APPOINTMENT of HOUSEMASTER / HOUSEMISTRESS for SEPTEMBER 2021 to Join in September 2020
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APPOINTMENT OF HOUSEMASTER / HOUSEMISTRESS FOR SEPTEMBER 2021 To join in September 2020 AN INTRODUCTION TO SHERBORNE Sherborne is a boys’ independent school situated in the shadow of Sherborne Abbey. Founded by Royal Charter in 1550, the School has roots going back to the origins of the See of Sherborne in 705. There are eight boarding houses accommodating a total of about 550 boys aged 13-18. The School is popular with parents and demand for places is high. We recently announced that a new boarding house will open in September 2021, increasing the School's capacity to 650 boys. Sherborne School is an extraordinary community with a rich heritage and ambitious outlook. The boys are talented, engaged and interesting, and staff are likewise. The co-curricular provision is of outstanding breadth and quality. Our distinctive features • A full-boarding environment where boys live, work and study together seven days a week during term time. This generates a sense of community and purpose, and ensures there is plenty of time away from the classroom for boys to play, reflect, socialise and develop their talents • An all-boys education. Shirburnians are allowed to be boys – something that we believe is essential to their growth • A strong and unique partnership with Sherborne Girls, meaning our boys can socialise with girls and occasionally study alongside them, while enjoying the benefits of a single-sex education • A unique location in a beautiful market town that is peaceful and safe, without being sleepy, and has excellent transport links to London • Outstanding opportunities to excel, whether academically or in co-curricular activities. We are ambitious for our boys: with our help, they go on to achieve great things as evidenced by the highly distinctive and diverse alumni record Dr Dominic Luckett Headmaster and Chief Executive Sherborne School has vacancies arising in two boarding houses in September 2021 and wishes to recruit a new Housemaster or Housemistress (HsM) for each. The successful candidates will join the School in September 2020 as a Housemaster/Housemistress (designate) which will give them time to learn more about the School, get to know their future House and meet the families of current and prospective pupils. In addition, a comprehensive training and induction package will take place over the course of the year. SCHOOL HOUSE School House is what you are. That is the motto of Sherborne’s most historic of Houses, located right by the Courts and at the very centre of the campus. Its motto speaks of a commitment to giving every boy a chance to find his strengths, to pursue his talents, and have his achievements celebrated. As a result, School House is a happy environment in which boys live alongside each other, showing kindness and concern across year groups and supporting mutual growth. Senior boys take their responsibilities to younger boys very seriously, but the real character of the House is seen in the informal relationships across year groups. School House is a place of friendship, mutual support and happiness. That is what our boys are. It is why they are proud to belong. LYON HOUSE Ask Lyon boys what makes the House special and they will tell you about the close relationships that exist across year groups. This is partly a function of the House’s location, on the edge of Sherborne’s town centre and a 10- minute walk from School. Lyon boys relish that distance from the main campus. They use the time moving between locations to reflect, chat, and unwind. And because it gives them a real sense of identity as a House, the relationships between boys of different ages run deep and wide. With ample space to let off steam in the large garden, boys relish their time in Lyon. It is a House with its own sense of character, which nonetheless reinforces the wider ideals and values of Sherborne as a whole. HOUSEMASTER /HOUSEMISTRESS At Sherborne School, the boarding House is the foundation of all aspects of School life and, as a result, the HsM has a critical and multi-faceted role to play. While it is difficult to summarize such a complex role, it is clear that the HsM’s overriding aims should be to ensure that every pupil is well cared for and safe and to allow every boy to achieve his full potential in all aspects of School life. Every HsM is directly accountable to the Headmaster and has a responsibility to uphold and support decisions made by the him or on his behalf by other members of the Senior Leadership Team. HsMs are also expected actively to support all School policies and procedures and to be proactive in contributing to their implementation. Each HsM is line managed on the Headmaster’s behalf by the Deputy Head (Pastoral) (oranother appropriate member of the Senior Leadership Team, as may be advised by the Headmaster). The specific areas of responsibility for a HsM include: Leadership • Promote the School’s values and vision within the House to boys, staff and parents • develop and maintain a sense of community and collective endeavour among boys, staff and parents • consistently apply all School policies, rules and procedures fairly and consistently to staff, boys and parents • proactively support and promote the School’s policies, rules and procedures to parents, boys, and colleagues • get to know each boy individually, being a constant reassuring presence to them • ensure the physical safety, health, welfare, emotional well-being and development of the boys at all times • maintain a nurturing environment in which every boy is challenged to develop his character and abilities to the fullest possible extent • maintain high standards of behaviour, dress and tidiness • provide effective leadership and management of the House team (tutors, matron and domestic staff), ensuring that all members of the team perform to high standards Safeguarding and Pastoral Care • be vigilant and active in fulfilling the School’s safeguarding obligations and refer any safeguarding or child protection concerns in strict accordance with the School’s published safeguarding policy. • h ave a detailed knowledge of all School pastoral policies and ensure they are adhered to in House. • maintain up-to-date and comprehensive Action Plans for the most ‘at risk’ or vulnerable pupils. • monitor the balance between academic and co-curricular activities and encourage all pupils to play a full part in the School community. • monitor patterns of absenteeism, lateness, unacceptable and unusual behaviour and liaise with the relevant member of Senior Team and other staff, where appropriate. • involve, where appropriate, colleagues and/or professionals from other areas of the School (e.g., Health Centre, School Counsellor, Senior Leadership Team members or HoDs, Learning Support) and external agencies. • have a detailed knowledge of specific medical protocols as they relate to boarding provision. PERSON SPECIFICATION We are looking to appoint a person who in interview and by virtue of their qualifications and experience best demonstrates that he or she: • is suitably qualified for the responsibilities of the post; • has the ability to fulfil the responsibilities of the post with energy, enthusiasm and excellence; • has strong interpersonal and communication skills; • has good listening skills, empathy and respect for all boys; • has the ability to explain clearly and has good presentation skills; • has the ability to form relationships and to motivate teenage boys; • has the ability to generate enthusiasm for his or her academic discipline; • has a demonstrable commitment to personal and professional development; • has a sense of humour. The capacity and imagination to inspire, guide and challenge boys are essential. The offer of appointment at Sherborne School is conditional upon the provision of a self-declaration of physical and mental fitness to discharge the responsibilities of the post. Please note that all School buildings operate a no-smoking policy (including accommodation). PASTORAL CARE We pride ourselves on delivering the highest standards of pastoral care. The close-knit House system is an integral part of School life, and provides a strong support network for all our pupils. Every teacher is attached to a boarding House and has the opportunity to support and nurture the boys in this home-from-home. Teachers are involved in accompanying House trips, attending House socials and undertake an evening duty in House each week. Each teacher is also tutor to a small group of boys, meeting them each week. These meetings build good relationships between staff and boys and are essential to the long-term success of the School. Patience, consistency, discretion and empathy are some of the qualities a tutor should have in order to promote the boys’ all-round development. THE SCHOOL’S BOARDING ETHOS IS INVALUABLE IN CHARACTER BUILDING, FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE AND ENCOURAGING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. THE BOARDING EXPERIENCE MAKES A STRONG CONTRIBUTION TO THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF BOARDERS ISI INSPECTION 2015 SAFEGUARDING All young people deserve the right to live and learn in a safe and happy environment. All Sherborne School staff share the responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people for whom they are responsible or with whom they come into contact. In doing so, staff are expected at all times to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policy. If any member of staff becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School, they must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or the Headmaster. We have a strong Safeguarding culture and all staff are required to attend regular training and updates. As Sherborne School is registered to ask ‘exempted questions’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, successful applicants will be subject to receipt of a satisfactory criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.