Houseparents

Appointments to take effect from September 2018 General The Downs Malvern is a busy, vibrant and successful co-educational preparatory school for boarding and day children aged between 3 and 13 years, offering an outstanding preparatory education. The school is situated in extensive, beautiful and safe grounds on the side of the . The facilities at the school, including the boarding environment, are first class and we are able to offer each child a wide range of exciting and challenging opportunities. Further information about Boarding at The Downs can be obtained from the website at www.thedownsmalvern.org.uk/The-Boarding-House or by calling the Headmaster on 01684 544102 or 07787 817984.

The Downs Malvern aims to provide a first class education in a secure, caring and disciplined environment where every pupil can fulfil his or her potential, academically, creatively, physically, socially and spiritually. Our School is committed to:

• providing a broad and balanced curriculum which values academic excellence but also attaches great importance to effort, enthusiasm and enjoyment in all areas of learning and activity • promoting the welfare of every pupil by developing their confidence and self esteem, giving them responsibility and opportunities to exercise leadership, helping them to develop mature attitudes, and preparing them for their senior schools and adult lives • building a strong sense of community in which all feel valued and respected, where each has a contribution to make, and where there is a growing awareness of our common responsibility for the wider world in which we live, and especially our environment.

While The Downs Malvern is a school where Christian values, ideals and practice are considered to be important in implementing these aims and objectives, it also values diversity and warmly welcomes pupils of other faiths.

Our approach to learning at The Downs Malvern is to establish a secure and productive relationship between teachers and pupils, so that children acquire knowledge and, very importantly, thinking skills and individual learning styles. From the first day in our Nursery we encourage children to work imaginatively by expressing their own thoughts and ideas.

Class-based teaching starts at age three in the Nursery to the end of Year 2 when subject teaching is gradually introduced, until Years 6, 7 and 8, when specialist teachers teach all parts of the curriculum. By the end of Year 8, pupils will have been prepared for the ISEB Common Entrance exam or will have taken scholarship exams. Children here have many opportunities to expand and develop their education outside the classroom in our idyllic rural surroundings and to take advantage of our wonderful facilities both at the prep school and those we are able to use at .

Lessons are delivered by talented teachers in well resourced classrooms. We prepare our pupils to move on to a wide range of senior schools; a significant proportion of our children go on to Malvern College, although our programme of study does afford parents the flexibility of choice.

Our school community is a vibrant one and staff are committed and enthusiastic. The Appointments The successful applicants will lead our boarding team to ensure the best boarding provision is available for our pupils. They will be inspirational individuals who will have the responsibility for creating a nurturing and safe environment for our boarders and ensuring that our boarding provision is compliant with inspection requirements, as a minimum, and meets the needs of 21st century boarders.

They must both be excellent communicators with an empathetic yet inspiring and motivating approach. A positive, can-do attitude is key to these appointments.

In addition to leading the boarding team, at least one of the applicants will also teach and the other will oversee the domestic and pastoral provision of the school, including the Medical Centre.

A willingness and ability to contribute throughout the school to the busy life of a boarding school are also key requirements.

Our boarding team offer a wide range of fun and challenging activities to broaden our pupils’ life experiences, whilst ensuring they are learning and pursuing their passions, showing empathy towards others and demonstrating moral courage and responsibility. We want the boarding house to be a vibrant ‘home from home’ with a positive and supportive ethos, where every child has the opportunity to grow and develop. The Houseparents will reshape our boarding offering to develop it into very high quality provision and must be willing to invite parents and boarders into your accommodation to facilitate the ‘family feel’ of the boarding environment.

Key Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the successful applicants will be:

• To be the Houseparents for our boarders and to live in the accommodation for the better performance of their duties • To be responsible to the Headmaster for all aspects of our boarders’ care and welfare provision • To teach and be involved in the sport and activities programme in the School and to oversee the domestic and pastoral provision of the boarding house, including the Medical Centre • To be responsible for the personal development and welfare of the boarders • To set and expect high standards of behaviour from pupils • To use the House as a vehicle for education in community living and inter personal skills • To hold regular House meetings with the boarders to ensure that they have a say in the running of the House • To develop the range of boarders’ activities that are on offer and to attend plays, concerts and matches where possible • To organise and run activities for boarders according to the programme and take part in, or organise trips, and expeditions to ensure an active and vibrant boarding community • To establish a responsibility structure amongst the boarders and to appoint, brief and monitor those with specific responsibilities • To counsel pupils individually on pastoral, academic and other matters • To ensure that Child Protection is a key priority within the Boarding House and the School in conjunction with the Designated Safeguarding Lead • To establish and maintain regular contact with parents of boarders and to be the principal channel of communication between parents and School on all matters concerning the pastoral life of their children • To implement the school disciplinary procedures under the guidance of the Headmaster • To plan, direct and supervise the Boarding Team and Matrons including the drawing up of the staff rota and ensuring that the duties are being fulfilled • To chair the House Staff meeting held every week with the aim of progressing items concerning children’s welfare and the organisation of the boarding house • To write end of term reports dealing, at least in summary, with all aspects of a boarder’s development • To contribute to the School Development Plan. To contribute, and be responsible for, the implementation of the Boarding House Development Plan • To be responsible for the regular updating of the House Handbooks and contribute to the School Website • The post holder will be responsible for co-ordinating travel arrangements for the boarders. Passports, travel money and other important ID and travel documents will be in a secure place at school. • To assist with parental and pupils’ visits. To interview prospective pupils and, on occasions, to attend presentations associated with the marketing and recruitment policy of the School • To be responsible to the Deputy Head for the provision of excellent teaching and to contribute to the School extra-curricular programme • To attend Staff meetings and to fulfil INSET and cover expectations

Limits of Responsibility • To be responsible to the Headmaster • To work within boarding, departmental, safeguarding and other relevant policies and legislation. Criteria for Success • Evidence that every pupil is having a unique and enjoyable boarding experience and that this is enabling them to grow and develop • Evidence that high standards of pastoral care are maintained and exceeded • Improving, where necessary, or maintaining positive “value added” results, year on year • Maintaining positive relationships with staff, pupils and parents • Actively supporting the ethos of the school.

Applications Applicants may contact the Headmaster, Mr Alastair Cook, to discuss the post if they wish. Mr Cook can be contacted via his PA Georgie Hulburd by email: [email protected], by calling 01684 544102 or direct on 07787 817984.

Full details of working at The Downs Malvern and our Application forms can be found on our website: www.thedownsmalvern.org.uk/Job-Vacancies

Both applicants wishing to be considered for the roles should submit an application form. For the teaching position, please ensure that you complete the Teaching application form and for the pastoral role, please ensure that you complete the Support Staff application form.

Both applications, consisting of a brief handwritten covering letter together with a completed application form, should be sent to the Headmaster c/o Human Resources, Malvern College, Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3DF, to arrive no later than noon on 10th November 2017.

The selection process is currently scheduled to be held during w/c 20th November 2017 which will involve spending a day at the school and:

• Teaching an observed 35 minute lesson on a topic provided in advance (for the teaching position only); • Interviews with the Headmaster, the Deputy Head and the Head of Human Resources; • Meetings with the boarders; • Tour of the School and the Boarding House; • Lunch with the pupils; • The opportunity to meet colleagues.

You will also be required to provide proof of your identity, right to work in the UK and qualifications during the selection process. General Requirements The Downs Malvern is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and expects all employees to share this commitment. Employees must, at all times, have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in line with the provisions of the Children Act 2004 (as amended) and Keeping Children Safe in Education (as amended) and be fully aware of, and understand, the duties and responsibilities that apply to their role in relation to these requirements. All employees must attend appropriate training in accordance with School and local Safeguarding Board stipulations.

In accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (as amended) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended) you must take reasonable care not to endanger yourself or other persons whilst at work. You must co-operate with the College to enable it to comply with its legal duties for Health and Safety.

It should be noted that the above list of duties and responsibilities is not necessarily a complete statement of the duties of the post. It is intended to give an overall view of the position and should be taken as guidance only.

The Downs Malvern exists to provide a quality all round education for pupils aged 3 – 13 and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Candidates must be prepared to undergo child protection screening and an Enhanced DBS check. We will seek references on short-listed candidates that will include questions about past disciplinary actions or allegations in relation to behaviour with children and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications before interview.

October 2017