Why work for Stafford House?
High Standards
We are a British Council accredited language school with over 27 years’ experience. Our standards and procedures are regularly checked by the British Council, and our student welfare procedures have set the standard for the rest of the industry.
Academic Excellence
We have a tried and tested syllabus and our own course books and materials. We employ dedicated professional teachers who are supported and guided by an experienced academic management team at head office.
Training and Support
All new non-management staff are given a full day's paid induction at the start of their contract. We welcome newly-qualified teachers and provide full support and ongoing training for them in the form of weekly seminars and workshops.
Pay and Conditions
We offer generous loyalty bonuses to all staff who have worked with us in the past two summers.
How long do contracts last?
The majority of contracts are 2-6 weeks long. This can vary according to the centre and there is a possibility for contracts to be extended during the summer.
What qualifications do I need? What if I’m newly qualified?
In order to teach at Stafford House, you must have an accredited TEFL-i qualification, such as the Cambridge CELTA or the Trinity CertTESOL. Other qualifications, such a PGCE in MFL with a TESOL component, or similar, are also accepted.If you are interested in doing a Cambridge CELTA, please visit our sister school in London which offers this both online and face-to-face.
We welcome applications from teachers with little or no experience. Stafford House Summer offers a strong support system for teachers. Each centre has an experienced Director of Studies and at least one senior teacher to help and advise on all aspects of teaching, including lesson planning. Furthermore, they will hold teacher development sessions which will reflect the needs of all of the teachers.
Finally, we have a tried and tested syllabus which you would follow. This means that you would not need to think up or create any lessons; rather you would be spending time on making the lesson relevant to your students and this reduces the need for lengthy lesson planning.
Are there any benefits for returning staff?
Staff who return to Stafford House for their second or subsequent summer are eligible for a loyalty bonus, as we anticipate that returning members of staff will share their knowledge with new colleagues. Staff who worked for us in the previous year complete a brief, fast track application form and there is no formal interview needed.
How/when will I be paid?
Our payroll is monthly and pay in lieu of unspent holidays is paid in your final payroll of the summer.
If you need your wages sooner, we are partnered with Wagestream, which allows employees to access their wages as they're earned. Wagestream only ever provides access to wages that have been earned, so there is no borrowing or interest charged. It is not an advance or a loan.
As an employee, once you have downloaded the Wagestream app you can:
What are the rates of pay and do I get holiday pay?
The rates of pay are on the job descriptions.
All staff are entitled to 12.07% of their gross pay for pay in lieu of any unspent holidays. This is paid at the end of the contract.
What course materials are available?
We have our own in-house materials for each level which focus on speaking, listening, vocabulary and British culture. These are supplemented by activities from published materials, as well as project work. We expect the syllabus to be followed, but there is also the opportunity for you to personalise the lessons according to the students’ needs.
Teachers are welcome to bring their own materials to supplement the existing syllabus; however, this isn't necessary as each centre has its own extensive library of published resource books which you may use.
What documents do I need to bring?
Teachers need to bring their original teaching certificates and degree certificates with them to the centre, and all staff need to bring any other relevant certificates and documents they showed during their video document check (e.g. first aid or degree certificate).
All staff must have their passports (showing valid work permit, if applicable). If no passport is available, alternative proof of right to work in the UK must be provided, as well as alternative photo ID.
All staff with valid DBS checks and/or COGC (with notarised translation) must bring the original copies of these to the centre.
All staff who have applied for a DBS certificate via our portal must also bring the original and exact documents that they showed us via the video call that was used to check your documents.
Not being able to produce any of the above documents on your first day could result in a delayed start or to your unsuitability for the role, so please do ensure that you bring the correct documents with you.
Teachers need to bring their original teaching certificates and degree certificates with them to the centre, and all staff need to bring any other relevant certificates and documents they showed during their video document check (e.g. first aid or degree certificate).
What is a DBS check and a certificate of good conduct and how do I get one?
A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a document that allows employers to identify candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially work that involves children or vulnerable adults. A DBS enhanced check will be sought for every member of staff and we will pay the costs for this.
For staff working in our Scottish centres, it is a mandatory requirement that you become a member of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme. This is very similar to a DBS check, but will assess you against the Scottish police register.
Because of the sensitive nature of the duties that successful applicants will be expected to undertake, all successful applicants will be required to complete a confidential declaration to include details of any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, final warnings and any other information that may have a bearing on their suitability for the post.
If you have been living outside of the UK for more than 3 months in the past 5 years, you must also obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct from the relevant country/countries to supplement your check or membership record. A clear COGC will demonstrate that you have not had any criminal convictions in your locality.
A COGC can be obtained from your local municipal authority (i.e. town hall, embassy or police) where you are registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database.
A COGC from your local authority may be known by another name, such as a Certificate of Clearance or Certificate of No Criminal Conviction.
Please note that we will not be able to progress with your application if you are unable to provide this.
Do I need to be a good sports player and know all the rules of the game?
No, many of our students are more interested in participating in games, arts and crafts, quizzes and drama, than in football or tennis. We are looking for staff who show a willingness to learn, participate enthusiastically and lead responsibly (we supply a manual for the setup and rules of most games) rather than proficient sports players, though we welcome applicants with a recognised coaching certificate, for which an increment is payable.
If I am keen to do further training what support would be available for me?
We are always looking at ways to support our staff and to provide relevant and useful training. If you are an English Teacher or Activity Leader interested in becoming a qualified life saver or first aider Stafford House will reimburse up to 50% of the cost of training if a recognised certificate is obtained, up to a maximum of £75 for first aid courses and £130 for lifeguarding courses. Please note, however, that all courses must be booked in consultation with the recruitment department.
All Student Welfare Officers will undergo first aid training as part of their pre-course training and induction.
In addition to this we also provide weekly training workshops with a practical focus for all staff;in these sessions, you will be offered tips and techniques that will help you to put your skills into practice straightaway!
My friend and I want to be based at the same centre and share a room - is that possible?
Whilst we do not discourage friends or partners from working together at a centre, we are fully committed to ensuring that we resource our centres with an accurate balance of staff and skill set. Vacancies are determined by the number of groups that join us and for each centre this can differ, therefore we cannot guarantee placing staff together.
As rooms are based on single occupancy only; we are unfortunately unable to make provisions for room sharing.
What is included in residential positions?
Single rooms are provided for residential staff at the majority of our centres. Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is provided. Bed linen is provided at each centre but you will need to bring your own towels.
What tax forms do I need to complete?
If you have been living in the UK and have a P45 dated since April of the current year, please send to payroll@catsglobalschools.com.
The P45 information tells Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you have a National Insurance number and provides payroll with a tax code. If you haven’t got a P45 please do not worry, your contract pack will include a form that will be used by HMRC to assess your tax liability – this is a Starter Checklist also referred to as a P46. Once completed your Starter Checklist should be sent to payroll@catsglobalschools.com
If you are arriving to work in the UK for the first time, you will need to apply for a National Insurance number, please see: https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number.
There are companies that offer National Insurance application services but to avoid their costs please following the steps on the gov.uk website.
Other helpful websites:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
https://www.justlanded.com/english/United-Kingdom
Once your employment is concluded and should you decide not to stay in the UK, you should complete a P85 and send it to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) along with parts 2 and 3 of your p45, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/income-tax-leaving-the-uk-getting-your-tax-right-p85
A P45 will be issued to your following the end of your employment. The P85 and P45 allow HMRC to work out your tax liability and the P85 will start the process of claiming back any overpaid taxes that you may be due.
We are not permitted to speak to HMRC about your personal taxes but can provide relevant documentation to evidence your employment income.