Chaplaincy Assistant - Dean Close Foundation

The Chaplaincy

At Dean Close the Senior Chaplain is responsible for the spiritual life of all five Schools across the Dean Close Foundation (Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior School on the Cheltenham site, Airthrie School and St John’s on the Hill, Chepstow) and has Chaplaincy Assistants working with them across the Cheltenham Schools.

The Chaplaincy Assistants are embedded in the rhythms of life in our schools, holding responsibility for sports coaching, pastoral care, and pupil-facing ministry with the possibility of gaining teaching experience.

Our aim here is to present the Gospel and encourage young people in their relationship with Jesus in an accessible and relevant way, through our regular Chapel services and assemblies, prayer meetings, Bible Studies, annual school missions, Christian Unions and residentials.

Duties

• Helping to run Bible studies
• Organise opportunities/courses for young people to ask questions of Christianity.
• Assist the Chaplain in the administration and publicity of the Chapel and CU programmes.
• Speak at Chapel, House Assemblies and CU across all schools
• Opportunities to speak at the Prep and Pre-Prep Schools
• Mentoring and tutoring pupils
• Assist with the Confirmation course
• Encourage all pupils in their faith.
• PE & Games coaching: assisting coaching staff with PE and Hockey / Rugby / Netball sessions and matches and supervision of students at away matches.
• Assist the boarding community in the putting on and running of social events for boarders in the evenings and weekends.
• To take a full part in the life of a busy boarding school, which includes regular day, evening, and weekend duties plus school trips.
• Some help with covering lessons during a teacher’s absence and supervision of work rooms

Please see the job description for further details.

The Foundation

Dean Close Foundation is a growing, vibrant and diverse family of independent schools and nurseries, uniting around a shared vision and set of values. These spring from the origins of Dean Close School, which was founded in 1886 in memory of Dean Francis Close, Rector of Cheltenham and educational philanthropist. The Christian ethos of that original school continues today where the aim is that every child should be given the opportunities to flourish, underpinned by its core values of courage, contribution and love which are the guiding principles behind its educational vision. The Foundation currently has five schools and six nurseries within its group, creating a strong community that can share best practice, resources and a secure future.

Dean Close Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.