Head of Debating
Brighton College
Brighton and Hove
- Expired
- Salary:
- Competitive
- Job type:
- Full Time, Part Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 5 January 2023
Job overview
Brighton College is seeking to appoint a Head of Debating, to start as soon as possible.
Debating at Brighton College
With a highly academic pupil cohort and a prominent profile, debating at Brighton College has gone from strength to strength in recent years. The College has gained an enviable reputation for securing results at some of the most prestigious national competitions at both Junior and Senior level. Recent successes include a third place at the LSE Schools Competition, Silver Final winners in the LSE Junior Competition, and three pupils being invited to trial for the National English Debating team. The successful applicant will help to build on the recent success and help secure the College as one of the top debating schools in the country.
Role Specification
Reporting to the Assistant Head (Co-curriculum) the appointee will, as a minimum, offer around 3-4 hours of debating coaching per week. Weekly debating clubs are currently offered separately to the Sixth Form, Fifth Form (Years 10 and 11) and Fourth Form (Year 9) and the Lower School (Years 7 and 8), and this would continue with the addition of a further specific session for those selected to represent the school in external competitions. The appointee would also take responsibility for running the inter-house debating competitions which run across the different age groups. The number of sessions could be expanded further in the future if sustained growth in pupil interest and involvement can be achieved. Depending on the nature of the appointment there could also be the scope for accompanying pupils participating in competitions on Saturdays and other days as required.
There are a number of ways that this new role could be formulated, and we would be open to considering a variety of possibilities. These might include the appointment of;
- A part-time colleague who might, for example, come in to solely deliver coaching sessions on around two afternoons per week with limited wider involvement beyond debating;
or
- A full-time post-graduate assistant teacher position. This would be suited to a recent graduate without significant experience in education but who could lead our debating activities whilst also making a broader contribution to the College. Aside from the responsibilities above this colleague would be a pastoral tutor in a boarding house, contribute to other areas of the co-curriculum, help to cover for absent colleagues and potentially teach a small number of academic lessons in a subject of their choice. Accommodation would come as standard for this position.
or
- A full or part-time teaching role, where alongside the responsibilities with debating outlined above, they would teach a somewhat reduced timetable of academic lessons in a subject offered by the College. Any subject currently offered would be considered, and if appointed to this role they would make a broader contribution to the College, alongside teaching and debating, as do all teachers at Brighton.
Candidates should indicate the type of role they would like to be considered for as part of their application.
Safeguarding responsibilities:
- This role will involve daily contact with pupils and you will be engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
- All staff and volunteers have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for who you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.
For more information about the role, please see the Applicant Info Pack.
Attached documents
About Brighton College
THE SCHOOL
Brighton College is an inspiring place to work. As the leading co-educational school in the UK it is renowned for its inspirational teaching and innovative education, whilst placing kindness and community at the heart of our approach to education. Named ‘UK School of the Decade’ by The Sunday Times in November 2020, we educate 1,200 pupils between ages 11 and 18.
Established in 1845, the College has grown exponentially in recent years. The Head Master, Richard Cairns, a recent Tatler UK Head of the Year, has been in post since 2006 and under his leadership pupil numbers have doubled. Since 2006, the College moved from 147th in The Sunday Times results table, to 3rd – the best position ever achieved by a co-ed school. The school site in Kemptown has seen the addition of stunning new facilities, sustainably designed by leading international architects, with recent investment well in excess of £100 million. These include the Music School and Sarah Abraham Recital Hall (2015), the Yeoh Building teaching complex (2017), the School of Science and Sport (2020) and the Richard Cairns Building, a stunning new performing arts complex, including a 400-seat theatre (2024). World-class facilities enable us to share a huge variety of opportunities with pupils and allow for innovative and exciting approaches to teaching and learning.
We believe that we are a part of society, not apart from it, and so activism and community involvement are key parts of the curriculum. We have a thriving volunteer programme, driven by pupils, and are proud of our progressive stand on diversity, equality and inclusion. Brighton College also has a family of schools, which includes our three Sussex prep schools – Brighton College Nursery, Pre-Prep & Prep; Handcross Park; and St Christopher’s. Overseas, we have opened schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore.
Our approach to education is regularly celebrated. We’ve been named ‘School of the Year’ twice by The Sunday Times (most recently in 2019); The Week named us ‘Most forward-thinking school in Britain’ for two years running in 2017 and 2018, and ‘Best in the UK for STEM’ in 2020. Our most recent ISI inspection in November 2021 gave us the highest possible grade (‘Excellent’) in both categories; the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements, and the quality of pupils’ personal development.
Most importantly, Brighton is a happy school. Staff and pupils feel fulfilled, and our emphasis on kindness lends itself to a thriving intellectual, sporting and performing arts culture. Our location in the city gives us the best of all worlds: we’re 5 minutes from the sea and the city centre, 10 minutes from the South Downs, and in the heart of the local Kemptown community. We hope that you will want to come and join the fantastic group of professionals who work here.
LIVING AND WORKING IN BRIGHTON
The College enjoys its location in Brighton, one of Britain’s youngest cities and one of the most vibrant and progressive in Europe. A recent national survey identified Brighton as the ‘happiest city in the UK’ and it regularly features within the top cities for quality of life nationally. With an extensive beach and seafront, and proximity to beautiful rural areas including the South Downs National Park, the opportunities for recreation and leisure are varied and numerous. Transport links are also excellent, Brighton being within easy travelling distance of London (50 minutes by train), and 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport. Brighton is also a university city, and the College has good links with both the University of Sussex and Brighton University. Our annual involvement in the Pride parade has strengthened existing links with the local community.
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