Kingsley School Application Pack for Head of Boarding Salary negotiable April 2020

Welcome to Kingsley School

Our headlines

 Our students are fantastic—they are highly motivated and engaged young people with supportive and caring parents.  We are a school which serves children from birth to 18 years old.  We are a high performing school, with excellent A’ Level grades and a thriving programme preparing students for Oxbridge applications  We have just under 400 students in our nursery, prep school and senior school.  We pride ourselves on being a nurturing and caring school, where each child is known well  We have a long tradition based on Christian values, and we try to live out our faith through the work we do to care for our children and their families.  We are innovative - our big project at the moment is our Earth Centre. The vision is to put environmental sustainability at the heart of our curriculum.  We also look after more vulnerable children very well. We are a centre of excellence for special needs, and our Grenville Centre provides excellent support for children with autism spectrum difficulties  As well as day students, we welcome boarders from across the UK and around the world.  Our enrichment offer is very and diverse. All the teaching staff and many of the support staff are very involved in ensuring that our students have every opportunity to develop a wide range of skills.

A letter from the Headteacher

Dear Applicant

Thank you for expressing interest in applying for the post of Head of Boarding from September 2020 at Kingsley School. This vacancy will give the successful applicant the opportunity to work with a wonderful and diverse group of young people and supportive colleagues. We do hope you find the information contained in this pack informative and that it will enable you to reach a decision on whether to apply for the post.

We are seeking to appoint a colleague who shares our ambition to ensure that every young person at Kingsley School achieves their personal best.

We are a small, with a long tradition of serving children and their families. We aim to be caring and inclusive, while still providing an excellent academic grounding for all our children. We specialise in supporting children with moderate learning difficulties. We find that many children who have struggled in mainstream schools flourish here, as our class sizes are small and we can develop an enrichment programme that brings out the best in all.

We are also very proud of our academic record. Our A’ level results are among the best in the country. A recent cohort of Kingsley students achieved 51% A/A* grades in their A’ level and BTECs. We have a thriving Oxbridge programme which recruits and supports students looking at places at our top universities.

The school was last inspected by ISI in 2018 and we were judged to be “excellent” for our pastoral care of our students and “good” for our curriculum. We are looking for ways to move the school forward academically. We are looking to recruit staff who are able to deliver excellent teaching and learning and an excellent experience for our many boarders.

The school has supportive and engaged backers. Our current project is the development of a £2 million Earth Centre over the next three years. Based in the heart of ’s UNESCO biosphere we are aiming to become a centre of excellence in developing our students to be future leaders and experts in environmental protection and sustainability.

We are a popular choice with parents locally, and abroad. We recruit children from many countries and the diversity this gives the school is one of our strengths. Working at Kingsley School represents an exciting opportunity to work in a school which has huge potential. Since I arrived at the school in February 2020, I have found the staff to be incredibly supportive. Similarly, I have found that our students are a very positive and enthusiastic group of young people.

Because our young people are so responsive and receptive, we are able to make a very wide extracurricular offer which greatly enhances the work done in the classroom. There is always something exciting going on in this school!

If you like what you have read so far and wish to be considered for this role, please complete the application form which is available from our website, and include a letter (of not more than two side of A4, in a 12 point font) explaining your suitability for the post. At Kingsley School we take safeguarding very seriously and consequently the successful candidate will be required to complete a DBS enhanced check. Please do not include CVs with your application as these will be disregarded for safeguarding purposes.

The closing date for applications 27th April 2020 (midday) and interviews are planned for 30th April 2020 (by Zoom). Electronic applications are fully acceptable and these should be emailed to [email protected] marked for the attention of Mrs Medcalf, my PA. In the current situation we will hold interviews via on online platform e.g. Zoom. Candidates called for interview will be contacted by phone in the first instance with detailed information following by email. I hope you will consider joining our team and I look forward to receiving your application.

Please do not hesitate to get back to me should you wish to discuss the role further or arrange a visit.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Gill Jackson Headteacher

Kingsley School description

Kingsley School originally opened in 1884 and was renamed following the mergers of Stella Maris, and Grenville College. Ownership recently transferred from The Methodist Independent Schools Trust (MIST) to KSI. Despite the change of ownership the school remains an independent school for students from birth to 18 years of age, founded on Christian values, and intends to retain its Methodist links as an associate member of MIST. We have a very extensive site and excellent facilities in the seaside town of Bideford in the wonderful North Devon countryside. There are currently just under 400 students on roll across the nursery, prep and senior school, this includes 65 boarders.

Leadership Since February 2020, Kingsley School has had a new Headteacher. She joined a stable SLT who know the school well. As the senior team, we recognise the importance of CPD in helping staff to develop professionally in order to realise their own potential and improve the life chances of all the children they work with.

Curriculum Kingsley School aims to provide a curriculum that meets the needs of all students by offering a breadth of educational opportunity. Subjects are mainly taught according to National Curriculum guidelines and a wide range of teaching and learning styles are used to ensure that students are actively engaged in their lessons. In Years 10 and 11 all students follow a core curriculum of English, mathematics, science, PSHE and PE. In addition, students select courses from a wide-ranging choice of GCSE options. We give our students the opportunity to take the EBacc suite of qualifications, with the most able following single science courses. The curriculum is based on five 60 minute periods per day, with an enrichment offer at the end of the teaching day.

Pastoral care and academic guidance The Heads of Key Stage and form tutors have responsibility for the welfare, academic progress and discipline of the students in their care. The tutors in each team have a particularly important role since they are responsible for ensuring our children are well cared for and happy. Time is set aside each day for a programme of activities designed to promote the students’ social and learning skills, support literacy, and to enable tutors to get to know each pupil as an individual. We have vertical tutor groups in KS3 to further strengthen care, guidance and support for students, and to create a family atmosphere in the tutor room. Pupil Voice is important at Kingsley School and we have an active School Council.

Links between home and school We aim to develop strong links between home and school. We hold consultative evening meetings between staff and parents to discuss any concerns, acknowledge successes and agree targets for further improvement. Parents also receive regular monitoring reports and are provided with frequent communications about developments in school. In addition, we publish various brochures and organise information evenings for parents at key points in their children’s education, together with awards’ evenings to celebrate the success of students at different Key Stages. We have an active and supportive PTA who provide excellent links between school and the families we serve.

Boarding Houses We have three boarding houses within our extensive grounds. Belvoir House accommodates all our girls, and has capacity for 32 children. Carisbrooke accommodates our junior boys and has 38 spaces. Longfield is our senior boys’ boarding house and has space for 48 children. Each house has a three bedroom flat for the house parents and their families and a one bedroom flat for the assistant house parents. There is also a separate house on site for our Head of Boarding and their family.

Special educational needs and disabilities

At Kingsley School we place equal value on the education of all students. Those with special educational needs or disabilities are encouraged to achieve their potential within each curriculum area where they are provided with differentiated materials by their class teachers, whilst teaching assistants also offer additional individual support. We are very proud of our special needs provision, and believe this is an area of excellence for the school. Children thrive in our small groups, and we are able to make specialist, bespoke provision for the most vulnerable learners.

Able, gifted and talented provision Students who are identified as able, gifted and talented are provided with a wide range of challenging activities to support their learning. There are regular opportunities for extension and enrichment tasks in lessons as part of the curriculum, and teaching includes a variety of teaching styles to cater for learners’ individual needs. Teachers have high expectations of students and set personalised targets which are regularly reviewed to ensure appropriate progress for all. Students are also encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities such as Mathematics Challenge.

Extra-curricular activities A wide variety of clubs and activities are available to students and their families. These vary across the academic year but might include dance, science, cookery, film club, eco club, IT and many others. There are a wide range of opportunities in physical education and the arts. The school enjoys a high reputation for music. There are also excellent opportunities for students to begin or continue instrumental tuition as well as to participate in the annual school musical production. Educational visits appear regularly in our annual programme. Enrichment activities are vital to the development of our students and we continue to seek new and exciting opportunities to develop each individual.

School uniform Students are expected to dress appropriately for a learning environment. School uniform is compulsory for all students.

ICT resources Each member of the teaching staff is provided with a laptop computer for their individual use and all classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards or data projectors. In addition there are a number of ICT suites around the school which can be booked for use by all curriculum areas. The school is seeking to develop its ICT provision and recently invested in a state of the art wifi system and a new Virtual Learning Environment. We are investigating ways to give every pupil their own 1:1 device, and hope to roll this out in 2021.

Kingsley active in the community Students at Kingsley School are encouraged to learn from the expertise, experience and information available within the local community. The school in return aims to provide a significant contribution to the community through the high quality education, guidance and care we provide for our young people and through participation in fundraising and community service. Kingsley School is active in its support of charities and each year the four houses organise a number of fundraising activities. We are also committed to sustaining and extending our links with local businesses, both to enrich the curriculum and to encourage sponsorship and financial support for the work of the school.

Our local area Devon is Britain's most popular holiday destination, so by working at Kingsley School you will be able to live and work in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, somewhere most people only manage to visit for a holiday.

Devon offers scenic coastlines, one national park and part of another , a world heritage coast, blue flag beaches, little coves, market towns, seaside resorts, tranquil walks, picturesque villages, mouth-watering cream teas, real ales, heather clad moors, golf courses, gorgeous gardens, sparkling rivers, historic houses, entertainment and attractions galore. The school is very close to world class beaches, and we employ our own surfing instructor.

Transport links are excellent, with easy access to the motorway network and national rail network.

House prices are relatively cheap when compared to London and the South East, so the quality of life for yourself and your family is very affordable.

Bideford is a vibrant little town, made famous by the author, Charles Kingsley, who described us as “the little white town”. It has an excellent range of shops, cafes and restaurants; more than enough for everyday needs. Nearby Barnstable has a full range of bigger shopping you access to most national chain stores.

Public Exams

Focusing on both pupil wellbeing and ‘teaching the way pupils learn’ resulted in exceptional grades for Kingsley’s Sixth Form students in the 2019 public exams. 51% of all grades awarded are A* and A at Kingsley, putting the school’s results at double the 25.5% national average for achievement at this level. 27% of grades achieved were A* grade and the average UCAS score per pupil was 148 (equivalent to more than 3A grades at A level).

Topline results:

 66% of grades awarded were A*, A & B grades  100% A grades for all A-level Psychology students  78% of all Maths grades were A* or A  75% of all Biology grades were A* or A  Three pupils achieved 100% A* & A’s at A level  100% Distinction * for all BTEC Hospitality students  100% Distinction * for all BTEC Music students  75% Distinction * for all BTEC outdoor education

In addition, this year Kingsley has been ranked:

 In the Top 25 CoEd Boarding Schools in the UK (https://www.best-schools.co.uk/uk- school-league-tables/list-of-league-tables/top-100-co-ed-boarding-schools-by-a-level/)  Top 10 School in the UK for Value Added – in the Governments’ School performance tables Kingsley’s A level progress score placed the school 10th in the UK out of 4,311 schools. The A level progress score measures how much progress all students who studied A levels at Kingsley School made during their time in the Sixth Form. This score is calculated using a comparison with students at all other schools in England. The score was based entirely on our A level results and did not include our equally strong vocational programme where 82% of results were at the equivalent of A* and A at A level.

Head of Boarding Job Description

General Under the direction of the Headteacher, the Head of Boarding will assume full responsibility for the oversight and management of three boarding houses and any possible future boarding provision (e.g. the proposed SEN boarding house) and will have responsibility for the day to day management of the boarding staff team.

Management The Head of Boarding will have the following responsibilities: (1) Leading and managing staff in the boarding team, and directing the house staff in the execution of their duties in liaison with the Operations Manager, maintenance staff, catering staff and other personnel involved with boarding. (2) Deploying, training and developing all boarding staff to make the most effective use of their skills, expertise and experience and to ensure that all boarding staff have a clear understanding of their roles, duties and responsibilities in relation to ensuring the school, at least, meets best practice as defined by NMS (3) Meeting the house team regularly to discuss boarding matters and to ensure consistency between Houses, particularly in relation to Boarding Regulations and welfare issues.

Maintain a routine for the boarding houses

(1) Pastoral and Administrative • Ensure the School’s compliance with the regulatory requirements of the National Minimum Boarding Standards and to liaise with the Headteacher and other key senior staff in preparation for and running of the boarding inspection. • Be familiar with, and develop further, a working knowledge of relevant legislation. • Ensure a visible and active presence in the boarding community and houses in order to develop a relationship with all boarders. • Keep the Headteacher and other appropriate staff, informed of pastoral issues, medical matters, discipline and good conduct and maintain records accordingly. • Ensure records relating to the whereabouts of boarders are accurate and up to date, as required by the UK Boarder Agency database for pupils issued with a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). • Liaising with admissions and checking passports and BRP’s and updating the spreadsheet for expiry dates. Ensuring all staff with access to BRP’s are ACL accredited. • To become a level 1 user on UKVI website • Liaising with Chase Newland Education (formerly TTP) with registration of boarders and the beginning of each term and after half terms.

(2) General • Arrange, organise and participate in the programme of activities, trips, social events and Activities Weekends which play a key role in offering a rounded boarding experience. Using local clubs where appropriate to add value to the activity programme. e.g. sailing club in Instow, rowing club in Bideford • Ensure that all new boarder’s parents are sent an email/phone call introducing themselves • Ensure that there are regular email/phone calls to parents providing them with updates • In managing the work of the Boarding Assistants, the Head of Boarding will advise the Headteacher on the process of allocation of the assistants and other staff to co-curricular responsibilities. • Be responsible for the annual review and update of the following Boarding Handbooks: ➢ Boarders’ Handbook. ➢ Parents’ and Guardians’ Handbook. ➢ Boarding Staff Handbook. ➢ Self-evaluation paperwork.

• Manage the budget for all areas of boarding and ensure all financial paperwork is completed as required. • Ensure that boarders’ views are secured on a regular basis through questionnaires and Boarders’ Committee Meetings. • Represent the interest and needs of the boarding community to the Senior Leadership Team and play a leading advisory role in the long-term development of boarding. • Be responsible for the appointment and induction of all boarding staff.

(3) Role Description i. Secure high quality boarding care, with effective use of resources for the welfare and pastoral well-being of the boarding pupils. ii. Ensure compliance with the National Minimum Standards for Boarding, Independent School Inspectorate Regulatory Requirements, and other School Policies and procedures as required. iii. Have responsibility for the general well-being and safety of all boarding pupils. iv. Provide pastoral support, communicate and work closely within the boarding provision so as to be aware of any emotional, academic, social, behavioural or adjustment issues pertaining to boarding students. v. Support the School Disciplinary Policy using encouragement, rewards and appropriate sanctions within boarding to promote expected behaviour. vi. Ensure all paperwork, as required by law, is completed efficiently and effectively and updated as appropriate, including UKBA, NMS, fire safety, and health and safety requirements. vii. Ensure all necessary documentation is implemented effectively and appropriately, such as fire logs, signing in and out books, etc. viii. Complete termly reports for boarding pupils and a report for short term stays too ix. Work with the appropriate staff in producing individual Care Plans as needed. x. Liaise with different departments (e.g. finance, admissions, catering, cleaning, maintenance, laundry, and external medical support) to ensure the smooth running of the boarding provision at all times. xi. Prepare the Staff Boarding Handbook, the Handbook for Parents and Guardians, and the Boarding Handbook for Students in a timely way for the start of each school year. xii. Assist in the professional and career development of staff in the boarding houses, encouraging in-service training and engagement in the appraisal process. xiii. Occupy the provided accommodation during term times and provide emergency back-up cover. xiv. Be in residence by the start and after the end of each term to ensure that the arrival and departure of boarding pupils is suitably staffed and to meet parents. xv. Be part of the house-parent rota on weekday nights and weekends and commit to an agreed number of shifts per week. xvi. Join the boarders for breakfast and dinner periodically throughout the week. xvii. Organise, in conjunction with the Logistics Co-ordinator, all boarding pupil travel arrangements at the beginning and end of terms and at half terms.

The post holder will: i. Plan and run start of term inductions for all new boarding pupils, irrespective of when they may arrive throughout the course of the academic year. ii. Ensure a full and varied programme of co-curricular and weekend activities is available to meet each boarding pupil’s individual needs – this will involve arranging, organising and participating in activities, trips and social events, both during the week and at weekends. iii. Undertake, from time to time, such additional duties as may be reasonably requested by the Headteacher.

Head of Boarding Person Specification

Flexibility to respond to the unexpected and enthusiasm are important as are good organisational skills and a genuine interest in the welfare of students.

Qualifications and Professional Development Qualified Teacher Status Desirable Good honours degree or equivalent or other suitable Essential equivalent qualification Experience working with young people Essential Knowledge, skills and personal qualities Candidates should be able demonstrate they have:

Outstanding organisational and administrative skills Essential with excellent IT and communication skills. Passionate about, and dedicated to, boarding, being Essential aware of Health & Safety issues in boarding and the National Minimum Boarding Standards. Innovative thinker and a flexible approach. Essential Strong interpersonal and decision making skills. Essential Capable of formulating and expressing an independent Essential view and of working effectively as part of a team. Calmness and efficiency and the ability to work under Essential great pressure at certain times. Friendly, professional approach capable of inspiring Essential confidence in colleagues, pupils, existing parents and prospective parents. Understanding of the nature of boarding in Essential independent education and meeting the requirements of all boarders. Aware of the nature of the School and prepared to Essential commit to its all-round ethos. Willingness to work hard with energy and enthusiasm Essential realising that the post involves commitment seven days a week during term time. Previous Boarding experience in a minimum of 2 Essential successful settings

Application Closing Date

The closing date for applications is Monday 27th April (midday)

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted shortly after this date.

If you have not heard from us by 30th April 2020 please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Applications may be submitted on email to [email protected] or by post, marked FAO Mrs Medcalf.

Kingsley School is a committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Appointments are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. Further details will be sent to shortlisted candidates.