Head
Holmwood House School
Essex
- Expired
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2021
- Apply by:
- 1 February 2021
Job overview
Founded in 1922, Holmwood House School is a leading co-educational preparatory school educating over 300 pupils aged 6 months to 13 years. Situated in over 25 acres of beautiful grounds two miles from the centre of Colchester, Holmwood House aims to develop individuality, instil a lifelong curiosity and ignite wonder in each child. The School is renowned for its strong sense of community, outstanding pastoral care and happy learning environment that is key to each child’s progress and success. To mark the school’s 100th year, Holmwood House plans to extend its provision up from age 13 (Year 8) to age 16 (Year 11), becoming one of very few independent schools in the local area offering GCSE provision.
As part of the Bellevue Education group, Holmwood House benefits from shared best practice and resource, in addition to focused training programmes covering all aspects of education. The school also receives specialist support from Bellevue in the areas of educational training and professional development, finance, human resources and marketing, enabling the Head to focus on the most important aspects of their work: delivering an exceptional education which enables every child to reach their full potential. Bellevue is a group that equips its leaders with the freedom and tools required to thrive in today’s demanding environment.
Bellevue is now seeking to appoint a new Head to succeed Alexander Mitchell from September 2021. Reporting to the Education Director (Gregg Davies), the Head will lead the school’s exciting expansion into 16+ provision and prepare it for its first Year 9 intake. The next Head will lead Holmwood House with vision, inspiration and initiative in creating a climate which enables every member of the school and nursery community to flourish.
This is an outstanding opportunity for someone with proven leadership qualities, imagination and a genuine commitment to delivering an outstanding all-round education for pupils. The Head must continue to ensure the very highest educational standards and guide this already excellent school through the next stage of its development.
Further information about the school may be found on the website at www.holmwood.house and for further information about Bellevue please visit www.blvue.com
A candidate brief can be downloaded from www.odgers.com/81151
CV’s and covering letters should be submitted by the closing date of 9:00am GMT on Monday 1 February 2021.
Holmwood House School and Bellevue Education 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 (DBS).
About Holmwood House School
Holmwood House was founded in 1922 and stands in 34 acres of grounds only 2km from Colchester town centre. Children of all abilities are welcomed and are prepared for the Common Entrance examination and for scholarships to senior independent schools both locally and nationally.
The principal aim of the school is genuine all-round education with high academic standards at its core. Small class sizes, well-qualified staff, superb facilities and high quality leadership ensure pupils at all levels make excellent progress. The Pre-Prep department enjoys spacious and modern accommodation and with the introduction of Forest School, the children benefit even more from the beautiful grounds through a programme of outdoor learning. Specialist teaching starts in Reception (French, music, PE, games, swimming) and this increases by age 6/7 (art, science, sports teams). In the Prep school, specialist teaching in all subjects offers pupils an outstanding range and depth of curriculum. Children are increasingly encouraged to take personal ownership of their learning through creative, collaborative and independent activities in all subjects. Pupils’ progress is carefully monitored and the relationship between parents and school is an important partnership. Excellent Learning Support is available when required and all teachers have a highly developed understanding of learning styles, ability levels and strategies to enhance progress.
Facilities include 20 acres of sports fields; vibrant, well-equipped classrooms; five squash courts; indoor heated swimming pool; state-of-the-art sports hall; seven tennis courts (two covered); floodlit tarmac play area; 2 adventure playgrounds; a permanent stage with sound and lighting systems; superb Art and Design facilities incorporating print and ceramic workshop; separate Music facilities. The majority of pupils study at least one musical instrument. There are four well-equipped science laboratories. The ICT facilities, networked to all classrooms including two ICT suites and iPads, also supports pupils' learning.
The extensive sports programme in which every child takes part from age 7, is delivered through generous scheduled sessions of instruction in afternoons and evenings and weekly matches against other schools are a strong feature of the week. Classes and compulsory games are all timetabled conventionally; as are ‘preps' – supervised homework. An impressive activities programme provides opportunities for pupils to experience a wide range of options; e.g. archery, fencing, kung-fu, design technology, cookery, knitting, jewellery design, athletics, squash, tennis, badminton, dance and much more. Music and drama flourish particularly, ranging from the large-scale productions to the smaller ensembles. Flexi boarding is a popular option open to all pupils from Year 5 upwards and is a great start for those children who plan to go on to a senior boarding school, where they can gain a boarding experience in familiar surroundings with their friends, to develop the necessary confidence. There is a wide range of opportunities and activities for boarders to explore and during boarding time, pupils have use of all of the school's facilities, as well as a large cinema-type TV screen for special sports events and lectures, pool tables, table football, air hockey, safe darts and table tennis.
Pastoral care is excellent and the family atmosphere is palpable. Pupils enjoy exceptionally good relationships with their teachers and the supportive atmosphere encourages them to make the most of their abilities and the abundance of opportunities on offer. Children at Holmwood House are comfortably confident, display excellent manners and have a thirst for learning. The school’s guiding principles of care, courtesy and consideration provide a framework in which children can develop their values, emotional intelligence and sense of citizenship within this and the wider community. Wraparound care is offered as an option for children from Reception to Year 3 from 7.30am, up until 6.00pm, with one member of staff for every 8 children. Pupils in Year 4 upwards also have the option to be dropped off at 7.30am and all Prep pupils have the option to stay until 6.10pm at no extra cost.
Holmwood House Nursery caters for children from 6 months to 4 years. A flexible service is offered so that children can attend either during Holmwood House term only, or for any number of different sessions and options. The Nursery is open for 48 weeks in the year.
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