Housemaster/Mistress of School House
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ENGLAND’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE DECADE THE SUNDAY TIMES Housemaster/Mistress of School House 1 HOUSEMASTER/MISTRESS OF SCHOOL HOUSE SCHOOL OF HOUSEMASTER/MISTRESS THE SCHOOL Brighton is one of England’s leading There has also been major investment in new facilities over the last ten years. This has seen the schools. The College comprises the construction of five major buildings on the main Senior School, educating 1,080 site, including the new £55m School of Science and Sport which opened in January 2020, which pupils aged 13–18, and the Lower includes eighteen state-of-the-art laboratories School, educating 100 pupils aged alongside a new sports hall, 25-metre swimming 11–13. pool, fitness centre and roof-top running track. Other recent additions include two new boarding houses, a state-of-the-art Music School The Brighton College family of schools also includes and the Yeoh Building, a teaching building which Brighton College Nursery, Pre-Prep & Prep School, includes 22 classrooms for maths, history, economics, politics and EAL, alongside an St Christopher’s School and Handcross Park, educating a further 1,150 children aged 3 to 13. innovative Creative Learning Centre, opened in Overseas, the College has opened Brighton College 2017. Abu Dhabi, Brighton College Al Ain, Brighton College Dubai and Brighton College Bangkok, with Brighton College Singapore the most recent Above all, Brighton is a very happy place where staff and pupils feel fulfilled and purposeful. We are proud addition, having opened in September 2020. to have taken a progressive stand on diversity, equality and inclusion and we are committed to The College was delighted to receive furthering this agenda through our teaching, and all record-breaking GCSE and A-level results in 2019, aspects of the life of the school. We are a member of the most recent year when public examinations the School Inclusion Alliance and an important aspect were taken. The Times listed us as their top school of our vision for education is to increase diversity for our A-level results, with 97% of grades A*-B. among our teaching staff to enrich all aspects of the 44% of grades were at A*, which compares to 8% life of the College and provide diverse role models for nationally. In The Telegraph, Brighton College all pupils. We pride ourselves on being a warm, shared the top spot in England for the best GCSE inclusive and respectful community, where our staff results among 2,000 co-educational schools in the are welcoming and positive and our pupils are country. Our pupils excelled, with 94.49% of grades intellectually curious and kind. at 9/8/7. Over 900 9s were achieved in the 2019 GCSE exams, making it the most common grade at Brighton. Not a single paper was failed, with nearly LIVING AND WORKING IN BRIGHTON 2,000 GCSEs sat at the school. The College enjoys its location in Brighton, one of Britain’s youngest cities and one of the most vibrant and progressive in Europe. A recent national survey The College was recently named ‘England's School identified Brighton as the ‘happiest city in the UK’ and of the Decade’ by The Sunday Times. The award it regularly features within the top cities for quality of was given on the basis of our exceptional life nationally. With an extensive beach and seafront, examination results as well as our fundamental and proximity to beautiful rural areas including the emphasis on kindness and social engagement. South Downs National Park, the opportunities for recreation and leisure are varied and numerous. Transport links are also excellent, Brighton being The Sunday Times also named Brighton College within easy travelling distance of London (50 minutes ‘England’s Independent School of the Year 2019’, by train), and 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport. the second time in a decade the school has won Brighton is also a university city, and the College has this accolade. The Week magazine named Brighton good links with both the University of Sussex and College ‘Most forward-thinking school in Britain’ Brighton University. Our annual involvement in the for two years running in 2017 and 2018. Pride parade has strengthened existing links with the Tatler magazine awarded Richard Cairns the title of local community. ‘Head Master of the Year 2012-13’, and Brighton College was named UK ‘Independent School of the Year 2013- 14’ at the Independent Schools Awards. The last full ISI inspection in 2015 awarded the College the top grade in every category including ‘Exceptional’ for teaching and learning. 2 HOUSEMASTER/MISTRESS OF SCHOOL HOUSE SCHOOL OF HOUSEMASTER/MISTRESS THE ROLE Brighton College is seeking to appoint a ROLE SPECIFICATION residential Housemaster/Mistress of The HMM is responsible to the Head Master for: - School House. The start date for this role is anticipated to be September 2021. • The welfare, happiness and progress of all pupils in the House, offering the same level of care and attention that a good parent would BRIGHTON’S PASTORAL SYSTEM and acting in loco parentis for the pupils during term time. Pastoral care at Brighton is structured through 15 vertically organised houses. 13 of the houses have • Maintaining an overview of the pastoral, pupils from Years 9 to 13 inclusive but there is a academic and co-curricular progress of all the separate house for the youngest pupils in Years 7 pupils in the house, and ensuring that they and 8, and also a co-ed Sixth Form boarding House. develop their social and academic potential to There are eight boys’ houses (split between five day the fullest extent. houses and three boarding houses) and five girls’ houses (split between three day houses and two • Taking a specific interest in key areas of the boarding houses). pupils' progress, such as GCSE choices, A-level choices and university admissions. • The maintenance of good discipline and dress School House is situated within the main quad of in liaison with the Deputy Head (Pupils). the College site, and currently houses 61 boarding boys. Around two-thirds are weekly boarders and a • Liaising with parents on all academic, pastoral third full boarders. Although comprising part of the and disciplinary matters, as appropriate. original Victorian buildings of the College, it has been refurbished to a very high standard. There is • Supporting the work of the Chaplaincy and accommodation available for the HMM and their attending those services which the pupils are family in an impressive 4-bedroom flat across two required to attend. floors which is an integral part of the house but has • Finding effective and innovate ways to its own external entrance. celebrate and encourage pupil achievement, through House assemblies, newsletters, fundraising initiatives, social events etc. All boarding housemasters/mistresses (HMMs) take responsibility for the pastoral care and • Managing the performance of the Deputy development of all the pupils in their house, HMMs and House tutor team in conjunction supported by two deputy HMMs (one resident and with the Deputy Head (Common Room), and one non-resident), a matron, and a team of tutors the matron in conjunction with the Director of who all work very closely with the HMM. House Boarding. spirit in the school is alive and well. Pupils are fiercely loyal to their house, and engage • Managing the House budget and liaising with enthusiastically with house events and inter-house the Bursary on matters of health and safety, competitions. HMMs find it easy to get to know maintenance and security, and taking action their pupils exceptionally well, particularly within where necessary. the boarding context. When pupils leave at the end • Attending HMMs’ meetings and chairing of the Upper Sixth, it is often the HMM that they House tutor meetings. Running weekly house identify as having had the most significant impact assemblies. on them during their time in the school. • Supporting the involvement of pupils in broader College activities by attendance at events, where appropriate. • Teaching approximately two-thirds of a timetable in any academic discipline offered by the College. 3 HOUSEMASTER/MISTRESS OF SCHOOL HOUSE SCHOOL OF HOUSEMASTER/MISTRESS PERSON SPECIFICATION Brighton College is an exciting place to work, and it is our staffwho make our community such a vibrant and stimulatingenvironment. The role of a boarding housemaster is an important and pivotal one but it is also part of a wider boarding community led by the Director of Boarding. In particular, the appointee to this role will be joining a highly talented HMM body some 17-strong, and a boarding HMM body of 8, with a culture of mutual support and extensive exchange of ideas. Whilst previous experience in pastoral care and boarding specifically is highly desirable, more important are sound instincts in effectively supporting and encouraging teenagers to be the best possible versions of themselves. The academic success of Brighton is due to excellent, innovative and well-planned teaching. Above all, therefore, we are looking for individuals who foster a passion for learning and who demonstrate an ability and genuine desire to develop pupils to their fullest academic potential. Given that the appointee to this role will teach a substantial teaching timetable alongside their pastoral responsibilities, we would prefer candidates to be demonstrate a proven track record of effective teaching, having obtained excellent public examination results with previous classes. The ability to make a contribution to some area of the co-curricular life of the school is also desirable. Most importantly, we will look for candidates who demonstrate the ability to thrive within an environment that staff describe as both invigorating and refreshing. The ability to inspire children, and the willingness to support the ambition, values and breadth of College life, will be of central importance.