School Counsellor
Part time (0.6 - 0.8 FTE)
Term time only
Extensive individual support enables pupils to...develop a breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm for scholarship. This is a significant strength of the school.
ISI Inspection - 2025
Leaders maintain a school culture that actively promotes inclusion and mutual respect highly successfully. This is a significant strength of the school.
ISI Inspection - 2025
Co-education: phased entry from 2027
See our brochure for further details
Thank you for your interest in a position at the Royal Grammar School Guildford.
The RGS boasts a diverse, vibrant community of individuals in both teaching and support roles and we take pride in the success of our School.
The latest ISI inspection report identified two significant strengths within our School; "mutual respect" and "scholarship". We are incredibly proud of this achievement. Not only does it recognise the consistently high efforts by staff across the School, but the award of not just one, but two significant strengths by the ISI is extremely rare.
The academic standards in the School are excellent and are enriched by an extensive extra-curricular programme in which all academic staff are expected to participate; sports and the arts are important elements in School life.
We announced in December last year the exciting news that, beginning with Year 12 in 2027, RGS will become co-educational, offering girls the same opportunities that our boys enjoy. Transition will be phased and will progress organically through the year groups. You can read more in our brochure (see opposite).
The benefits of working at the RGS go beyond those listed in the job description. If you accept an offer of employment, you would be joining a staff body that collaborates professionally and socially across all departments.
The RGS is an exciting place in which to be a member of staff; I look forward to receiving an application from you.
Dr Jon Cox, Headmaster
The school is an inclusive and welcoming environment where pupils succeed academically and make the most of the extensive range of opportunities
The school counsellor is a valued member of a wider pastoral team, working closely with the school nurse, Heads of Year and Heads of Section, the Wellbeing Practitioner, the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Learning Support team.
This collaborative approach ensures that students are well supported both pastorally and academically, with clear communication and shared responsibility across the team.
There is a strong, supportive team culture within the pastoral structure, with plenty of opportunity for the counsellor to become involved in the wider life of the school. The role offers the chance to have a significant and meaningful impact on the lives of young people, particularly as the school moves through an exciting period of change in becoming a fully coeducational environment.
The high degree of mutual respect between pupils and teachers is a key feature in [the pupils’] success. ISI Inspection
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Job Title: School Counsellor
Responsible to: Assistant Head Pastoral (DSL)
Responsible for: No direct reports
Job Purpose
Be responsible for developing and maintaining a high-quality counselling service for the whole school that supports the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils.
Play an important role in promoting and supporting positive mental health within the wider school community.
Key Responsibilities
Provide a high-quality counselling service to pupils experiencing a wide variety of emotional problems.
Be responsible for developing and maintaining a high-quality counselling service for the whole school that supports the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils.
Offer pupils independent and confidential counselling and support using a range of therapeutic interventions.
Work with a diverse range of issues including bereavement and loss, transition, eating disorders and self-harm, depression, anger management and erratic behaviour, abuse of any kind, anxiety and fears.
Provide expert input to Personal, Social, Health, Moral, Education (PHSME) lessons.
Provide and promote information on the counselling service, the role of the counsellor and the boundaries of confidentiality to pupils, staff and parents in line with BACP practice.
Take the lead in professional consultations with staff, parent/carers, general practitioners, psychiatrists, mental health workers, social workers, school nurses, home school link workers and educational psychologists.
Perform duties within the codes of practice and ethics recommended by the BACP, UKCP or equivalent organisation.
Promote a caring and supportive environment where such concerns may be explored thereby promoting mental and emotional health.
Be alert to trends and patterns of problems and to be willing toidentify causes and recommend corrective action.
Attend meetings or discussion sessions with parents if asked and as appropriate within agreed confidentiality guidelines.
Contribute to social education and the development of emotional wellbeing within the school through assemblies, PHSME and staff Development Days.
Oversee trainee counsellors who are in gaining experience through the school as and when required.
Play an active role in Safeguarding children adhering to school polices and statutory regulations (Keeping children safe in education) and to promote the safety and wellbeing of pupils through working with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and liaising with external agencies and parents to support pupils.
Liaise with the Heads of Year, Heads of Section, DSL, School Nurse, Wellbeing Practitioner and Head of Learning Support in respect of mental health and counselling issues and to support school staff in their pastoral roles.
Refer appropriate cases and issues that require the involvement of a specialist other than management support or to directly provide this specialist support. To regularly network and build excellent working relationships with other agencies in order to ease the referral process.
Maintain suitable case records in a secure place ensuring GDPR compliance. To report on a regular basis with regards to the use of the service, current trends and solutions.
To maintain BACP registration and to keep up to date with relevant legislation for both counselling and education. In addition to attending INSET days.
To attend regular sessions with a suitably qualified supervisor.
To attend Head of Year, Care List, and Serious Case review meetings and Tutor Meetings where appropriate.
To support students at RGS Prep school on an ad hoc basis where capacity allows.
• A UK recognised counselling, psychiatry or psychotherapy qualification at postgraduate diploma or masters level.
• Postgraduate training or qualification in working with adolescents in a therapeutic caring environment.
• At least 2 years post qualification counselling experience as a practising therapist or counsellor with adolescents in an educational setting.
• A thorough understanding Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sept 2025) and understand the implications for their role.
• A thorough knowledge of all issues linked to confidentiality and ethics.
• A thorough knowledge of child development, mental health issues and general issues that are faced by young people in today’s society and how these can impact on academic progress.
• The ability to build effective relationships with pupils, parents and staff and to have the ability to communicate effectively with young people.
• A high level of initiative and the ability to use professional judgement.
• Knowledge and experience or Children’s Services and referring to multiagency services.
• The highest level of communication skills both oral and written and to be able to communicate with a wide range of people on different levels.
• The ability to analyse data and provide reports, identifying any pattern or trends within the school community.
• The willingness and ability to work with volunteers and unpaid individuals as necessary.
• A highly enthusiastic and positive individual who is able to stay calm in a busy environment.
• A successful approach to collaborative working with other professionals.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft packages including word, excel, PowerPoint and outlook.
• A flexible approach to the tasks within their role.
Essential - a member of the BACP.
Desirable - a member of the UKCP; willingness to conduct or learn to conduct mental health risk assessments of students.
Your career at the RGS begins with a warm welcome and comprehensive induction. You will be introduced to department colleagues, key people within the School and fellow new starters from across the departments.
Opportunities to get involved in wider school activities are many and varied; sporting fixtures, theatre productions and field trips to name just a few. Then there are the social groups set up by and for colleagues which include a running group, book club, theatre trips, football and a wind band. However you choose to get involved, you are guaranteed to find yourself among like-minded individuals.
Assistant
Accountant, joined 2016
What's the best thing about working at the RGS?
A great balance between work and my family life.
What Staff groups are you involved in?
The running club.
System Engineer, joined 2011
What do you love about your department? Team work, Friendly co-workers, Flexibility.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Cooking, Gardening, Watching movies.
Nicola
Teacher of Learning Support, joined 2017
What do you love about your department? That we work as a team and recognise one another's expertise. We look to each other for support and guidance.
What Staff groups are you involved in? Staff/Parent/Student choir.
In addition to joining a successful and sociable staff body you will also receive the following benefits:
Hours of work
Remuneration
Fee reduction
Pension
Private healthcare
Employee Assistance Programme
Commuting Loan
Gym
Dining
Part time (0.6 - 0.8 FTE)
£39,650 FTE
Fee reduction for child(ren) of staff is available (after a qualifying period and subject to success at the entrance examination).
All support staff are automatically enrolled into the company pension scheme. The level of contribution by the individual is 5% the School will contribute 10%.
Private medical cover is available for all staff. This is paid for by the School, but is a taxable benefit so there is an indirect cost to the individual.
A free, confidential counselling & wellbeing support service that can support you, your partner or spouse, and dependent children over 16 still living at home.
Interest-free loans are available for rail season ticket holders.
Use of on-site gym at certain times of the day.
A choice of hot lunches, a delicious salad bar and range of desserts are provided daily in the staff dining room during term time.
The RGS is a kind, inclusive, tolerant community where diverse opportunity, personal development, high achievement and collaborative partnership define who we are.
Our values of inclusivity, scholarship, integrity, respect, courage and collaboration underpin all we do.
Students come to the RGS from around 140 different schools in Surrey and the neighbouring home counties and this number is growing each year. We regularly receive four applications for every place.
The RGS curriculum aims to combine breadth with balance. In the first three years all pupils study a broad range of subjects, choosing options at the end of their third year which sees them sitting ten GCSE subjects including English Language, English Literature, a Modern Foreign Language, Mathematics, three separate sciences and a humanities subject. From the Third Form, a Tutor Period is introduced during which boys study Information Technology, Problem Solving, First Aid, Health Education and Study Skills. It is also during this time that initial careers and higher education guidance is given which then continues throughout the boys’ time at the School.
The RGS boasts a thriving Sixth Form with all students studying four subjects in the Lower Sixth and then continuing with three or four subjects to A Level in the Upper Sixth. This is complemented by a range of General Studies courses which are coeducational, organised jointly with Guildford High School.
All students are encouraged to engage in independent research and activities throughout their time in the School via our Scholarship for all programme. Whilst not curricular, there is an expectation that staff will support this provision as their experience and expertise enables.
All members of the teaching staff help with co- and extra-curricular activities, of which there is an impressively wide range. Music, Art and Drama all flourish with performances, exhibitions and workshops. There is a well-equipped auditorium, a large Art School and a purpose built Music Department. We have a very active clubs and societies programme that takes place before, during and after school each day. All the Third Form take part in our curricular, weekly expedition and adventure programme, EXAD. We have five Field Days per year and also offer overseas expeditions, a large Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme and numerous sports tours. Staff are invited to attend and support all of these events.
Guildford is a vibrant and exciting place in which to live. Rich in history, it is a welcoming town with a flourishing and varied cultural life. Entertainment is diverse with a number of lively and nationally renowned venues including G Live, the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and the eclectic Electric Theatre. There are outstanding sport and leisure facilities which include the state-of-the-art training venues and sports complexes of Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum. Guildford offers one of the south east’s best shopping experiences with the iconic High Street combining exclusive and popular national chains as well as a number of independent retailers. Dining options cater for every taste and budget with local traditional and gastro pubs in nearby Surrey villages drawing customers from a wide area.
Educationally, Guildford is thriving. RGS Guildford and Guildford High School are regularly ranked in the top ten single-sex schools in the country. RGS also enjoys close links with other girls’ schools, Tormead School and St Catherine’s, Bramley. The University of Surrey was awarded ‘University of the Year for Graduate Employment’ by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Guildford has the advantage of being very accessible and enjoys excellent transport links. London is just over a 30-mile drive via the A3 and well served by trains (just 29 minutes to Clapham Junction and 39 minutes to London Waterloo). International airports London Gatwick and London Heathrow are only 30 minutes from the town.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are close by; the Surrey Hills and North Downs are on the School's doorstep and provide opportunities to enjoy the stunning countryside; the south coast is approximately one hour by car.
William Cobbett “
The town of Guildford, which I, who have seen so many, many towns, think is the prettiest, and…most happylooking, that I ever saw in my life.
The setting:
The Surrey Hills
North Downs
South Downs
Picturesque villages
The south coast
Travel by rail:
Clapham Junction 29 minutes
London Waterloo 39 minutes
Portsmouth Harbour 60 minutes
Gatwick Airport 45 minutes
Travel by road:
London 32 miles via the A3; Heathrow 22 miles; Gatwick 34 miles via A3 and M25; Portsmouth 44 miles; Brighton 59 miles
North Downs
The Royal Grammar School Guildford meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check from the DBS before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. It is of fundamental importance to The Royal Grammar School to ensure, so far as possible, that those who take up appointments do not pose a risk to the children in its care.
We are proactively committed to creating a diverse staff body, which reflects the community that we teach. At RGS we value diversity and inclusion; we want to attract the best people for the roles available. This is regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, socioeconomic status or religious beliefs.
Please note: applications will be considered on receipt and we reserve the right to close applications early.
