applications are therefore advised to give yourself the best chance.

I’m not sure the job is for me. Can I ask you a few questions before I apply?

Yes, of course. You can either contact Human Resources or the Head of Department.

Do you offer flexible working?

This depends on the role. We employ a lot of part time staff, some of whom work around school hours or their carer responsibilities and, where we can, we try to accommodate these.

If you are a full time Teacher, lessons during the week generally start at 08.45 and finish at 15.30, followed by Co-curricular activities. Lessons are also on Saturday mornings and hobbies on Saturday afternoons. Part time teachers will have their hours discussed with them, but we can’t guarantee that you will be able to work on a specific day or between specific hours as this will depend on the needs of the timetable.

Operational staff can work from home if their role enables them to do so, but due to the nature of our business, there is a requirement for our colleagues to be on campus more often than not during term time. During the school holidays, we are more flexible.

I've applied for a job with you before and now I have seen something else that takes my fancy. Can I apply again?

Yes, we would welcome your application. However, we may ask you at interview why you have applied for different roles, particularly if they require different skills or qualities.

I saw your advert online but when I clicked the link, it didn't take me anywhere. Why's that?

We hope that this won’t happen but on the rare occasion that it does, please contact Human Resources in this situation and we will investigate it for you.

I’ve received an email telling me I’ve been unsuccessful. Can you tell me why?

We receive a lot of applications for all our vacancies and are unable to provide feedback for everyone. If you have been for interview and would like feedback, just let us know.

I have an urgent question but can't find an answer to it here. What should I do?

Please contact Human Resources at humanresources@malverncollege.org.uk or on +44 (0)1684 581 647.