Minibus Driver

Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale B: £11,183 pro-rata per annum (Actual) (£23,656 full time/full year equivalent)

Part Time: 20 hours per week over 5 days

Working Weeks: 39 weeks

Fixed Term until 31st December 2025

Start Date: September 2025

Thetford Academy is seeking a Minibus Driver to transport pupils and staff to and from a variety of locations, ensuring the safety of passengers and other road users at all times. For this role, you will hold a current, clean UK driving licence which enables you to drive a minibus lite.

This role will primarily involve picking up and dropping off our students who live a further distance from the Academy with fewer transport links but will also involve school trips and any other transportation required.

Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.

The idea candidate will have:

• Full, clean driver’s licence which allows driving of minibus lites.
• Willingness and ability to complete successfully the Norfolk County Council Minibus Driver Assessment and a Driver’s Occupational Health assessment prior to driving any school vehicle. Please note: Any offer of employment is subject to successfully obtaining this qualification and this assessment will be arranged prior to any commencement of driving duty
• Experience of driving a minibus/large vehicle including passengers
• Experience of carrying out vehicle checks and basic maintenance
• Experience of following stringent guidelines to keep oneself and others safe
• Ability to maintain calm and focus when working under pressure

Thetford Academy is a remarkable place to work and is at the academic and cultural heart of the community. Pupils are taught a curriculum to prepare them for challenges they may face whilst building an appreciation and understanding of the world and achieve this by teaching pupils to develop a set of values and habits to allow them to contribute to their community, and beyond.

The school’s vision is that every pupil can succeed, both in their academic results and as an outgoing and positive member of the local, national, and global communities. Thetford Academy achieves this by ensuring that everyone commits to achieving outstanding progress, enjoying, and engaging in their learning, and being prepared to take on challenge without the fear of failure.

We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.

The Inspiration Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, committed to delivering the very best educational experience for the young people of Norfolk and Suffolk, across 17 schools. We are ambitious for our schools and communities and want to create Britain’s highest performing federation of 3-19 schools and transform education in the East. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.

For information on what it is like to live and work in Thetford, click here. Thetford Academy has been rated as Good overall by Ofsted, after an inspection in March 2020. The report says that the school has 'a curriculum that ensures pupils deepen their thinking' and that pupils 'feel valued and cared for.'

When you join Inspiration Trust's thriving network of talented teachers, leaders and support staff, you join an organisation that supports you to be the best you can be. The Trust offers a varied professional development programme for employees.

We are committed to offering excellent professional opportunities for our staff, through careful support and personalised CPD. We offer a structured and specific induction programme.

The Trust also offers:

• Generous holiday entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme giving access to a range of services including claim back costs for Eye Care and prescriptions and access and access to 24/7 virtual GP Service and mental health support (Terms and conditions and restrictions apply).
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Retail Benefits offering discounts with many shops and suppliers
• Corporate membership of the Norwich Theatre Royal
• Salary sacrifice schemes, including home technology, smartphones and healthcare plans, including Dental insurance and Gym membership discounts (Terms and conditions and restrictions apply).
• Free Parking (on most sites)

*Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation

If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Ilona Haye, PA to Principal ([email protected]).

To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.

Closing date for applications: 12pm on Monday 12th May 2025

Interview date: Wednesday 21st May 2025

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.