Head
Eagle House
Bracknell Forest
- Expired
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 3 June 2022
Job overview
Eagle House is a leading independent, co-educational preparatory school for boarders and day pupils aged 3-13 that is proud to offer a rich and varied programme of academics, sport and creative arts from its 32-acre countryside campus in Berkshire. Underpinned by a wholehearted commitment to the wellbeing and development of every child through a strong, supportive community of staff, pupils leave Eagle House as resilient and well-rounded young adults ready to embrace their senior school careers with confidence. Following sixteen years of successful and dedicated leadership, the current Head, Andrew Barnard, has announced his decision to step down at the end of 2022. The Eagle House Council, working in partnership with Wellington College, are now seeking to appoint a forward-thinking and pioneering Head to design and implement a contemporary and compelling educational vision, and assume leadership of Eagle House in 2023.
This is an exciting moment in the school’s history, with Eagle House not only seeking to raise its profile as one of the country’s premier co-educational preparatory schools, but also looking to align its educational ethos and offering more closely with its neighbouring Wellington College. As such, the Head will combine a modern educational outlook with a dynamism and enthusiasm that will motivate both staff and pupils towards this exciting and more collaborative future. Accountable to the Eagle House Council and reporting into the Chair, the Head will bring a deep commitment to academic and pastoral excellence, proven experience of building and leading multi-disciplined teams, and a level of commercial acumen that will ensure the school’s position in a highly competitive marketplace is developed and its profile raised.
This is a rare opportunity to take an already well-established preparatory school through its next phase of growth and innovation, during a time of significant change to the educational landscape. The Head will work in close collaboration with Wellington College to devise a clear strategy for Eagle House’s next phase of development. This person will also have the character and presence to articulate this vision to the surrounding community both regionally and nationally. As a true champion of co-education, with a passion for the benefits of a boarding education, this inspiring leader will understand that good education is not uniquely reflected by exam results and will appreciate the collective value of outstanding pastoral and co-curricular provision working in tandem to secure the school’s bright future and realise its great potential.
Further information on Eagle House School and Wellington College can be found at: www.eaglehouseschool.com and www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk
A candidate brief can be downloaded from www.odgers.com/85988
A CV and covering letter should be submitted by 9.00am on Friday 3 June 2022.
Eagle House School and Wellington College are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
About Eagle House
Eagle House is one of the oldest preparatory schools in the country having been founded in 1820. At that time the school was sited in Hammersmith, from there moving in 1860 to Wimbledon, and finally to its present location in Sandhurst in 1886.
Today Eagle House has 260 pupils in the Prep School, and 120 in the Pre-Prep and Nursery. We are part of the Wellington family of schools.
The school is located in some 30 acres which are adjacent to the 400 acres owned by Wellington College.
The school’s superb grounds and excellent facilities are the background to an experience where success, confidence and happiness are paramount. The school is proud of its academic record, preparing children for a host of top independent schools and boasting a diverse and robust curriculum.
Younger pupils follow the International Primary Curriculum and our older children have embarked on a new Humanities curriculum that links subjects through topics and themes. Great teaching, new technology and a focus on the basics mean that children make good progress and love to be in the classroom. Independent learning is a focus for all children and our Extended Project programme helps drive inquisitive minds.
Eagle House was recently recognised by The Week Magazine as having the best Prep School extra-curricular programme and we unashamedly offer lots as part of our Golden Eagle activities experience. Children benefit from a huge range of opportunities in sport, music, drama, art, outward bound and community programmes. Busy children are happy and fulfilled children and we like to think that all pupils are Learning for Life.
Learning for Life means that children benefit from the best all-round education. They can feel confident in the classroom, on the games field, on stage, in the concert hall and in the community. Everyone is given the chance to stretch themselves in every area. Challenge is an important part of growing up and at Eagle House we learn that success and failure are both positive experiences.
Bright learning environments, outdoor learning areas and wonderful sporting facilities are important but it is the community that shapes a young person. Through the excellent pastoral care and tutor system, coupled with a buddy structure, ensuring children have an older pupil to support them, Eagle House seeks to develop wellbeing from the youngest to the oldest.
Recognising how to be a positive influence within a community is also part of the Eagle House journey. Through our wonderful Learning for Life programme that teaches children about themselves and the wider community, we aim to make all our pupils responsible and independent as well as able to show empathy and understanding towards others. Time for reflection in chapel and assemblies also improves the way we look at the world and mindfulness sessions help us all take stock.
Boarding is a popular option and allows children to experience a varied evening programme of activities as well as being part of a vibrant and caring community. Boarding encourages independence but it is also great fun and whether full, weekly or flexi, boarders have the most wonderful time.
We often say that Eagle House children have the time of their lives and we firmly believe this. Learning for Life at Eagle House opens the doors to all sorts of opportunities and this results in children who are highly motivated and enthusiastic in all they do.
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