School Matron

Typical Salary

£14,000 To £20,000

Typical Hours

38 to 40 variable

evenings / weekends at short notice

How To Become a School Matron

You can get into this job through:

a college course
working towards this role
applying directly

College / University

You could take a college course before applying for a job with a school. Relevant courses include:

Level 2 Award in First Aid Essentials
Level 2 Award in Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Young People
Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid
Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship are not listed for this job.

Routes into this Career

You could start as a house parent or member of the wider pastoral care team. You could then take on-the-job training, for example through the Boarding Schools' Association, and work your way up.

You could apply directly for jobs as a school matron. Employers may view your personality and life experiences as more important than qualifications. You'll usually need experience in working with young people. Some may ask for relevant training and qualifications, including GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of psychology
customer service skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
sensitivity and understanding
the ability to work well with others
knowledge of medicine and dentistry
excellent verbal communication skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day tasks could include:

helping pupils from all countries and cultures settle into school life
keeping pupils healthy and safe
helping supervise at meal times and bedtimes
communicating with parents about their children
taking pupils to medical and dental appointments
organising and attending social activities for pupils
keeping records and writing reports
attending staff meetings
sorting laundry and repairs
monitoring cleaning staff
driving a minibus

Working Environment

You could work at a school.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression

You could start as a house parent or assistant matron, then move to matron and senior matron.

You could also become a housemaster or mistress or head of boarding.

Volunteering Opportunities

Experience working with children will help. This can be in a paid or voluntary role. You could volunteer at your local school or search for opportunities on:

Tips & Information

Further information

You can find more about working as a school matron from the Boarding Schools' Association.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks