Development Director More House School

The School

More House School, Frensham is a very special community and an extraordinary school. Consistently Ofsted-graded as Outstanding in its last five whole-school inspections (and again most recently in November 2023), More House is the market leading school for boys who have difficulties with their learning.

The Role

The new role of Development Director reflects our trustees’ commitment to increasing revenue beyond that derived from school fees. We believe our charitable mission, outreach programme, expertise and external validation, inspirational pupil outcomes and market position mean we are well placed to attract philanthropic investment. Supported by our Core Leadership Group and Board of Governors, and reporting directly to the Headmaster, our new Development Director will bring their extensive professional fundraising experience and expertise to design and lead our fundraising strategy, enabling us to raise £2.5m over five years in order to support the realisation of our planned projects.

This is an exciting time; the School is planning its next phase of campus development, ensuring the quality of facilities and pupil-experience for the future, and is exploring potential opportunity for significant expansion, so that many more children and young people can access our unique model of education, especially girls. 

Our projects:

Our on-campus ambitions comprise capital development projects to refurbish and replace some of our older teaching and learning facilities, investing in the future. They include:

·        The Coach House – expanding the school’s medical surgery and providing a dedicated wellbeing and therapeutic counselling suite;

·        St Matthew’s – replacing earlier wooden classrooms with three new science laboratories;

·        Don Bosco – replacing wooden classrooms with modern facilities for the teaching of Mathematics and Computer Science;

·        Sports – construction of an all-weather pitch accompanied by changing rooms and a new roadway.

Beyond our campus, we are currently developing ambitious plans for significant expansion of our provision in order to afford access for many more children with special educational needs, including for girls.

Further details can be accessed here: More House School - Development Director

Terms and Conditions

Salary – within the region of £65,000 - £75,000 per annum (commensurate with experience)

Hours of work – 8.30 am-5.00 pm, full time; attendance at School events outside these hours from time to time, including Founder’s Day (last Saturday of the academic year; 13th July in 2024) 

Diversity statement:

More House School is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences – including people with disabilities and ethnic minority candidates. Our aim is that our employees will be representative of all sections of society and each person feels respected and able to give of their best.

Data Protection Statement:

Information provided by you as part of your application will be used in the recruitment process. Any data about you will be held securely with access restricted to those directly involved in dealing with your application and in the recruitment process. Once this process is completed the data relating to unsuccessful applications will be stored for a maximum of 1 year then confidentially destroyed.

If you are the successful candidate, your application form will be retained and form the basis of your personal record. Information provided by you in the recruitment process will be used to monitor More House School Equal Opportunities in employment. 

Safeguarding: 

This role is deemed to be one of working in regulated activity, meaning that the post-holder may expect to come into unsupervised contact with children and young people frequently in the discharge of their duties on-campus. As such, the expectations of conduct, required of all adults working at More House School, apply to this position, as does a full Safer-Recruitment vetting process of any appointee. A key responsibility of all adults working within the School is that of ensuring the effective safeguarding of all children and young people, through adherence to the School’s policies; full-training is given. 

To Apply:

Please send your CV and a cover letter to HR@morehouseschool.co.uk copied to the Bursar, Sgjohnson@morehouseschool.co.uk with the subject line: Development Director. In your cover letter please answer these 4 questions:  

• Why does this position appeal to you?
• What do you think makes for successful fundraising from Major Donors?
• Give an example of how you have you leveraged organisational support for fundraising?
• What is your salary expectation and notice period?

 Closing date for applications: Tuesday, 14th May 2024, at 5pm.     

Interviews are expected to be held during the week commencing Monday, 20th May 2024. 

The School reserves the right to interview appropriate candidates in advance of the above-named dates, and to appoint. Interested candidates are therefore strongly urged to submit their application as soon as possible.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS clearance and the receipt of satisfactory references before a formal job offer is confirmed.

More House School is firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

NB – if shortlisted you will be required to attend a face-to-face interview at the school at your own expense. There is no relocation package available.