Mentor & Translator

Mentor & Translator

Vacational Studies Courses have run for 52 years. Most students come to us on recommendation from parents whose children have already been with us or who are the children of children who were with us in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. We are Accredited by the British Council and are members of English UK (formerly ARELS). We have high standards of professionalism and expect the same from staff. Our reputation is of the greatest importance. Parents are confident that their children will have a developmental summer, socially and linguistically.  Our Statement on Vacational Studies' Goals and Values is here.

Additional Activities

Staff accompany excursions and shopping trips on a rota basis. All staff assume the normal pastoral and safeguarding responsibilities that are part of boarding school life.

Duties

All staff have 1 duty day + 2 x ½ day duties each week, or the equivalent. The ‘Duty Day’ is described in the 'Notes for Staff'. There are also two completely free 24-hour days during the Course – any day except a Sunday.

Collection and Return Service

Some staff meet students at Heathrow on the first day and check them in when they return. Some staff will accompany students to Heathrow at the end of the Course and may depart from there.

Dates, Duration and Pay

We offer employment for a period of four weeks. Arrival is 10.00 on 12 July and departure is 15.00 on 9 August. Pay is the required amount for a skilled worker in the UK for the duration of the employment. The exact amount will be confirmed in your ‘Contract of Employment’. For returning staff, there is a 10% addition in the second summer and a 15% addition in a third and subsequent summer. Payment is by bank transfer at the end of the course. If they wish, staff can be paid a 25% advance by bank transfer at the end of the first week, to be deducted from the final balance.

As employment is temporary, if you affirm that the following is correct – “this is my first job IN THE UK since 6 April 2025 and I have not been receiving taxable Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, taxable Incapacity Benefit, State or Occupational Pension” – we are not required to deduct PAYE at source. NI is deducted at the prevailing rate.

You will work 35 hours per week. If you find you are likely to work more than this, please see us and we shall arrange to adjust your hours or offer time-off in lieu or additional salary.

Role and Responsibilities

Mentors & Translators play a vital role in supporting our students both linguistically and pastorally. They ensure students feel safe, supported, and understood during their time on the Course.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting students with both verbal and written language needs in their own language, helping to build their confidence in English.
• Supporting teaching and sports staff by helping deliver instructions in the students own language when necessary.
• Communicating clearly with students in their native language, and translating where appropriate in group or one-to-one settings.
• Liaising with parents as required in their own language to avoid misunderstanding, particularly regarding matters such as behaviour, report writing, and travel arrangements.
• Communicating with non-english speaking Emergency Contacts as required in their own language to avoid misunderstanding.
• Offering emotional and practical support to students, acting as a trusted adult and ensuring their physical, emotional and psychological well-being.
• Making it clear to students that you are a native speaker of their language and that you are available to act as a mediator between them and school management, always with their best interests at heart.

 

Suitability and Qualifications

The ideal applicant will be a native speaker of one of the key languages spoken by our students (e.g. Dutch, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Norwegian, Faroese, Mandarin, etc.) and possess excellent communication skills in English. Experience working with children aged 10–18+ in a residential or educational setting is advantageous.

Applicants should be: approachable and empathetic, calm under pressure, confident working in a multilingual/multicultural environment, keen to participate in the wider life of the Course, committed to student welfare and language learning.

If this appeals, please complete the application form, giving your choice of Course in order of preference. Please also read the ‘Notes for Staff’ which describes responsibilities in more detail.

If your application is of interest, we shall contact your referees and, if satisfactory, invite you for interview. This may take place via Microsoft Teams. Your acceptance of a job offer assumes acceptance of the contents of this page and the contract of employment.

If applying from outside the UK, you will require a skilled worker visa. In order to obtain a skilled worker visa, you must complete a UKVI Academic IELTS test and be sponsored by Vacational Studies.

 

Safer Recruitment

We are committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for everyone. We prioritise and adhere to safer recruitment practices. This involves running an enhanced DBS background check on all staff, checking the ‘barring list’, requesting proof of qualifications (if required for the role), and a minimum of two references per staff member. All staff are required to provide a CV and complete the application form before any employment offer.

Before arrival, staff complete an online Safeguarding/‘Prevent’ course. On arrival, all staff are required to sign a declaration that they are not unfit to be working with children and young people aged 10–18+.

Our Safeguarding Policy can be found here. Safeguarding is a priority for us. Designated Safeguarding Leads will reinforce training and safeguarding values throughout the Course.

All staff must provide a copy of their ‘Right to Work’ in the UK before an offer of employment is made and bring their original documents to be verified on the first day of employment.

In the above ways, we aim to safeguard the well-being of our community and maintain the highest standards of integrity in our recruitment process.