School HMC & IAPS

Houseparent (Housemaster / Housemistress) - Prep School Required for January 2021

Here at Culford We want our pupils to be flexible, innovative Prep there are dynamic and resilient in their future lives, so two things we we seek to model those values as leaders, want to see: teachers and a community. So if you are a happy children highly motivated leader with a passion for with an teaching and learning and you want to part of eagerness to a happy and successful team, I would be learn. And, I delighted to receive your application to join us. am delighted to say, at our school, these are With very best wishes, commonplace. We foster that enthusiasm for learning, develop their talents and find new ones.

Culford School is an exciting place to work with colleagues who are warm, welcoming and highly supportive. You will work alongside a Claire Bentley Common Room of highly experienced Head of Prep School teachers who believe in academic success for all pupils, whatever their abilities, with excellent pastoral care and outstanding facilities. This ensures that children are encouraged to make the most of the exciting array of opportunities on offer.

Closing date for applications: Midday, Friday 10 July 2020 . Early applications encouraged.

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). The Appointment

Cadogan House is the co-educational boarding house for the Prep School. Applications are invited for the role of a teaching Housemaster/ Housemistress or non-teaching Houseparent(s) with responsibility for Prep School boarding.

We are seeking to appoint a motivational and engaging individual or couple who will be fully committed to the ethos of a growing full- boarding/day preparatory school of 240 pupils. They will have overall responsibility for maintaining an excellent standard of boarding plus offering a varied, stimulating extra-curricular programme for boarders, particularly at weekends. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and committed practitioner(s) with a warm sense of humour and a lively, warm, approachable, positive manner with pupils, colleagues and parents. This role can be successfully combined with a reduced teaching timetable or as a non-teaching position. A three bedroom house situated next door to the boarding house is provided and the post holder(s) is required to live on site during term time for the better performance of their duties.

All staff support the Prep School boarders through activities and supervision and a few staff are residents either on site or in the house. Our best lessons often take place outside the classroom and the working day: perhaps a chance conversation about shared interests or reading; or shared experiences on trips and visits. The School

With around 750 pupils aged 1-18 across the whole school, we are set in 480 acres of parkland. The Prep School educates 240 children aged 7-13 years and staff and children benefit from all the facilities of a much larger school with Culford’s £2.2 million Library and superb Sports and Tennis Centre with its 25m indoor pool and four indoor tennis courts. As well as this, we have access to a music school, studio theatre, art and design centre and two all-weather artificial turf pitches. So whether a child is sporty, musical, dramatic or artistic in temperament, Culford Prep has everything to fuel their passions.

There are specialist teachers for all subjects and an extensive programme of activities and clubs enables children to try new things, develop new passions and gain enormous confidence. The School is academically selective within a deliberately broad framework. Top performing pupils work towards scholarships and exhibitions while we also provide full support to those with mild to moderate Specific Learning Difficulties.

Boarding at Culford can begin from age 7, and a tight knit community of some 50 children are based at the Prep School boarding house, where there are separate dormitories for boys and girls with common rooms and lounges where children can play and relax. Our boarders enjoy a wide range of activities, and weekend trips, in addition to having full access to Culford’s impressive range of sports, art, music and drama facilities. With the constant support of our Houseparent and House Tutors, boarding really is a fun home-from-home. The Role

The Housemaster/Housemistress is directly accountable to the Head of Prep School. They are expected to follow School policy and display a uniformity of approach, liaising closely with Senior Staff. Major disciplinary issues are always referred to the Head. They are expected: • To have overall responsibility, in loco parentis, for the welfare of pupils in Cadogan House • To instil virtues of self-discipline, honesty, integrity, humility and hard work • To encourage and to value the contribution of each pupil within the community • To create an atmosphere of tolerance and happiness in a stable and safe environment • To oversee each pupil’s academic and extracurricular commitments • To encourage a balance of commitments that will enrich the pupil’s life • To make clear disciplinary boundaries and the consequences of their breach • To impose such sanctions as are necessary and monitor all those given by others • To ensure access to appropriate medical care and counselling • To give appropriate advice and help after the pupil has left the Prep School • To oversee progress with the support of teachers and disseminate relevant information • To follow-up problems revealed by grades and reports • To contribute to academic and personal references • To liaise with the Senior School Housemasters and Housemistresses • To liaise with parents, form teachers and other teachers over pupils in Cadogan House • To liaise and consult with the Head on all relevant matters • To liaise with the Medical Centre, administrative and maintenance staff as necessary • To ensure that Reception is notified of any planned pupil absence • To manage an effective team within Cadogan House to care for the pupils • To manage and support a House matron and cleaning staff • To contribute to the appointment of Cadogan House staff • To ensure staff cover at all times and to support, encourage and oversee duty staff • To oversee Cadogan House families, ensuring clear structures and control • To ensure appropriate House routines are enacted in line with school policies • To oversee weekend leave and oversee weekend activities provision • To administer and be responsible for Cadogan House accounts • To ensure that Cadogan House is a healthy and safe environment • To be responsible for maintaining the upkeep of the fabric of Cadogan House • To action necessary repairs and particularly those of potential danger • To ensure that fire procedures are followed and termly fire practices are held • To ensure that boarders have appropriate means of communication with parents • To ensure that medical or cleaning stocks are kept secure The Person

Our new Housemaster / Housemistress will be an inspirational, highly-motivated individual who can secure the full engagement of pupils, parents and colleagues. The successful candidate will have the following qualifications, experience, knowledge and personal qualities:

Qualifications and Experience

• Good degree (2.1 or above) in a relevant subject or area • Boarding Schools’ Association qualification or training • Ongoing record of CPD; be reflective and willing to learn from past experiences

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of current educational issues including and up-to-date knowledge of current legislative issues and guidance in relation to working with young children • Experience of managing parental expectations • A commitment to, and knowledge of, the safeguarding of children • Experience of implementing and evaluating whole school pastoral initiatives • Evidence of being a team player • Evidence of planning and managing boarding or social events • Excellent written communication skills • Be able to plan and manage a budget efficiently • Liaise effectively with the Housemasters and Housemistresses in the Senior School • Offer activities as part of the extra-curricular programme • Be passionate about the welfare and wellbeing of young people and to try to actively promote pleasurable and successful learning for all pupils so that each pupil is positively encouraged to develop his/her potential to the full

Personal

• Be resilient and demonstrate the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines • Have a warm sense of humour • Manage time effectively • Lead by example in terms of innovation, energy, enthusiasm, stamina and commitment • Bring life skills and experience to the boarding community, from within or outside education • Be willing to work within organisational procedures, processes and meet the required standards for the role • Have excellent communication skills, and value and respect the needs and views of pupils, colleagues and parents • Have a high level of flexibility with a ‘can do’ attitude and an openness to new ideas and practices • Show the ability to evaluate and improve performance of self and others • Act as ambassador and professional advocate for Culford School, with strong personal credibility and the capacity to build relationships The Location

Suffolk is a wonderful place to live and 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. CULFORD Suffolk has low crime rates and high sunshine levels Stansted compared to the rest of the UK; and accommodation Heathrow LONDON around Bury St Edmunds is relatively affordable. It is, Gatwick however, centrally located on the A14 with and Cambridge 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.

The Application Process

To apply please complete an application form and write a Applications should be received no formal letter addressed to Mrs C Bentley, Head of later than midday, Friday 10 July 2020. Prep School. Send both documents, stating the position applied for in the title line, to: IAll information will be treated as strictly confidential. [email protected]. Please also include a copy of your current CV. If you have any questions or enquiries regarding the application process, or would Your accompanying letter should be no longer than two like to arrange a conversation or pre- sides of A4 and provide additional relevant information to application visit, please ring the Head’s PA on: support your application. The application form can be 01284 385382 downloaded from: http://www.culford.co.uk/work-for-us All appointments are subject to If unable to apply by email please post your application, pre-employment checks to meet vetting and marked “Strictly Private and Confidential” to: barring requirements. For more information about that process please refer to the Mrs C Bentley application form. Head of Prep School Culford School Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP28 6TX