School Chaplain

Birkenhead School, founded in 1860, is an HMC independent day school of charitable purpose and Christian principle, providing education for boys and girls drawn from the whole of the Wirral, Liverpool and as far afield as Chester and North Wales. Situated in the leafy suburb of Oxton, the School enjoys excellent facilities. The main campus has a ‘village green’ atmosphere, with classrooms and laboratories looking out over the cricket square. There are ongoing and substantial investments in facilities.

The School comprises Nursery and Pre-Prep (Early Years), Prep and Seniors and integrates their objectives and activities within a ‘One School’ concept. Birkenhead School prides itself on being a family school and this has been greatly strengthened by the opening of the Nursery in 2006. It is attractive to parents to have all their children in one school and it is a great advantage for the School to be able to establish strong, long-lasting relationships with families. A key feature of the School is its strength of community, which runs through the student, staff and parental bodies. The School is embedded within the wider Wirral community, and has strong links with local business and charities.

A dedicated, talented and collegiate staff body is required to achieve these aims. The School’s informal motto is Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, to which we have recently added inclusivity, compassion, integrity, humility and courage as defined School values. Birkenhead School recruits on attitude as much as the quality of an individual’s qualifications on paper.

The Chaplaincy

The School’s Chaplain oversees the spiritual provision for students throughout the School, irrespective of faith. This spiritual provision is central to the identity of the School, and therefore the Chaplain is expected to be at the very heart of the School community, playing a key role in the life of the school.

The main focus is to provide a Christian presence within the School, providing the lens through which real world issues can be examined. The School places considerable importance on the community, sharing core values including integrity and respect for the opinions and faith of each individual.

The Role and Responsibilities

 We are seeking to appoint an energetic and inspirational Chaplain who is open-minded, tolerant and respectful of each of the major world faiths to join us on a part time contract.

 The role of part time Chaplain is being advertised simultaneously with a vacancy for a part-time Religious Studies Teacher. The School is equally happy for both roles to be undertaken by the one candidate if appropriately qualified and skilled. Candidates are requested to make this known in their covering letter.

The role of Chaplain involves a number of elements:

• Organisation and delivery of weekly Chapel Services for Seniors, Prep and Little School (Reception, Years 1 and 2)
• Organisation and delivery of the weekly Sunday Evensong service, including inviting visiting preachers to participate and identifying readings accordingly to weekly lectionary, leading intercessions and occasional preaching.
• Planning and organising confirmation services and the preparation of candidates.
• Training the Prefect team as readers and sides persons at Evensong Services.
• Acting as the point of contact for requests for use of Chapel, and officiating at weddings, funerals and baptisms.
• Ensuring Chapel supplies such as hymnbooks, bibles, wine, wafers and candles are ordered as necessary.
• Ensuring Chapel linens are changed according to the liturgical season.
• Ensuring the accurate record keeping of services held in Chapel.
• Planning and leading the start of the academic year and three end of term services at St Saviours Church, Oxton – including the booking of the Church.
• Planning and leading special services in Chapel throughout the School year i.e. Remembrance Day, Advent Carols, Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve Eucharist, Ash Wednesday Eucharist and the Leavers’ Service.
• Arranging the parent’s prayer group that meets termly
• Assisting with pastoral support for staff and students in matters such as bereavement. 

The Chaplain works closely with a number of members of staff, not least the Director of Music, and reports directly to the Headmaster.

The Person

 The ideal candidate will have:

• Been ordained
• Experience of counselling
• Experience of organising Assemblies/Liturgies
• Experience of working within an educational and diocesan context
• Experience of working with young people
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• The ability to recognise and appreciate the confidential nature of some work undertaken and work to School policies regarding confidentiality
• Ability to empathise with students of all ages within a School situation
• Ability to prioritise a demanding and changeable workload
• High level of literacy and communication skills
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Be enthusiastic, confident and diligent.
• Develop and maintain good relationships with students and colleagues.
• Have a sound understanding and awareness of Safeguarding procedures.
• Be IT literate to support teaching and learning.
• Inspire staff and students through action.

The full list of responsibilities can be found on Birkenhead School website under Employment Opportunities.

Hours

This is a part time, term time role, anticipated to be 12 hours a week, covering 3 mornings for assemblies and pastoral support, plus Sunday Evensong. The post holder will be required to work as necessary to carry out the duties of the role.

Other Benefits

We will value and support your contribution to School life and in return provide you with excellent rewards: 

• Working with fantastic young students
• Working as part of a committed team
• Membership of a Pension Scheme
• Membership of the Employee Assistance Programme
• Term time is approx. 34 weeks
• Free use of the fully equipped on-site gym
• Support for your continuous professional development 

Candidates are welcome to contact the Headmaster, Mr Paul Vicars on headmaster@birkenheadschool.co.uk  with any questions relating to the role.

To meet our safeguarding obligations, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is undertaken as part of the recruitment process for all new staff. As Birkenhead School is an educational provider, it is permitted to ask whether an applicant has any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings which would not be filtered in line with current guidance, as defined by The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). It is a criminal offence for an individual who is barred from working with children to apply for a role which is classed as regulated activity.

A letter of application indicating skills and experience, together with a completed application form, including the names and addresses of at least two referees, should be sent for the attention of the Headmaster via Cheryl Wallace, Personnel Manager.

The closing date for applications: 10.00am on Monday 3rd October 2022.