Prep Deputy Head

Deputy Head for September 2024

The Role Fettes Prep School is seeking a new Deputy Head following the retirement of the existing Deputy at the end of this academic year.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in a school that is looking to the future with confidence and a clear vision. The strength of operating within the Fettes College structure gives Fettes Prep an enviable position on the local, national and international stages and the position of Deputy Head at Fettes Prep is therefore a significant one.

Overview of the Schools Fettes Prep School Fettes Prep School is situated in a 100 acre wooded campus in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh which is very close to the city centre.

We have 185 pupils aged 7 -13 and we share this beautiful campus with Fettes College, which was founded in 1870 and is one of the UK’s leading co-educational boarding and day schools.

There is a pervading sense of a school that is moving forward at the Prep. There is also a marked sense of community amongst staff, pupils and parents alike. Everything that we do at the Prep School shows the commitment we have to the happiness of our children and to being the best school we can be, and we are not afraid to innovate to achieve this.

The Prep School is able to make use of the College facilities, including the Chapel, Westwoods Sports Centre and the extensive sports pitches but also enjoys the benefit of our own dedicated staff, curriculum and buildings.

Approximately 25% of our Prep pupils board full time and we have two boarding houses- Arran for the boys and Iona for the girls.

The Teaching Staff consists of the Headmaster (a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools) and 30 members of the Common Room.

Fettes College Ninety-five per cent of our pupils move onto Fettes College where the Fettes family journey continues. Fettes College has 580 students (13-18 years) of whom over 70% are boarders. There is also a strong Old Fettesian Association (with over 5,000 Old Fettesians worldwide).

Fettes College has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. The school opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co- educational in 1980. The academic staff in the College consists of the Head and 90 full time members of the Common Room.

As well as our teaching staff, we employ over 220 operational Staff across the many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing. The Prep School therefore benefits from significant levels of operational support from being part of the wider organisation.

Fettes Prep School Vision and Context Charlie Minogue, the current Headmaster, has been in post since September 2022 having previously been Headmaster of Moor Park since 2015.

The Prep School is about to publish its vision for the future, building on its current strengths, making the most of its strategic opportunities and linking with the over-arching vision for Fettes College, launched in September 2022. This is therefore an exciting time to be involved at the Prep School and the new Deputy Head will be an important figure in moving the school forward.

Fettes College Vision and Context Fettes College’s vision and strategy Fettes Moving Forward: A place to live. A place to learn. A place to grow. are founded on the four key strands of learning, wellbeing, our community and our people, each of which is integral to the ongoing success and growth of the school. There are many parts to all these strands, including the design of a curriculum for the future, further broadening our engagement in and with the local community and, of course, our steadfast belief in promoting a full boarding ethos but crucial to each in some way is the improvement and/or development of facilities to allow the vision to be fully realised.

The Aims of the School Fettes Prep School aims to nurture the individual while fostering a happy, well-ordered and caring community with strong family values at its core.

To this end, we will do our utmost to ensure our students: • Receive the highest possible quality of education within a boarding environment • Feel safe, valued, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, possessing a willingness to take on responsibility • Develop their self-confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners and humour, leadership skills and teamwork • Value a sense of community and service, and develop a clear sense of right and wrong, equipping them for life beyond Fettes • Are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender and identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion • Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves in everything they undertake.

Job Description The following list could never be exhaustive but gives an overview of the role.

Leadership Overview.

• Deputising for the Headmaster in his absence • A member of the Prep School SLT • Playing a leading role in developing all aspects of the school to further the school’s strategy • Involvement in the recruitment process for new staff • A visible presence around school • High level of commitment to school events Pastoral Care and Discipline.

• Work closely with the Head of Pastoral Care • Rewards, sanctions, management of disciplinary incidents • The House Competition • Chair Pastoral Leadership Team • Transition arrangements between Prep and the Senior School • Pupil Leadership: training, structures and organisation • Food Committee

Organisational and Admin Responsibilities.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Day to day running of the school Staffing of duties and rotas Line managing and organising the Graduate Assistants Organising the school calendar, creating balance in activities School Handbook (Vademecum) and policy updates as required Beginning and End of Term arrangements End of Term assemblies – collating awards Prizegiving Planning school events, liaising with staff in both Senior and Prep schools Keeping records of complaints with the Headmaster’s PA Updating of Honours Boards School photographs

Person Specification Personal Qualities • Empathic • Energetic • Creative • Organised • Loyal • Principled • Finely developed sense of humour and fun Qualifications and Experience • GTCS registration or ability to achieve this • A good degree and a teaching qualification • Experience of middle or senior management in a school setting • Experience of planning, making and managing change in a school setting • Experience and/or understanding of working in a boarding school

Abilities and Knowledge • Excellent communication skills • A track record of excellent teaching • An understanding of the needs of the Prep School age range • An awareness of current educational trends and developments • Excellent IT skills Desirable but not essential • Evidence of active professional development • Other interests outside of school • Ambition to lead a school in the future

Expectations of our Staff The academic teaching that takes place in the classroom is fundamentally important and we pride ourselves on the quality of learning and teaching at Fettes Prep. However, typical of a school with boarders, our teaching staff do so much more than teach. Our full boarding ethos means that each member of teaching staff will become fully immersed in all aspects of life at Fettes. This means that the majority of teachers are also Tutors, with a group of tutees to mentor and guide. A number of Tutors will also be attached to one of our two boarding houses, taking on a duty in house one evening per week. Teachers also involve themselves in the Fettes community by coaching sports and bringing their particular interests and strengths to our thriving extra-curricular programme (where over 40 activities are offered). Fettes Prep expects all our staff to be professional, well-mannered, well presented and courteous to pupils, staff and visitors to the Prep School at all times. All staff are expected to read and understand the various school policies we have and ensure that these are followed.

“Fettes is a busy and nonstop school but a fulfilling and happy place to teach with an underlying sense of calm”

Conditions of the Appointment 1. The appointment will date from September 2024.

2. Salary will be by negotiation and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

3. Appropriate accommodation, which may include use of a 4 bedroom house, close to campus.

4. Employment will be subject to one term's notice on either side.

5. All applicants must be either registered with the GTCS or eligible for GTCS registration. If you are unsure of your eligibility you must check the GTCS website: www.gtcs.org.uk before applying.

6. Subject to the availability of places at the time of first entry, you will be eligible for a generous staff discount on school fees.

Other details and conditions of service will be discussed at interview.

Application Process The closing date for applications for this role is Tuesday, 23rd January 2024, with first round online interviews being held in the w/c 5th February 2024. In person second interviews will be held in the w/c 19th February 2024.

To apply please go to our website and follow the link for this vacancy: www.fettes.com An offer of employment will be subject to two satisfactory references and a clean report being obtained from the Disclosure Scotland PVG Scheme in view of the contact you will have with children during your normal duties. All applicants must be either registered with the GTCS or be able to achieve this - please check www.gtcs.org.uk New staff at Fettes join a friendly and supportive team with a vibrant mixture of age and experience. We value every member of staff’s contribution to the life of the school. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We are passionate about creating a diverse workforce and welcome applications from under-represented communities. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates. If you would like to have an informal chat about the inclusive culture at Fettes College, or have any questions about how this might work for you, please contact Sadia Hussain-Savuk (DEI Lead) at s.hussain-savuk@fettes.com.

Fettes College Preparatory School