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Trustees (Governors) Of Downside School

Trustees (Governors) Of Downside School

Downside School

Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near bath

  • Expired
Job type:
Part Time, Fixed Term
Apply by:
5 November 2018

Job overview

The Organisation  

Downside School is at the start of an exciting journey as we build our organisational structure with the setting up of a new independently governed company limited by guarantee to be called Downside School.  This is a great time to be part of an historic organisation and to help shape and build the future of the School.  Downside School is seeking highly skilled Trustees from a range of backgrounds, who will play a committed and active role in the life of the School.  

This is a rare opportunity to be involved in helping to set the strategic direction of the School and be part of creating exciting new developments for its future success. *  

You will be working in an environment that is not only dedicated to teaching and learning, but gives meaning, enabling our young people to become fully human as well as fully qualified.  Downside, as a leading Catholic school, maintains an ethos that is just as strong today as it was when the School was founded in 1606.   Downside became a fully co-educational school, admitting boys and girls in all years, in 2005. Downside School is housed in magnificent buildings set in a 500 acre estate at the foot of the Mendip Hills, twelve miles south of the city of Bath.   One of the notable aspects of our school is its love of scholarship, combined with a lively sense of tradition. While the school educates young people to thrive in the 21st Century, it also values individuality and character, as young people are guided to live together positively within the school community while achieving excellence academically, culturally, in sport and in the wider curriculum.     

The School has excellent teaching, boarding and recreational facilities. There are purpose-built centres for the Sciences and Humanities, dedicated Music and Arts Schools, a 450 seat theatre, a comprehensive swimming-pool and sports complex, over 100 acres of playing fields with all-weather hockey, netball and tennis courts, six distinctive girls and boys boarding-houses and extensive buildings and classrooms set in rolling grounds and farmland.   

The People we are looking for  

You will be able to demonstrate commitment to supporting the Catholic life of the School, and its Benedictine ethos.  As well as commitment, time, an ability to work collaboratively and a good understanding of the fundamentals of good governance, we are seeking individuals who have significant experience in one or more of the areas listed below. Previous trustee, non-executive or board experience would be desirable.   

• Capital Project Experience 

• Change Management 

• Education  

• Finance 

• Fundraising 

• Human Resources 

• Legal and Governance Expertise 

• Marketing and Communications 

• Property Management 

• Risk Management 

• Safeguarding   

Commitment  

The Board of Trustees will meet usually once a term, typically towards the end of term (December, March and June).  Committee meetings will be held each term (or as required) and currently consist of an Education Committee and a Finance and Resources Committee. The School will be looking to appoint committee heads as well as members of the committees. Meetings will be held on Fridays and Saturdays.  We expect Trustees to attend all meetings unless there are exceptional circumstances.  Newly appointed Trustees will be required to attend a full day induction at Downside School. They will also be required to attend all mandatory training i.e. Child Protection and training usually expected of a school governor/trustee.   Additionally, Trustees are invited to attend a Governor’s Day, typically once a term.  This involves spending a day in the School to meet staff and pupils, observe lessons, inspect facilities and generally familiarise yourself with the day to day operation of the School.  

Term of Appointment  

The initial term of this appointment will be for three years.   

*We intend to seek charitable status for the new legal entity and we anticipate that this will be granted before the new School entity is operational. Assuming that this is the case, successful applicants will be both Trustees and Directors (of the company limited by guarantee) but it is likely that we will use the term “Governors” and “Board of Governors” as is usual for school bodies.     

How to Apply  

Please follow the application URL below where you can register your details and upload your Curriculum Vitae through our applicant tracking system CV Minder.  

Please contact Caroline Brawley, Head of Human Resources at cbrawley @d ownside.co.uk if you require any further information.   

Closing date for applications: Monday 5th November 2018 at 9.00am  Interviews Interviews will be held with an appointments panel during week commencing 26th November 2018.

Registered Charity Number: 1158507

Attached documents

About Downside School

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  • Downside School
  • Stratton On The Fosse, Radstock, Bath
  • Somerset
  • BA3 4RJ
  • United Kingdom
+44 1761 235100

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A clear and positive attitude to learning permeates the whole school, enabled by excellent relationships between staff and pupils’ and that our pupils are ‘enthusiastic and highly motivated learners, able to work independently’. Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)

At Downside, we are committed to working in partnership with families and to providing an environment which nurtures young people of integrity who can think for themselves, stand up for their beliefs, and act to make a positive difference in the world.

Founded in 1606 and based just 25 minutes from the famous World Heritage City of Bath, we are a forward-thinking independent school and one of England's oldest and most distinguished Catholic schools. Our vision is to be a bright light in the world of education, illuminating the lives of young people and inspiring service in the world through experience of Benedictine culture. It enables pupils and staff to develop their own identity through experience of a community with Christ as its centre.

The School is set in 500 acres of beautiful English countryside with extensive facilities including an indoor swimming pool, a Mac Suite dedicated to music, a 24/7 Health Centre, and a Performing Arts Centre housing a 400-seat Theatre, a Recording Studio, a print screen room and a Mac suite for art.

We are uncompromising in the pursuit of academic excellence. We aim for the highest standards in our extensive and exciting co-curricular programme with over 100 activities, and we provide plentiful and varied opportunities for service and leadership.

The School endeavours, in addition, to provide our pupils with what may be referred to as a sense of ‘the poetry of life’, a sense of its beauty, form, mystery and joy. Everyone who comes here remarks on the happy atmosphere. It is truly a remarkable, inspiring place.

Please visit our website to find out more about our School: www.downside.co.uk/working-with-us

TEACHING AT DOWNSIDE

We are committed to high academic standards and constant development of the quality of teaching and learning. We have a Quality Assurance cycle, which allows us to monitor the quality of teaching and learning through lesson observations, learning walks and pupil feedback. Our tracking and monitoring systems are rigorous so that all pupils are supported in their learning, and colleagues are supported in their teaching.

Working at Downside is a truly rewarding experience. In keeping with our Benedictine ethos, Downside is a welcoming, caring community where each person is valued. Pupils are highly motivated, keen to learn and respectful of staff and their peers.

Our Induction Programme is comprehensive and fully supportive of all new staff, including the provision of training, where necessary. We are keen to support ambitious teachers, and CPD opportunities for individuals are identified in Faculty Development Plans and prioritised. Downside School is a member of the Canford Group, which includes most of the main independent schools in the South West. We are also closely linked with the other Benedictine Schools in England and Ireland. We expect all teachers to engage fully in co-curricular activities and the boarding life of the school.

At Downside, staff enjoy teaching polite and well-educated pupils, unique surroundings, and benefit from a generous salary scale, complimentary lunch and extended School holidays. Although it is difficult to quantify the hours which any individual Teacher may devote to their work in order to carry out their professional duties in a boarding school, the following guidance may be helpful:

The School timetable is taught Monday-Friday, and two periods on a Saturday morning, plus a 35 minute period of SMSC, followed by matches and activities in the afternoon. Games and activities, tutor periods, and hymn practice are incorporated into the weekly timetable. Department meetings can occur at the discretion of the Head of Faculty.

Academic timetable allocation:

Full time Teacher 15 double periods

Head of Faculty 13 double periods

Pastoral responsibilities: to provide support and guidance for a tutor group (typically 12 pupils), including one period (35 minutes) of PSHEE (Physical, Social, Health and Economic Education) and three tutor sessions, PSHEE has a specific programme and is treated the same as an academic lesson. All tutors attend Hymn Practice on Friday at 16.00 and School Mass on special occasions during the working week. Tutor periods are normally 12.35pm – 12.40pm Monday to Saturday and two afternoons a week, on Monday from 5.00pm to 5.35pm and Friday from 3.30-3.55.

6th Form Tutors deliver their PSHEE on Wednesday P5 rather than Monday 5pm. There is an additional tutor period on a Saturday from 11.25am -12.00pm. Tutors are also required to undertake one evening duty a week in House from 7.00pm – 9.00pm. There may be a requirement for flexibility around tutor timings to meet the needs of the school and timings are reviewed annually in line with timetabling. Tutors also have house duties such as managing the refectory on one day a week, as agreed with the HsM.

Co-curricular responsibilities: As a full time Teacher, there is a requirement to be involved in two co-curricular activities a week during term time e.g. CCF, service activities, games, music and academic societies. Additionally, you will participate in supporting the Saturday afternoon games programme. This may include activities and/or sport, and Teachers may be asked to support a specialist coach in games lessons and be responsible for the team when they play matches.

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Applications closed