Culford School HMC & IAPS

Chaplain

Required for September 2018 or January 2019

Culford School is seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic Our ethos is of a shared responsibility and positive Chaplain to lead the spiritual life of the School. contribution from all to the life and work of this busy boarding and day community. That is what makes Culford is a Methodist foundation but the Chaplain will Culford such a thriving, energetic and well-rounded need to reflect the multi-faith nature of our community school. We offer an outstanding environment in which and be pastor and friend to all members of the school to work. community: pupils, teachers and a large number of support staff.

The School is a Methodist foundation and has a Christian ethos, and attendance at Collective Worship is regarded as of the essential components of community life. The Chaplain will need to ensure, however, that the spiritual needs of people of no faith and of those belonging to other faith communities are considered and met.

It is important for the Chaplain to be well known and prominent within the school. Involvement in a wide variety of aspects of school life should provide the Chaplain with countless opportunities to get to know the many members of the community.

Closing date for applications: Friday 16 March 2018

Culford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and all applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the position, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Introduction From The Headmaster

Julian Johnson-Munday

Culford is a jewel of a Most pupils go to Russell Group universities in due school set in a remarkable course; some to Oxbridge most years, and a number location. We are just three to universities abroad, often on scholarships. miles from , but are blessed Culford has an outstanding reputation for individual with a 500 acre park that and team sports: tennis, swimming, golf, tennis, makes working here a cricket and hockey have outstanding facilities and wonderful experience. high performance programmes. Regular national success may seem remarkable for a small school that We are deliberately small is determined to stay small, but we see our ability to with 720 children from focus on individuals as a key part of their success. Nursery to Senior School, but our facilities match or The Chaplain’s role is to uphold our Methodist values exceed much bigger as we support the transformation of children into schools. Our size means young adults. They need to engage deeply with that we know our pupils moral, ethical and spiritual issues if their education is well and visitors remark upon our family feel time and to be of true lasting value; whether they come at again. those things from a position of faith or not.

Over 60% of the Senior School are boarders and we We want our pupils to be flexible, innovative, dynamic are a vibrant pastoral community as well as an and resilient in their future lives, so we seek to model academic place of learning. A commitment to the those values as teachers and as a community. boarding life of the school is expected of all teachers, and engaging with pupils this way is part of what If that sounds like it might be you, I would be delighted makes the job so rewarding. Our pupils and teachers to receive your application to join us. develop outstanding relationships based upon mutual respect and support. With very best wishes,

Culford is academically selective within a deliberately broad framework. We seek pupils who are committed to learning and who can cope well with GCSE and A levels, but we ignore league tables resolutely. Julian Johnson-Munday MA MBA, Headmaster The Role

Role: The Chaplain is responsible for seeing that the Christian faith is proclaimed throughout Culford and explained in ways that respect the integrity and intelligence of all. The Chaplain is expected to lead the spiritual, as well as the religious, life of the school and to ensure that the Methodist traditions and ethos of the school are maintained.

Main Duties: • Arrange programmes of worship throughout the school from Nursery to Senior School • Lead and oversee school Christian discussion groups • Prepare candidates for confirmation in the Methodist or Anglican faith as they wish • Arrange and lead Sunday services for the boarding community • Arrange and lead a Eucharist service for staff at the beginning of each term • Lead assembly in both the Prep School and Pre-Prep every week • Present an annual report to Governors on the spiritual well-being of the school • Attend the annual Chaplains’ conference of the Methodist schools • Organise Senior School Collective Worship, incorporating contributions from staff, pupils and others, and marking special events • Provide pastoral support for all staff of any faith background or none • Lead the school’s charity fundraising • Provide moral or spiritual support appropriate to the role of Chaplain • Offer confidential support to the Headmaster and others on SMT • Develop the spiritual well-being of the school beyond the merely religious.

Mandatory Duties: • Responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children • Commitment to Equal Opportunities.

Additional Duties: The post-holder will undertake assigned duties and responsibilities, ensuring that all actions are discharged within the regulatory and legislative requirements to which the school is subject. S/he will undertake such additional duties as the Headmaster may reasonably require commensurate with the level and nature of her/his responsibility within Culford.

The Person

Previous experience of leading spiritual worship and of working with a local community is essential to the role. Previous experience as a Circuit Minister or equivalent, or as a School Chaplain is desirable

The ability to lead the spiritual life of the school and to relate well to children, young people and adults is essential; as are the abilities to set high moral standards and to be respectful of the views of others. Personal qualities of empathy, sensitivity should be much in evidence; as should the ability to work well as part of a team.

Candidates should be educated to degree level. It is desirable but not essential for them to be an ordained Minister in a Christian church. The Location

Suffolk is a wonderful place to live and Bury St Edmunds is a special town. Small enough to feel like a community, it boasts its own Cathedral and Abbey Gardens and its medieval heart gives it a charming feel. It is also a modern shopping centre, however, with a retail development, the Arc. As well as the normal retail outlets, the area contains the Apex Centre, a venue that offers theatre and live music of all sorts regularly.

The town is home to a number of independent retailers, craft pubs, breweries and restaurants. As well as a multiplex cinema, there is also an Art

House cinema that shows an eclectic range of movies which can be watched with wine or beer and from the comfort of a sofa; and the town also boasts a lovingly restored Regency theatre.

Suffolk has low crime rates and high sunshine levels compared to the rest of the UK; and accommodation around Bury St Edmunds is relatively affordable.

It is, however, centrally located on the A14 with and both 40 minutes away for a wider range of shops, museums, restaurants and theatres. The coast is less than an hour away with Aldeburgh and Southwold well known for their beauty.

London is a 90 minute drive down the A11/M11, or under two hours by train. Further flung destinations are equally close: Harwich ferries serve Holland and Europe; Stansted airport is 45 minutes away and Gatwick and Heathrow are both within 2.5 hours drive.

Application Process

To apply please complete an application form and Applications must be received no later than Friday 16 write a formal letter addressed to the Headmaster. March 2018. Send both documents, stating the position applied for in the title line, to: [email protected] All information will be treated as strictly confidential. Referees will be approached prior to shortlisting unless Your accompanying letter should be no longer than you expressly request otherwise. two sides of A4 and provide additional relevant information to support your application. The If you have any questions or enquiries regarding the application form can be downloaded from: application process, please ring the Headmaster’s www.culford.co.uk Office on: 01284 385318.

If unable to apply by email please post your All appointments are subject to pre-employment application, marked “Strictly Private and checks to meet vetting and barring requirements. For Confidential” to: more information about that process please refer to the application form. The Headmaster’s Office Culford School Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP28 6TX