Archivist

Job Type: Part Time, 2 days per week, Term time.

Location: Oxford

Salary: £15,159

Hours: 15.5 hours per week, 08:15-17:00 over 2 days

Our client was founded in 1480 by William of Waynflete and is one of the country’s leading independent day schools. It is situated in an enviable location at the heart of Oxford beside the River Cherwell.

The school will celebrate its 550th anniversary in 2030. The current generation of MCS staff and pupils wish to ensure that they shape a School that is able to flourish for at least another half millennium, and hopefully many more beyond. There are around 970 pupils, boys 7-18 and Sixth Form Girls, and 300 staff who learn and work on the school’s central Oxford site.

The Role

The Archive at this School is an important part of the modern school. It is the only school archive accredited by the National Archive. The school’s recent inspection report noted that pupils are proud of their school’s history. Materials from the Archive are used in teaching, public events and for a pupil archive club.
This is an exciting time to take up the role of Archivist. The 550th school anniversary in 2030 provides the opportunity to communicate the history of the school through its historic collections and you will be part of planning for this, working closely with the Master, the Director of the Waynflete Office and distinguished external contacts of the school.

Key Responsibilities

•To ensure appropriate current material is kept and catalogued, working closely with the Compliance Officer to ensure archive material is retained in compliance with the School information asset and retention schedules when agreed;

• To review archive policies regularly to ensure they are fit for purpose;

• To catalogue appropriate archival material gifted to the school in line with the collecting policy and thank donors;

• To make the archives available to bona fide readers by producing archival material for consultation, supervising its use and providing advice and answer enquiries from pupils, staff and members of the public;

• To contribute to the activities in celebration of the 550th anniversary, fundraising and alumni relations, including photo research for publications, and displays for annual Old Waynflete and donor events;

• To work with the Bursar and Compliance Officer to develop policies on the retention and cataloguing of modern records since 1987;

Skills and Qualifications

•Hold an Archives and Records Association Accredited Qualification in support of the Schools status as an accredited archive;

• Be interested in the history of Magdalen College School;

• Be interested in people, their stories and an enthusiasm for explaining the archive for the interest of others;

• Need to work on occasional weekends and published school holidays for particular projects and events, including Old Waynfletes Lunch (November) and Commemoration Day (July);

•Be familiar with cataloguing standards and the application of IT to the cataloguing, interpretation and publicising of archival material;

• Be willing to maintain Archive Accreditation standards;

• Be willing to assist school in projects celebrating its history as the 550th school anniversary in 2030 provides the opportunity to communicate the history of the school through its historic collections;

• Be familiar with legislation affecting archives, including data protection.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable School, please click apply to be redirected to their website where you can complete your application.

The School recognises and is committed to ensuring applicants and employees from all sections of the community are treated equally regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marital and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. They welcome applications from all sections of the community.

The School is committed to the safeguarding of pupils, and any offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, the receipt of satisfactory references, the school’s pre-employment medical questionnaire, plus sight of relevant original ID documentation and degree certificate(s). This role will be in regulated activity and will require a children’s barred list check as well as an enhanced DBS check. The enhanced DBS check is due to this role being exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.