Job title: Learning Facilitator
Salary: £19.32 p/hr (SCP 26), paid per workshop at £46.30 for a 2.5 hour session
Hours: Casual
Contract: Casual, usually term-time
Location: Leeds Industrial Museum (2 roles), Leeds Discovery Centre (1 role), Lotherton Hall (1 role), Temple Newsam House (1 role) and Leeds Art Gallery (1 role).
We are seeking six dynamic and skilled educators to join our highly successful casual school delivery team at Leeds Industrial Museum (2 roles), Leeds Discovery Centre (1 role), Lotherton Hall (1 role), Temple Newsam House (1 role) and Leeds Art Gallery (1 role). You will deliver an established programme of curriculum-linked interactive workshops to school groups at one of the above venues. Please state which venue you are applying for at the start of your application.
About the venues
Leeds Industrial Museum (LS12) was a woollen processing mill and houses the wider Leeds industrial collections. One of our most popular KS2 workshops is the fully immersive, ‘in role’ Victorian Schoolroom, where the Facilitator takes on the costumed role of a Victorian school teacher and leads the class through the workshop entirely using first person interpretation. Knowledge of the Industrial Revolution and Victorian periods and a love of acting would be helpful.
Leeds Discovery Centre (LS10) is our accessible museum store where we house around 1 million objects. The KS2 school workshops focus on ancient civilisations (Egypt and Prehistory) and natural science (Rocks and Fossils, Adaptations). Group management skills are useful as every school group has a store tour within the workshop. There is the possibility of workshop delivery in schools (outreach) with this role.
Lotherton Hall (LS25) was the home of the Gascoigne family. The most popular workshop is a KS2 Second World War evacuation role play, where the Facilitator takes on the costumed role of the Housekeeper and leads the class through the workshop in role. Knowledge of early twentieth century history, a love of role play would be helpful, and access to a car would be helpful (there is little public transport to the Lotherton estate).
Temple Newsam House is a Tudor manor house which has been changed by every generation. Key workshops include fairytales for Early Years and KS1, and Dress to Impress for KS2, which is inspired by the portraits and Tudor history of the house, and KS3/4 History workshops. Knowledge of Tudor history would be helpful.
Leeds Art Gallery has a collection of Victorian artworks and a changing contemporary art exhibition programme. Key workshop delivery includes art practice, and this role will have a focus on drawing using artworks as inspiration, so confidence with art is essential.
About you
As the Learning Facilitator, you will be:
- A skilled facilitator able to work with different ages of pupils from school settings.
- Highly organised and be able to juggle the practicalities, differentiation and accessible requirements of a group visit to a museum
- Able to work colleagues from the venue team and the Learning and Access Officer
- Curious, responsive and adaptable to existing and new audience needs and interests.
About the role
As the Learning Facilitators you will deliver the popular KS1-4 school workshops at Leeds Industrial Museum (2 roles), Leeds Discovery Centre (1 role), Lotherton Hall (1 role), Temple Newsam House (1 role), or Leeds Art Gallery. The workshops are high quality, creative, differentiated and accessible, collection and exhibition focused and interactive. You will set up the workshop, meet and greet the school group, lead the group through a child-centred 1.5– 2 hr workshop (teaching to the workshop plan developed by the Learning and Access Officer, whilst being responsive to the children and teacher’s needs), give out evaluation forms to the teachers and students, close down the activity and pack away. You will be qualified to degree-level, or similar vocational qualification, with hands-on teaching or museums experience. We provide full training on workshop content, venue collections, Health and Safety and Safeguarding.
Learning is at the heart of Leeds Museums and Galleries. We welcome, inspire and engage diverse audiences with collections and exhibitions and enable people to build their own interpretations. We are a strong Learning and Access team, who are leaders in the field of museum and gallery learning. We develop innovative ways of celebrating material culture using object and artwork learning and robust, research orientated practices. As a team, we focus on the three C’s: Curiosity, Creativity and Conversation.
For more information about the roles, you can watch this film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYvQRoEdL5o
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive sessional rate and annual leave entitlement
- flexible working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form. Please state which venue you are applying for within your application.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you are interested in the role, please watch this short film to explain a little more about the roles and Leeds Museums and Galleries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYvQRoEdL5o If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact:
Kate Fellows, Head of Learning and Access. Email kate.fellows@leeds.gov.uk, or call 07891276891.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose
Leeds Museums and Galleries is the largest local authority museums service in the country with 1.3 million objects, and over 48,000 schoolchildren per year through our learning programmes. Our reach is local, regional, national and international.
Learning is at the heart of Leeds Museums and Galleries. We welcome, inspire and engage diverse audiences with collections and exhibitions and enable people to build their own interpretations. We are a strong Learning and Access team, who are leaders in the field of museum and gallery learning. We develop innovative ways of celebrating material culture using object and artwork learning and robust, research orientated practices. As a team, we focus on the three C’s: Curiosity, Creativity and Conversation.
The casual Learning Facilitators deliver the popular schools workshops at the busy sites. They deliver high quality, creative, differentiated and accessible, collection and exhibition focused interactive workshops on various topics to pre-booked school groups at a single Leeds Museums and Galleries venue. The postholder will set up the workshop, meet and greet the school group, lead the group through a child-centred 45 minute – 2 hr workshop (teaching to the workshop plan developed by the Learning and Access Officer, whilst being responsive to the children and teacher’s needs), give out evaluation forms to the teachers and students, close down the activity and pack away.
The post is term-time only and only booked based on school demand. The post is funded through the school workshop income.
Responsibilities for Grade:
We expect a Learning Facilitator to ensure, safe, pleasurable, rewarding, high quality school visits to a range of groups and individuals from across age and ability ranges.
To do this, the post holder will:
Audiences:
- Have a good understanding of the National Curriculum for England, and how the workshop / teacher expectations fit with the National Curriculum
- Be a skilled facilitator and actively deliver engaging, differentiated, accessible 45 min-2 hr workshops for schools to the workshop plan developed by the Learning and Access Officer, fulfilling the teaching objectives
- Be responsive and adaptable to pupil needs and interests
Access:
- Working alongside the Learning and Access Officer, ensure accessibility and inclusivity within our spaces and workshops (including intellectual, physical and sensory, attitudinal and emotional, cultural and financial access)
Management:
- Set up and clear away the workshop resources and the workshop space (tables, chairs, art materials, museum objects) as required for the workshop
- To meet and greet the school group, and sign them into the building (for safety and performance data)
- Comply with venue risk assessments to ensure the safety of the young people and adults participating in the workshops and convey H&S information to the school group
- Manage the learning environment (classroom and resource management) for a safe and high quality experience
- Capture performance / evaluative information through evaluation forms to pupils and teachers, or through other mechanisms as appropriate, and give completed evaluation forms to the Learning and Access Officer at the end of each workshop
- Feedback developmental comments or changes regarding the workshop to the Learning and Access Officer
- Deliver accurate and timely time sheets for casual payments
Relationships:
- Liaise with the Learning and Access Officer, site management team and with regards to bookings and availability
Personal development:
- Attend training relating to H&S, safeguarding, the venue, object and collection handling, and the delivery of school workshops
- Be curious. Be open to new experiences, working creatively and being reflective. Be passionate about the power of object learning, and innovative in its uses with audiences. Be resilient and proactive.
- Develop excellence in object learning through programmes, projects, action research and training
Leeds City Council:
- Promote an outward looking, positive image of the service at all times
- It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep people safe. Promote, adhere to and apply consistently, the Leeds Safeguarding Boards and Leeds City Council Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity and Health and Safety policies and procedures with colleagues, partners and members of the public. Be responsible for your own H&S at work
- Champion Leeds as a Child and Age Friendly City
- Leeds wants to have a strong economy and to be a compassionate city. Promote and adhere to the Leeds City Council values of: working as a team; being open, honest and trusted; working with communities; treating people fairly and spending money wisely
- To undertake any other duties as commensurate with the grade
Qualifications:
Educated to degree level or professional vocational qualification within a relevant subject/area, or equivalent teaching experience
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form (A), Test (T), Interview (I) or Certificate (C).
Skills Required
Communication:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal; A, T, I)
Interpersonal:
- Track record of facilitating a range of learning audiences, individually and in groups (differentiation and accessibility) using object or artwork based learning (A,I)
- Maintenance of excellent working relationships with colleagues and partners (eg, teachers and school staff; A,I)
Time management:
- Track record of delivering work programmes (eg. workshops, learning programmes or projects) to specific deadlines (A,I)
Teamwork:
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team (A,I)
- Ability to manage, motivate and develop teams and individuals (A,I)
Digital:
- Track record of using Microsoft Office, Outlook (A,I)
Knowledge Required
Audiences:
- Working knowledge of the primary National Curriculum for England (A,I)
Experience Required
Audiences:
- Experience of delivering learning activities to a range of audiences, or teaching, within in a heritage or education context (A,i)
Relationships:
- Experience of maintaining relationships and direct contact with customers / stakeholders (eg. teachers, pupils, schools; A,I)
Management:
Experience of managing a learning environment (eg. workshop setting; A,I)
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
Personal development:
- Commitment to own CPD and personal development (A/I)
- Willing to work creatively and innovatively, and open to new ideas (A/I)
- Passionate about the power of learning using museum collections (A/I)
- Self-motivated, independent learner, with the ability to use own initiative (A/I/T)
- Demonstrate a strong interest in the work of Leeds Museums and Galleries (A/I)
- Flexible approach to working hours (A, I)
Leeds City Council:
- Willing to abide by the Council’s Equality and Diversity policy in the duties of the post, and as an employee of the Council (A/I)
- Willing to carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health and Safety Policies (A/I)
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Knowledge required
Audiences
- Knowledge of current theory, policy and practice in museum / gallery learning, and of best practice in object based learning (A,I)
- Knowledge of learning styles and theories in a museum / gallery learning (A,I)
Access:
- Understanding of what accessibility means in a museum / gallery environment (A,I)
