Housemistress

Gordonstoun has been leading the way in character education for more than 80 years.  Our uniquely broad curriculum provides challenge in the classroom, on the sea and on the mountain, on the stage and on the sports field and enables students to discover the truth in our motto – Plus Est En Vous – there is more in you.  Situated on the stunning Moray Firth with its sunny microclimate, the school offers a superb quality of life for staff and their families.   

Required from 1 September 2018 An experienced person  with a background and qualifications in boarding and/or in pastoral care is required as Housemistress for Hopeman House; a girls’ boarding house of around 60 girls between the ages of 13 and 18.  The post of Housemistress is an exciting and challenging opportunity offering the possibility of further career development either at Gordonstoun or elsewhere  Information on the School and Hopeman House can be found on the School Website.  

The Housemistress will be accommodated in an attractive four bedroomed flat attached to the Boarding House.  The School Gordonstoun School is located in an impressive and attractive 150 acre estate in the temperate climate of Moray. It is six miles from Elgin, a town of some 25,000 population which has a British Rail main-line station. Inverness or Aberdeen, to which there are regular flights from most UK airports, are within one and two hours respectively, and there is straightforward access on good roads to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the rest of Scotland.  

The Senior School has around 500 students aged 13 to 18, almost all of whom are full boarders. There are approximately 300 boys and 200 girls and the School has been fully co-educational for forty five years. Aberlour House, the Junior School situated on the same campus, has 105 pupils aged 6-13.  Each year approximately 60 students join at Year 9 (13-plus) and 60 come into the Sixth Form.  Almost all students in the School proceed to take three A-Levels at the end of their career, and over 90% each year move on to Higher Education.  

The underlying philosophy of the School is that of holistic education – the full and individual development of the potential of every student. Thus, while the academic environment of the School is strong, the development of other attributes – physical, cultural, social and spiritual – is considered no less important and has equal emphasis placed upon it. Success in achieving this is ensured by the range of the School's activities and opportunities (listed in the prospectus), excellent facilities, an extremely generous student/staff ratio and a highly committed staff. The essential elements of Gordonstoun's distinctive ethos are internationalism, responsibility, challenge and service. Holidays are long but, during term time, members of staff devote themselves unstintingly to the welfare of the students and the success of the School. 

Involvement in school life in the broadest sense is expected from all full-time members of staff.  In this environment, pastoral care is an essential element. All members of staff are involved in this aspect of school life but the Housemistresses and Housemasters are the key people, acting fully and responsibly in loco parentis. A girl or boy looks upon her or his boarding house as home in term time and it is important that a family atmosphere – one of structure and stability, under-pinned by compassion and love – exists within it. There are eight boarding houses (five for boys, three for girls). 

Candidates wishing to be considered for this post should complete the application form and submit a letter of application outlining why they feel they are suitable candidates for this post.  Please submit applications to:  The Headmaster Gordonstoun School Elgin Moray  IV30 5RF  Telephone: 01343 837807 Fax: 01343 837989 Email: recruitment@gordonstoun.org.uk  The Closing Date for applications is Monday 30 October 2017.   Interview date: W/c 13 November 2017