School matron Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As a school matron, you would usually work in a boarding school. You would be responsible for the health and well-being of the pupils and the smooth running of the domestic side of school life.

Your day-to-day tasks would usually include:

• helping children settle into school life
• keeping parents informed about their children's health and well-being
• making sure children's clothes are kept clean and are repaired and replaced when necessary
• looking after children with minor illnesses
• taking children to medical and dental appointments and calling for emergency treatment if necessary
• keeping children's records up to date.
• supervising cleaning and domestic staff
• ordering cleaning, domestic and medical supplies
• carrying out inventories of fixtures and fittings and reporting the need for repairs and replacements.

In many schools, the roles of matron and school nurse are combined.

Hours

You would work long hours, including evenings and weekends. You would also be on call for emergencies.

You may only work during term-time, although in some schools your duties could include looking after people attending summer schools or taking part in activities during the school holidays.

You would usually live at the school.

Income

• Assistant matrons can earn around £14,000 a year
• Matrons can earn around £19,000
• Accommodation and meals are provided.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

The qualifications you need will vary depending on the employer. Some schools will expect you to have qualifications and experience in childcare or nursing, others may consider your personality and life experience to be more important.

As a first step you could look for work as an assistant matron and apply for a more senior post as you gain experience.

You will need Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance, as the job involves working with children.

• Criminal Records Bureau

You will usually need a first aid qualification. A driving licence will also be useful.

You may find qualifications such as the following useful, although they are not always essential:

• Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE) Diploma in Childcare and Education
• BTEC National Diploma in Care or Children's Care, Learning and Development
• nursing diploma or degree.

Check the Nursery Nurse and Nurse profiles for details of childcare and nursing qualifications.

Training and development

When you start your job you will receive training which will cover school procedures.

You could also complete the professional certificate course organised by the Boarding Schools Association (BSA) and Roehampton University. Visit Roehampton University website for details.

• Roehampton University

Skills and knowledge

• a warm and sympathetic personality
• tact and good listening skills
• the ability to deal with emergencies calmly
• excellent communication and 'people' skills
• the ability to work in a team
• patience and a sense of humour.

More information

Boarding Schools Association (BSA)
Grosvenor Gardens House
35-37 Grosvenor Gardens
London
SW1W 0BS
Tel: 020 7798 1580
www.boarding.org.uk

Opportunities

You could be employed in boarding schools around the UK. Vacancies are advertised on the Boarding Schools Association website.

• Boarding Schools Association – jobs

As you gain experience, you may be able to progress from assistant matron to matron, and then to senior matron, or to a job as non-teaching head of house.