LATYMER UPPER SCHOOL

Information for candidates for the position of Head Latymer Upper School West

www.latymer-upper.org LATYMER UPPER SCHOOL

The School Latymer Upper School, together with its Prep School, The structure of the School is a highly successful, modern, happy and exciting co-educational day school, in , Latymer comprises the Prep (ages 7 to 11) and the West London. Upper School (ages 11 to 18). There are 165 boys and girls in the Prep School and 1120 pupils in the Latymer has a very distinctive character, which Upper School. Overall, there are 710 boys and springs from its stimulating urban setting, socially 575 girls. diverse pupil body, demanding academic programme and its respect for the individual, all contributing to Almost all children from the Prep transfer to the an ethos of choice, opportunity, variety and openness. Upper School into Year 7, when they are joined by a further 120 or so external candidates, about half The School has superb facilities, including several new of whom come from Primary Schools. In total, 168 buildings, and offers an extraordinary range of co- pupils are expected to join one of the 7 Forms which curricular opportunities. Relations between people comprise Year 7 in September 2011. at Latymer are typically respectful and open and this extends to parents, as well as the School’s alumni Years 7 and 8 form the Lower School, Years 9 to and donor community, who are important partners 11 the Middle School and the Sixth Form, which in the School’s development. educates around 360 pupils, attracts between 30 and 40 new students each year who join at 16+. The School offers its students imaginative and inspirational teaching to help them achieve the very Location best academic results of which they are capable, all within a broad-based educational experience Latymer is in Hammersmith, West London - a and a well structured system of supportive and cosmopolitan and vibrant Borough, full of restaurants, individualised pastoral care. The School’s inspection bars and shops - and is easily accessible by report, from March 2011, suggests that the School several bus routes and by London underground. has indeed achieved these aims in many respects and (Ravenscourt Park station is 100 yards from the was described as “outstanding” in all categories. School and the larger Hammersmith station is less than 10 minutes’ walk.) The future for everyone in the Latymer community is an exciting one.

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Hammersmith is also close to many excellent In the last 15 years there has also been an exceptionally schools, which provide stiff competition for places ambitious programme of new building and at all the main entry points, particularly at 11+. re-configuration of the Upper School site, creating This brings particular challenges for the School’s The Arts Centre, a new Sports ground and Pavilion at marketing and for the children and their parents Wood Lane, The Latymer Performing Arts Centre and, as well. A proposed new Free School near to opened in 2010, the new Library and Science Building – Latymer and other new schools planned within the a total investment of close to £30 million. catchment area will no doubt alter the educational landscape further. Governance, leadership The Upper School and the Prep are located at and management either end of the same site, which runs from King The Governance of the School and the leadership Street to the North down to the of the Upper and Prep Schools are all described to the South. The Upper School is accessed from in the Inspection Report of March 2011 as King Street which runs between Hammersmith and “outstanding”, as they were in 2007 at the time Chiswick, and the Prep, adjacent to the School’s of the previous inspection. The leadership style is boathouse, overlooks the Thames. open and collaborative and this is as true of the The School’s playing fields and sports pavilion are Governor/Head relationship as it is of the Head/ located at Wood Lane, which is a 15 minute journey Staff relationship. The Head attends all Governors’ from the School. meetings, as do the Deputy Heads, the Finance Director, the Director of Development and the Principal of the Prep. The Head also has regular History meetings and excellent communications with the The School was founded in 1624 with a bequest Chairman of Governors, himself a former pupil. from Edward Latymer, who wished that a School founded in his name should educate “eight poore The three Deputy Heads (Resources and Planning, boies” of Hammersmith. These philanthropic roots Academic and Staff Welfare and Development) are still underpin the School today, for which a stated members of the Senior Management Team, along aim is “to provide an opportunity for able students with the Finance Director and the Principal of the from all walks of life to develop their talents to the Prep. A long-serving teacher at Latymer, the Deputy full”. Bursary support and raising money to fund this Head (Resources and Planning), has many of the support remain a priority for the School. responsibilities of an Estates Bursar. The School moved to a purpose-built location, on As well as the School’s Director of Development and the current site, in 1890 and this building remains at Registrar there are also four Assistant Heads who the heart of the main School. complete the full Senior Management team, one with responsibility for the Co-curriculum and Partnerships In more recent years there have been many significant and the others with responsibility for each of the changes: the expansion of the Prep on the same site Divisions of the School: Lower School, Middle School as the Upper School and the move to co-education and Sixth Form. There are, of course, various other throughout the School. This began in 1996 with the teams and committees with varied responsibilities and admission of girls to the Sixth Form, to the Prep in projects, such as the Teaching and Learning Group. 2003, and to the Upper School in 2004. The number of girls has now reached parity with, or exceeds, the All Heads of Department report to the Deputy Head number of boys in several year groups. The School (Academic), while on the pastoral side there is a has developed a truly co-educational ethos in a clear line of communication from Form Tutors (there remarkably short space of time. are no Houses at Latymer), to Heads of Year, to Divisional Heads who report directly to the Head.

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The School’s financial position Many pupils and parents who choose Latymer are doing so having considered other excellent schools. The School’s finances are well managed by the They tend to be drawn to Latymer for its high School’s Finance Director, overseen by several academic standards combined with an unpretentious highly qualified and experienced members of the and friendly atmosphere, a palpable “buzz” about the Governing Body. School without undue pressure, its urban setting and The School’s annual turnover is approximately “feel”, broad educational approach, co-educational £18 million, with school fees currently set at £14,460. environment and high quality pastoral care. The School normally generates a healthy annual This and other information is gleaned from parental surplus. The bank loan used to fund recent building satisfaction surveys and other forms of research programmes is expected to be paid off within 5 which are undertaken at the School on a regular years. The School’s finances are very sound indeed. cycle. A summary of the School’s most recent The School’s working capital is supplemented by parental research findings can be downloaded from funds generated by the Development Office which www.rsacademics.co.uk now regularly raises more than £200k from its Annual Fund, and which has contributed around £10 Teaching and learning million since it was set up 7 years ago. Latymer is first and foremost an academic school, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence among pupils The pupil and parent body as well as staff. The School is committed to effective Many of Latymer’s pupils live locally and almost all of and imaginative teaching practice. A new curriculum, the rest travel less than 40 minutes to school each launched in 2010, describes the School’s academic day, many by public transport. The majority of families education as “distinctive, challenging, creative, live in Chiswick, Hammersmith and Shepherds responsive to individual needs, based on academic Bush with others coming from Barnes, Richmond, rigour, love of learning and the pursuit of excellence”. Twickenham, , Notting Hill, Ealing and Acton. The new curriculum, among other things, has Parents are employed in a wide variety of sectors, reduced the number of GCSEs taken by one, although several do work in the City, the media (the introduced more IGCSEs as well as a new core School is relatively close to the BBC Headquarters) subject, the “World Perspectives Course”, developed and in the Civil Service and local Government. by the History, Geography, Classics, Economics and Pupils are generally able and hard-working, RS Departments, to ensure children’s intellectual tolerant of each other and well behaved. They are and cultural horizons are broad and based on the straight-forward, quite relaxed, down-to-earth and real world. comfortable in their own skin. The main features of the new Sixth Form programme In keeping with the Founder’s aims, the School’s are a greater choice of subjects, the introduction history of Direct Grant status and the current of the Extended Project and community service for strategy, the School educates an increasingly large all students. Perhaps of greatest importance is the number of children whose parents benefit from introduction of linear exams in all subjects i.e. means tested financial support. In 2011/12 some 82 all exams are taken at the end of the Upper Sixth. children are expected to be in receipt of fully funded, means-tested scholarships.

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The School’s academic standards have improved Not unusually for a London day school, Latymer in recent years without any adverse effect on the pupils are taken by coach to their sports fields. School’s respect for the individual child or the Perhaps more unusually, at a cost of over £4 million, breadth and diversity of the opportunities offered the grounds have recently been completely dug up to that child. Indeed, to accommodate the new and replaced and a new pavilion built, so that the curriculum, the School has restructured and slightly Wood Lane facilities are now of sufficiently good lengthened the School Day, to reduce congestion and quality to be used by the All Blacks and Wallabies facilitate extra-curricular activities. when on tour. At A level in 2010 there were 580 examination Latymer also has a long tradition of excellence in the entries of which 148 (26%) were awarded the new creative and performing arts. A* and, in total, 91% an A*-B grade. Twenty-nine Oxbridge places were gained and the average UCAS Housed in magnificent, brand new facilities, the points per candidate were 430. School can boast some of the best space and equipment for the Arts of any London schools. At GCSE the results were similarly impressive with Several famous actors have attended the School in 76 pupils (57% of the 135 candidates) receiving at the past and the quality of art on display all around least 5 A*s and 86% of all examination entries graded the School (but most obviously in the atrium and A* or A. walkways gallery above the Sixth Form cafe) is breathtaking. Relatively large numbers of students Teaching classrooms are well equipped although attend Art College after Latymer. the new Library and Science Building, which cost over £10 million, is the new jewel in the crown. This extensive, well equipped facility provides a further boost to the School’s long established success in the Sciences. It was opened in October 2010 by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir John Walker and the Foundation stone was laid by Professor Dame Julia Higgins from Imperial College, a popular destination among Latymer leavers. The subjects studied at University by Latymerians are, however, remarkably balanced across the academic disciplines.

Sports and The Arts As in all things Latymerian, the School aims to offer opportunity, quality and variety in its sports programme. Every child participates in regular sport with greater choice being introduced as children progress up the School. The major winter sports for boys are rugby and football – hockey and netball for girls. is also available from Year 9 onwards. In the summer, cricket (for boys and girls), athletics, tennis and rounders (for girls) are all played. The list of other sports options is extensive, many of which take place in the School’s Sports Hall or 25 metre swimming pool.

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As one would expect in a large, busy and creative Of course, every day of the week, long before school, there are almost endless opportunities for Activity Week kicks in, there are clubs and societies musical performance and ensemble playing as well as for various sports, performing arts and academic dance productions. Drama continues to be a central departments, as well as chess, debating, Amnesty, part of the life of the School with a wide variety Young Scientists... and there are regular trips to of plays put on each term (from popular school Art Galleries, Museums and Theatres. The School’s musicals to new drama written and produced by supportive parent body and excellent relations Latymer students). with alumni (and, of course, its location in West London) also mean that the School is able to attract The quality of the music at the School is also many world class speakers to give lunch time talks exceptionally high – the recital hall, housed in the or speak to evening audiences. Hallmarks of these new Latymer Performing Arts Centre, has its own events are the high student turnout and their mature organ and is surrounded by practice rooms, music (and challenging!) questions. technology spaces and academic teaching rooms. This and the quality of the teaching attract many A very well developed programme of community music scholars, served by 40 peripatetic teachers initiatives and partnerships, co-ordinated by one of who teach over 750 individual lessons the Assistant Heads, ensures that children and staff each week. at the School play an active and purposeful role beyond the gates of the School. Again, these are too Trips, extra-curricular and numerous to list here, although the long-running Saturday clubs for local Primary School children, community links organised with the Borough Council, deserve a Latymer Upper School is always described special mention. Part of the School’s strategy is as “busy”. to further strengthen these links and the pupils’ charitable work. The most obvious highlight of the extra-curricular programme is the long-standing tradition of Sports tours overseas are an annual occurrence, Activities Week, when every pupil and member of although last year’s dance tour to Shanghai and trip staff, takes part in an activity in the UK or abroad to NASA by physicists were more unusual, even by for the last week of the Summer Term. Horse riding Latymer’s standards. Other international experiences and surfing off the West Coast of Ireland, bushcraft for the students are through the Modern Languages and survival in the Cotswolds, creative writing exchange programme and the European work workshops at John Osborne’s house in Shropshire experience arrangements. Since 1947 Latymer has and film-making are among the activities. Children enjoyed an exchange programme with a Gymnasium whose parents would otherwise struggle to pay in Hamburg, and another long-standing exchange the extra costs of these and other trips can benefit programme for Year 8 and 9 pupils exists with a from grants made by the School and funded by the Collège in Nantes, in the West of France. More Parents’ Gild (correct spelling), which is essentially recently, an annual two-week visit to Buenos Aires a parents’ social organisation. The School also draws for senior linguists has been set up to complement upon its parent body and alumni for help with its the School’s annual trip to a language school in careers advice programme, which is particularly up- Salamanca, Spain. to-date and well organised at Latymer. Latymer is indeed a busy school!

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Looking after the individual Marketing, fundraising and At Latymer the individual counts. In a large school, pupil recruitment with so much going on, the staff never lose sight of Latymer is particularly advanced and open-minded this fundamental principal which lies at the heart of when it comes to the management of external the School’s ethos and, many would say, its success. relations and the teams in place are well resourced, Self-respect and mutual respect are the cornerstones competent and experienced. of the School’s approach to pastoral care. Fundraising has been part of the culture of the The School encourages a genuine partnership School for quite a few years now and the record between home and school and the last three parental of success speaks volumes for the professionalism satisfaction surveys demonstrate the School’s record with which it is managed and the strong bonds that of success in this area and its ongoing improvement. exist between the School and its many stakeholders, Staff at Latymer are approachable and down-to-earth. particularly current and former parents, and alumni. Latymer is not a stuffy place. The School’s Director of Development is supported Within each year group, pupils are under the daily by a full-time Assistant Director and four other care of their Form Tutor who works closely with members of staff working to support fundraising and other staff, as well as the Year Heads and Divisional alumni relations at the School. There is a dedicated Heads, to ensure a co-ordinated and supportive publication for alumni as well as an ambitious approach whenever necessary. Children also have programme of events for different age groups and the chance to discuss their progress with a senior interests, including meetings of a legacy club, which member of staff twice a year - vital for retaining the to date has 81 members. strong community spirit in a large school. Parents The School has plans to continue its recent building have easy access to staff and there is, of course, programme, although the focus for the Development a well organised process for regular reporting, Office is increasingly on means tested Scholarships consultations, and opportunities for additional which are so integral to the School ethos of diversity meetings. Children also have access to a Counsellor, and accessibility. based at the School for three days a week. The Head takes an active role, not just in terms The view at Latymer is that children learn best when of setting the vision – the goals which inspire and they are happy, busy and fulfilled; then they feel safe, underpin all external relations activity - but by secure, understood, appreciated and valued. This is a attending external relations events and meeting with priority at the School. individuals. The Head attends all the Open events for prospective parents and pupils and takes time to talk to as many as possible at these events. Marketing and pupil recruitment is organised by a dedicated team, led by the School’s Registrar with particular involvement from the relevant Year Group Heads. At the Prep School, pupil admissions into Year 3, are organised by the Principal and his office, co- ordinating with the Upper School, as appropriate.

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The role of the Head

The Governors of the Latymer Foundation at Key accountabilities Hammersmith seek to appoint a Head to take up post The Head is appointed by the Governors and in September 2012, following the retirement of Peter is responsible for helping to formulate and then Winter after 10 years of distinguished leadership. implement and achieve the aims, policies and plans of The next Head will take over an excellent and the Foundation and its Governing Body. strong school, will want to build on recent successes The Head is responsible for appointing and leading and the School’s long-standing set of values and a strong team, including the Principal of the Prep distinctive character. Above all, however, the new School, and for creating an environment in which Head must develop his or her own vision for the pupils and staff are inspired to develop their interests future; one which can inspire the staff, pupils, and skills and achieve academic excellence. parents and alumni and other members of the Latymer community.

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Key accountabilities 8. Spearhead the School’s fundraising activities and work with the Development Committee The Head is expected to: and Development Office to promote the 1. Consult with Governors on the aims, policies School, explain its fundraising ambitions and and strategic direction of the School, provide attract donations. regular analysis of performance and advise 9. Continue to develop Latymer’s contacts with its and assist the Governing body in carrying out alumni body in the UK and internationally so that its functions. Old Latymerians value and enjoy their continued 2. Develop a 5 year strategy and development links with the School. plan for the School clearly setting out the 10. Reach out to the local community in order to vision, identifying key milestones and targets foster excellent relationships and contribute to and the financial strategy that will be needed the life of the community. to ensure the School has the resources 11. Monitor and evaluate standards of teaching it needs. and learning ensuring that the progress of both 3. Continually evaluate the school curriculum teachers and pupils is assessed and recorded to ensure that it remains appropriate to the and that high standards are maintained. Report needs of pupils, gives due regard to their to Governors on the achievement of groups of academic and pastoral development and pupils and work continually to raise standards stimulates learning. of achievement. 4. Maintain a wide range of extra-curricular 12. Maintain a culture in the School which celebrates activities and ensure that Latymer’s wide sporting diversity, values and respects the needs of others calendar and reputation in all aspects of the and is energetic, fun, supportive and caring. performing arts continues to develop. 13. Working with Governors ensure that, within 5. Continue to employ a top quality team of the context of the 5 year plan, an annual budget teaching and support staff, take responsibility for is agreed and achieved and that the highest their training, development and motivation in standards of financial probity are maintained. order to maintain the highest standards 14. Maintain and, when necessary, upgrade the of teaching. facilities of the School to ensure that they 6. Promote the School vigorously and effectively to keep pace with the needs of pupils, teachers ensure it remains a first choice for parents and and parents. pupils in the area. 15. Ensure that the School complies with all relevant 7. Foster strong relationships with parents, legislation and maintains a healthy and safe ensure they receive regular feedback from the environment for pupils, staff and all visitors to School on the progress of their children and School premises. encourage their strong involvement in the life 16. Personally support the busy and varied life at of the School. the School.

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The person specification • Experience of working closely with Governors and other external bodies to achieve the School’s aims It is expected that the next Head of Latymer Upper School will demonstrate a range of qualities, skills • High standards of written and verbal and experience, as outlined below. communication for a variety of audiences • IT literate with an appreciation of how IT can be Leadership used to improve effectiveness • Inspirational, with the vision and foresight to keep • Experience of managing large projects and change Latymer at the forefront of educational provision in West London Personal characteristics • Committed to the values and culture of the A Head who displays the following personal School and an understanding of the environment characteristics is likely to be well suited to Latymer and in which it operates and the market it serves able to move it forward from its current position also: • Excellent communication and ambassadorial • Innovative, imaginative, lively and energetic skills with the stature to work effectively with parents, staff, pupils, Governors, major donors • Open minded and persuasive and Latymer alumni • Displaying honesty and integrity • A track record of recruiting and developing a top • Socially at ease with people from a wide range quality team, setting high standards for himself/ of backgrounds herself and others and leading people to work • Decisive, yet measured towards common goals Qualifications Academic and Pastoral The successful candidate will: • Understands trends in education at an international, national and local level • Hold a good honours graduate qualification, possibly with post graduate qualification/ • Can position Latymer in the market place and further degrees understands what the School can and should offer • Have qualified teacher status • Understands trends and statutory requirements in curriculum development and what needs to be done • Be able to provide evidence of continuing to keep the School at the forefront of innovation professional development • Has an impressive teaching record • Understands the characteristics of an effective Employment terms and conditions school and strategies to improve performance The Governors of Latymer Upper School are • Is interested in a wide range of arts, sports and prepared to pay what is required to attract and other extra-curricular activity retain the very best candidate. • Has experience of working at a senior level in a In addition to a generous salary, benefits will school, ideally in inner London/city schools, and include a contributory pension scheme, private of a co-educational environment health insurance for the family, discounted Managerial school fees if relevant, and accommodation which is a short walk from the School. The Head • Experience of strategic and financial planning, is provided with a four bedroom, semi–detached revenue generation and marketing Edwardian property with a small garden which is • Well organised, a good planner and delegator and maintained at the School’s expense. In addition, experienced at achieving measurable targets the School pays all utility bills and an allowance • Track record of managing a large team effectively for cleaning and gardening.

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The application process The process is as follows (dates can be found on our website): Candidates should complete their application form • Preliminary informal interviews with John Dunston electronically and email this, together with a covering and colleagues from RSAcademics in early May letter summarising their motivation and suitability, • Initial “long-list” interviews with Governors of to RSAcademics by midday on Monday 18th April Latymer Upper in the middle of May 2011. There is no need to submit a CV. • You will be reminded to bring to the long list Please email your completed application form and interviews photo proof of identity and copies of covering letter (preferably as PDF files) to Dawn academic qualifications Hetherington, Office Manager at RSAcademics: • Candidates who are shortlisted for final interview [email protected] may be asked to complete psychometric tests after the long list interviews, the results of which Interested candidates are encouraged to contact will be fed back at the final interviews RSAcademics by email or on our head office number 01572 821306 to arrange a confidential discussion • The final interview will take place over two days, at their convenience with John Dunston, Tony Evans before the end of May, at which time, in addition or Russell Speirs. to a final interview with Governors and further exercises, there will be an opportunity to meet Candidates should make every effort to ensure they staff and pupils, tour the School and meet more are available for interviews. Please ensure that you informally with the Chairman of Governors have made your availability clear and provided contact telephone numbers during the Easter holidays in the Latymer Upper School is committed to safeguarding space provided in the Application Form. and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The post is subject to an enhanced CRB check.

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The appointment is being handled for RSAcademics Tony Evans has helped with the appointment of by John Dunston, assisted by Tony Evans and Heads at several schools, including Dulwich Russell Speirs. College, Manchester Grammar, Winchester, Oakham and Marlborough. John Dunston served as a Head for over twenty years, first at Sibford School and then, from 1996 to Tony first taught at Eastbourne College and then at 2010, at Leighton Park School in Reading. where, as Master of College, he later ran the Scholars’ boarding house. He then John has helped with the appointment of a number joined Dulwich College as Head of 6th Form before of HMC and SHMIS Heads, including the positions taking up his first headship at Portsmouth Grammar at Wisbech Grammar School, Thetford Grammar School in 1983. He was Headmaster of King’s College School and The John Lyon School in Harrow, and has School, Wimbledon from 1997 to 2007. also conducted several Heads’ appraisals. He has been an ISI Reporting Inspector since Tony has been Chairman of HMC and currently 2001 and is also involved in the training of inspectors. sits on the Board of AGBIS, the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools. He is also John is a former Chairman of SHMIS and of AEGIS, a Governor at three HMC schools, one as Chairman. the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students.

RSAcademics is a specialist provider of external relations, strategic marketing and management consultancy to independent schools, set up by Russell Speirs in 2002, after he had worked at Unilever and, as Marketing Director, at Uppingham School. The external relations and marketing services provided by RSAcademics range from market research and assistance with fundraising to marketing planning, brand positioning and audits of schools’ marketing, admissions and development activities. RSAcademics helps Governors, Heads and Senior Staff with cultural change, personnel recruitment and strategic planning and by providing training and coaching. They have worked with Latymer Upper School before as marketing advisors and Russell knows the School well.

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