FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
Castle Court School Knoll Lane Corfe Mullen WIMBORNE Dorset BH21 3RF
January 2016
Thank you very much for your enquiry. We would be very grateful if you would follow the guidelines below (pages 1 to 9); we look forward to receiving your application.
Candidates are asked to provide the following: A letter of application, no longer than one side of A4, which may be handwritten A completed application form. Candidates are asked not to send CVs.
All applications will be acknowledged.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
ETHOS At Castle Court we have a passion for excellence in everything that we do. We are fortunate with our facilities and our surroundings, which are beautiful (nearly 40 acres of land and woodland). However, it is committed and talented staff who can inspire all that is of most importance to us. The relationship between pupils and staff and the ability of staff to draw out the most from the children is fundamental. Our desire is to raise self-esteem, whilst providing a broad and academic stimulus with opportunities for the children to excel, in and outside the classroom. There is so much that we do to ensure that the children are happy, "if they are not happy they will not learn" and our pastoral system is tailored to keep the communication between children and their tutors and home the very best it can be. Children grow up too quickly and we want those at Castle Court to have a real childhood.
After over 60 years, Castle Court’s governance and leadership remain committed to our founders’ intention of providing all our pupils with a first class, all-round education firmly rooted in Christian principles. These aspirations and values underpin all we do as we seek to encourage every member of the school community, whatever their faith or background, to strive for excellence. We want our girls and boys to be considerate, good friends to each other and grow in confidence as they interact with the modern world. Above all, we want everyone to feel part of a warm and welcoming family in which we all care for one another.
AIMS As a school community, Castle Court aims: To be family centred, with strong pastoral care and a Christian foundation. To seek high academic standards with a broad curriculum. To be forward thinking in all that we do.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
THE SCHOOL Castle Court is a co-educational day Prep School located in the heart of Dorset. We are seeking to appoint a Director of Studies to the management team who will be keen to be involved in the full breadth of school life.
The setting is idyllic: nearly 40 acres of magnificent playing-fields, playgrounds, gardens and woods; a school with stunning facilities, set in rural surroundings, yet easily reached from Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Blandford, Ringwood and the Isle of Purbeck.
The school has a very strong academic record. In recent years, 134 scholarships have been won to senior independent schools and 64 places offered at the local grammar schools.
The school has other strengths across the board: in sport, in music, in art, drama and design technology, and in outdoor pursuits. Please see our website www.castlecourt.com for evidence! Or take a look at the school’s Facebook, Instagram or YouTube pages.
Castle Court was founded by Donald and Mary Scott in Parkstone, Poole, in 1948 as a day school for boys; in 1968 it moved to its present site in beautiful grounds on the north edge of Corfe Mullen. In the 1970s the school became co-educational, and has steadily grown in size: today it has over 360 pupils, with ages ranging from 2 to 13. The Scotts founded the school with a distinctively evangelical Christian ethos, and this has been retained to the present day.
For administrative purposes the school is divided into the Prep School (Years 3 to 8), Pre-Prep (Badgers (Nursery) to Year 2), and Badger Cubs (Nursery ages 2 - 3); the Pre-Prep and Nursery have their own Head of Department who, along with the Headmaster, the Deputy Head, the Assistant Head, the Director of Studies, the Director of Pastoral Care, the Head of e-Learning, the Head of Girls, the Bursar (finance, maintenance and estate) and Registrar (admissions and marketing), form the Senior Management Team.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES
We are looking for an energetic, enthusiastic and suitably qualified teacher to be Director of Studies, to lead and to inspire the development of the highest standards in our Teaching and Learning at all levels of the school as outlined in this Job Description; to teach at least half a timetable; to be fully involved in the broad life of a thriving day school, and to be actively supportive of the school’s Christian foundation.
The Director of Studies will, under the Headmaster, be responsible for that leadership by involvement in:
Job description, particularly pertaining to the role of Director of Studies:
Member of the SMT and responsible to the Headmaster Responsibility for the school in the Headmaster’s, Deputy Head’s and Assistant Head’s absence Advising and keeping the Headmaster up to date with current educational issues Work closely with the Senior Management Team, school admin staff and Bursar to ensure the smooth running and clear communication of daily and special event procedures
Other meetings and liaison Chair whole staff meetings when required Attending Governors' Education Committee meetings to progress any of the issues below Calling and chairing Heads of Department meetings to progress any of the issues below Attending diary meetings, calendar meetings and any other meetings where significant issues of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum are to be discussed.
Teaching, curriculum Reviewing and updating whole-school documentation with regard to teaching and learning, including staff and parents handbooks. Circulating curriculum update materials from the Government and ISEB; keeping staff informed on developments Encouraging professional development and take-up of best practice ideas for teaching Encouraging the use and development of appropriate resources for teaching/learning including liaison with the Head of e-Learning re systems for school management as well as teaching/learning With the Head of e-Learning, to further develop and support the school’s e- learning vision 4
FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
Monitoring the teaching and learning of individual subjects; monitoring the work of subject co-ordinators and supporting them in their role as co- ordinators; assisting in the appraisal of subject co-ordinators and developing the appraisal process. Overseeing the development of the curriculum after priorities set by the Headmaster. Involvement in the interviewing process of new teaching staff. Liaise with the Bursar regarding the requirements of budget holders and curriculum budget planning
Learning Manage and coordinate the monitoring of pupils’ progress and assisting the Headmaster with advice re form placings etc Manage and coordinate the setting and grouping of pupils Overseeing homework arrangements, policies, parental help at home etc Working with the Learning Development Coordinator to ensure good support of special needs pupils by the whole school Study skills: producing revision guidance material, encouraging the school to develop pupils’ skills for learning Remain up to date with the requirements of ISI and the regulatory requirements in particular Prepare the school for inspection
Assessment and reporting Manage and coordinate procedures re assessment, internal exams and standardised testing in conjunction with the Head of e-Learning Manage and coordinate reporting procedures Manage and coordinate and encouraging Form Teachers in their role of mentoring the learning of individuals in their Forms and of the Form as a whole (working in conjunction with the Director of Pastoral Care) Devising, updating and monitoring marking policies Manage and coordinate preparation for Grammar School entrance exams Manage and coordinate Common Entrance – admin, preparation, invigilation Manage and coordinate preparation for Scholarships – information to staff, exam and interview preparation
Future Schools Assisting the Headmaster in advising parents re appropriate destination schools Writing/updating information about future schools in the parents’ handbooks Keeping informed about the future schools through contacts, visits
Parents Informing about curriculum: coordinating part of the parents’ handbooks 5
FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
Handling individual enquiries about progress etc Helping to manage the Moodle subject pages Overseeing the academic content of the school calendar
This job description will be subject to review on an annual basis and may change accordingly.
The job holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school’s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the role, the job holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school s/he must report any concerns to the school’s Child Protection Officer or to the Headmaster.
Notwithstanding all the above, the nature of this Prep School environment will require a far-ranging involvement and the above job description should not be taken as exhaustive.
Salary: commensurate with experience.
More information about the school is available on our website at www.castlecourt.com.
Application: If you wish to apply, please send a letter of application, and the completed application form, to Richard Stevenson, Headmaster, Castle Court School, Knoll Lane, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3RF. Candidates are asked not to send CVs.
Closing date for applications: Friday 29th January, 2016.
It is anticipated that interviews will be held on 10th and 11th February, 2016.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
The following job descriptions are the generic descriptions for all Castle Courts Heads of Department.
JOB TITLE: DIRECTOR OF STUDIES
REPORTING TO: HEADMASTER
PURPOSE OF JOB To have a clear overall strategy for the development of the department and the subject area. Provide dynamic leadership by leading through example and instilling the highest levels of professionalism.
LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT Contributing to the professional development of other teachers and staff, including the induction and assessment of new and probationary teachers; Contributing to the school appraisal process; Managing the development of the school curriculum, involving the Headmaster, SMT and external bodies or agencies as appropriate; Promoting and co-ordinating communication between year groups and departments; Organising and chairing of departmental meetings; Overseeing the work of the department, ensuring uniformity of marking, assessment and reporting in all formats; Liaising with other Heads of Department, the Head of Pre-Prep, and teaching colleagues to ensure continuity and progression in their subject through the school.
ADMINISTRATION Pro-actively taking such part in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school; Collating, auditing and updating departmental documentation and policies as appropriate; Maintaining up-to-date schemes of work and medium term plans in the department (Years 3 – 8), encompassing the National Curriculum, the Common Entrance syllabus and Scholarship preparation where appropriate; Assuming responsibility for the departmental budget; Monitoring display work and subject material in appropriate areas of the school, such as display boards, VLE etc; Preparing documentation necessary for inspection.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS EXPLANATORY NOTE
Application Applications will only be accepted from candidates providing all the information requested in full.
Candidates should be aware that all posts in the school involve some degree of responsibility for safeguarding children, although the extent of that responsibility will vary according to the nature of the post. Please see job description for the post.
Accordingly, this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as ‘spent’, must be declared.
The successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service at Enhanced level.
We shall seek references on short-listed candidates and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications, before interview.
If you are currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis, your current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences, including disciplinary offences relating to children or young persons (whether the disciplinary sanction is current or time-expired), and whether you have been the subject of any child protection allegations or concerns and, if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. If you are not currently working with children but have done so in the past, that previous employer will be asked about those issues. Where neither your current nor previous employment has involved working with children, your current employer will still be asked about your suitability to work with children, although it may, where appropriate, answer not applicable if your duties have not brought you into contact with children or young persons.
You should be aware that provision of false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral to the police and/or DfE Children’s Safeguarding Operation Unit.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER R.D.P. Stevenson, BA (Hons), PGCE
Email: [email protected]
Invitation to Interview If you are invited to interview this will be conducted in person and the areas which it will explore will include suitability to work with children.
All candidates invited to interview must bring documents confirming any educational and professional qualifications that are necessary or relevant for the post (e.g. the original or certified copy of certificates, diplomas etc). Where originals or certified copies are not available for the successful candidate, written confirmation of the relevant qualifications must be obtained from the awarding body. All candidates invited to interview must also bring with them three items from:
o Current passport o UK-issued driving licence (including the paper counterpart) o UK birth certificate issued within 12 months of date of birth o Utility bill or financial statement (not a letter), up to three months old, showing the candidate’s current name and address and, where appropriate, any documentation evidencing a change of name.
Please note that originals of the above are necessary. Photocopies or certified copies are not sufficient.
Conditional Offer of Appointment: Pre-Appointment Checks Any offer to a successful candidate will be conditional upon o Receipt of at least two satisfactory references (if these have not already been received) o Verification of identity and qualifications o A check at DfE List 99 and the Protection of Children Act List as appropriate o A satisfactory DBS Disclosure o Where the successful candidate has worked or been resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance o Verification of medical fitness.
Warning Where a candidate is: o Found to be on DfE List 99 or the Protection of Children Act List, or the DBS disclosure shows s/he has been disqualified from working with children by a Court; or o Found to have provided false information in, or in support of, his/her application; or o The subject of serious expressions of concern as to his/her suitability to work with children the facts may need to be reported to the Police and/or the DfE Children’s Safeguarding Operation Unit. 9