School Librarian - (Learning Resource Centre Co-ordinator)

Role: LRC Coordinator 

Academy: Outwood Academy Freeston

Start Date: ASAP

Salary (Actual Salary):  £24,872 - £25,691

Working Pattern:  37 Hours Per week, Term Time Plus 5 Days 

Do you have a profound belief in the power of reading and the managerial skills to transform a Learning Resource Centre into the vibrant, intellectual heart of the academy? Can you drive literacy standards, promote research skills, and foster a lifelong love of reading among students? The overall purpose of this post is to manage the effective running of the LRC, ensuring it is an attractive, effective, and accessible resource for use by students, staff and community programmes.

The right candidate will have a passion for books and work closely alongside the English department. The role will focus on supporting students to improve their reading through effective tracking and interventions.

Applicants should have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and have excellent IT skills.

In addition to normal library duties the role also involves assisting with reading interventions and playing an active role in our Accelerated Reader Project.

The successful candidate needs to be extremely well organised, have the ability to prioritise work to ensure that strict deadlines are met. The ability to work on one’s own initiative, as well as part of a team is essential. 

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Organising books and creating engaging displays.
• Timetabling English LRC lessons and supporting classes through book boxes, small group reading and other relevant activities.
• Running reading assessments and monitoring scores. In conjunction with the English department, analysing relevant data and implementing timely reading interventions.
• Promoting a love of reading by organising author visits, competitions and opportunities to promote a love of literature.
• Supporting reading interventions such as 'Reading Buddies' and 'Reading Fluency'.
• Managing LRC stock, book returns and orders.

Welcome from the Principal

I am very excited to introduce you to Outwood Academy Freeston, where you will receive a family-centered, warm, and positive welcome. Our academy is located conveniently in the heart of Normanton, one of the five towns of Wakefield.

As a family, we support and challenge ourselves to be the very best for every young person in our care, preparing them to be excellent citizens with the options to pursue any future they choose.

Our roots are important: we are privileged to be supported by The Normanton Freeston Foundation, which provides financial support to help our academy and students thrive—a legacy dating back to 1594.

We are proud to be part of the Outwood Grange Academies Trust, passionately sharing the belief in raising standards and transforming lives. Our staff is committed to making a positive, sustained difference for our students, their families, and our community.

We look forward to meeting you and sharing our passionate vision. If you share this commitment, please get in touch.

“Recruitment booklets, only use the booklet link which is relevant to the role

• To view the Support Staff recruitment booklet, Click Here

If you would like to visit the school or would like more information on the role, please contact Lisa Habgood, HR Assistant at l.habgood@freeston.outwood.com 

The Coordinator manages the LRC, taking responsibility for the selection, acquisition, cataloguing, and organisation of all resources. A core focus is raising the profile and standards of reading through the supervision and promotion of reading programmes and events. 

The role involves actively supervising pupils, maintaining high-quality working conditions, ensuring optimum use of ICT, and assisting students in developing research skills. They run after-school enrichment and lunchtime activities, develop community links to promote reading, and provide regular reports on the LRC’s needs, performance, and usage.

• To view the Job description  Click Here

Essential experience for this position is working in a library/learning resource environment. Essential skills include the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, maintain confidentiality, and utilize standard ICT packages (Microsoft Office). 

The coordinator must exhibit excellent time management and organisation skills and be able to relate to students sympathetically, recognising potential child safeguarding issues. Experience of working in a school environment is desirable. The candidate must be willing and able to enhance their qualifications.

• To view the Person Specification Click here