Junior King's Head Candidate Brief

CO-EDUCATIONAL | 3-13 YEARS | DAY & BOARDING | IAPS

Candidate Brief

Information for candidates applying for the position of Head The Junior King’s School Sturry Canterbury Kent CT2 0AY 01227 714008 www.junior-kings.co.uk

Contents Page

The School 4 The Role 9 Responsibilities

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Personal Qualities 18 Terms of Employment

Application and Interview Process

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The School

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he Junior King’s School is a leading IAPS prep school for boys and girls aged from 3 to 13 years, situated in the attractive grounds of Lord Milner’s former home in the village of Sturry, two and a half miles outside Canterbury. The school, once described by Kipling as ‘the junior branch of the oldest school in England’, forms part of the historic King’s School and Cathedral foundation in Canterbury.

Over the years, Junior King’s and The King’s School have benefitted from an ambitious and continuing programme of new building, refurbishment and property acquisition. The financial position of The King’s School (including Junior King’s) is strong. Substantial investment has enabled Junior King’s to maintain high-quality teaching together with first-class recreational and boarding accommodation. The quality of the school’s buildings and facilities is now of a high standard and this has contributed significantly to its success.

The school currently has 365 pupils on the roll, including 82 boarders and 95 pupils in the Pre-Prep department (Nursery – Year 2).

Entry to the Prep School is selective and a large proportion of leavers move on to The King’s School where the pass mark at Common Entrance is 60%. Many candidates also gain awards in the King’s Scholarship examinations. Junior King’s pupils have an outstanding record in obtaining academic, music, art, DT, drama and sports scholarships to King’s and other leading senior schools. All other 13+ leavers sit the Common Entrance examinations for entry to their senior schools of choice. A small number of pupils take the 11+ Kent Test and leave the school for one of the Canterbury grammar schools.

Junior King’s helps its day pupils to flourish, but the boarding life is still central to the vibrant life of the school. In recent years Junior King’s has attracted an outstanding reputation for excellence for care of boarders. The Houseparents of the Boys and Girls houses (Juckes and Kipling) lead a strong team of qualified staff including, tutors, matrons and medical staff. The new Head will be expected to be equally committed to the day children and the boarding culture, taking a close interest in the well-being of the boarders.

Classes are small with a maximum form size of 18 in the Prep School. The younger classes (Pre-Prep to Year 4), each have the benefit of a classroom assistant. Setting of core subjects in the middle and upper school enables many groups to be smaller in size and affords helpful differentiation. In the Pre-Prep the school has one nursery class together with two reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes. Junior House usually consists of two Year 3 and two Year 4 classes, Middle School expands to three Year 5 and three Year 6 classes and the Upper School usually has four Year 7 and a further four Year 8 classes, of which one is a scholarship form.

The school day starts with prayers/assembly at 8.30am and finishes at varying times with Pre-Prep ending at 3.15pm, Junior House at 4.15pm and Middle and Upper School at 4.45pm. An extensive programme of activities, prep and clubs is provided for those who wish to stay on until 6.00pm. The Pre-Prep also runs a late club together with an extensive programme of after school activities. Boarders have their own programme for after school and evening activities together with an exciting weekend provision.

Middle and Upper School pupils attend Saturday morning lessons and on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the school day finishes for some after lessons and for others after sports matches. Junior King’s operates an exeat system (Friday night to Sunday evening), every 2-3 weeks.

History The King’s School, Canterbury is the oldest school in England dating from the arrival of St Augustine in the year 597. From earliest times the school was attached to St Augustine’s monastery, firstly in the vicinity of the old Abbey and later in the Precincts of the Cathedral Church. The School was re-founded by King Henry VIII, following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1541, and the departure of Abbot Foche for retirement in Sturry. The King’s School, as it became known, was an integral part of the Cathedral Foundation and governed by Cathedral statute. In 1878, the School became legally separated from the Cathedral though with the Dean & Chapter still constituting its Governing Body and in 1946 a Royal Charter of King George VI established the present constitution of The King’s School.

The Junior School was originally located in what is now Walpole House, adjacent to the Archbishop’s Palace.

The young boys there were affectionately known as Parrots due to the enormous noise they made in the hallowed precincts of the Cathedral! In 1929 a generous bequest from Lady Milner, in memory of her late husband Alfred, enabled the Governors to move the 70 juniors into Lord Milner’s beautiful home at Sturry Court. Rudyard Kipling, a great friend of Lord and Lady Milner, opened the new school which for many years was known as Milner Court.

Facilities The buildings consist of a Tudor Manor House, a Tithe Barn, an Oast House for the Pre-Prep, a purpose built nursery, a main school building including the two boarding houses and a Design Technology, Art and Science Centre. A new Dining Hall was added in 1994 and two teaching wings opened in 1999 provide eight further classrooms. Sports facilities are outstanding with extensive fields and flood lit astro surfaces, tennis courts, swimming pool and sports hall. The magnificent new Herbert Music School was recently opened by Harry Christophers C.B.E.

Management The Junior King’s Head is responsible to the Governors and to the Headmaster of The King’s School, Canterbury for the overall management of the Junior King’s School including the pre-preparatory department. The Head of King’s visits on a weekly basis, as does the Bursar. The Head of Junior King’s is a member of the King’s Senior Management Team.

Junior King’s has its own Senior Management Team (SMT) consisting of Head, Deputy (Pastoral), Assistant Head (Staffing and Routine), Director of Studies, Registrar, Head of Pre-Prep, and Heads of Upper, Middle and Junior House. The SMT meets every week. Within this group the Head, Deputy, Assistant Head and Director of Studies also meets as a strategy team.

The Head attends all full Governing Body board meetings and is invited to attend the Finance and General Purposes Committee meetings, the Estates Committee and the Governors’ Strategy Day. Four Governors from the Board of King’s are delegated to take a close interest in Junior King’s. They, together with the Headmaster of King’s and the Bursar, meet as the Junior King’s Governing Body on a termly basis.

The Head of Junior King’s and some senior staff are invited to participate in the Joint Pastoral Carers Committee and the Boarding Committee of both schools with Governor representation; Heads of Department of both schools meet socially and for discussion twice a year.

The Role

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pplications are invited by the Governors for the position of Head to succeed Peter Wells who will be retiring after 17 years of outstanding service to the school. The starting date will be September 1st 2017.

The Head will bring leadership, determination, imagination and high level management skills. He/She will possess: the diplomacy to make positive and productive relationships with parents and staff, sound administrative and financial skills, the ability to promote the School successfully and the fullest understanding of the academic, social and pastoral needs of young children.

The successful candidate will be an inspiring individual who is well-qualified, experienced, enthusiastic and energetic and capable of building upon the many current strengths of the School.

Junior King’s currently has substantial boarding numbers and operates an extended week. The Head is expected to appoint and lead an appropriately resourced staff team dedicated to the broad ethos and Christian values of the school. All teaching staff are expected to contribute strongly to the extensive cocurricular programme.

Responsibilities Aims & Ethos • to build on the existing levels of excellence • to lead and motivate the pupils by personal example • to encourage a positive atmosphere of mutual co-operation and well-being amongst pupils, parents and staff alike • to maintain and nurture the highest academic standards alongside a wide-ranging and vibrant co-curricular programme • to lead the School in a prominent role within the local community of Sturry • to support and promote the principle of charitable activities • to articulate a clear vision for future development.

Tasks • overseeing the pastoral care, safety and good health of all pupils and staff, including the Nursery and PrePrep, in conjunction with the Deputy Head • planning and implementing an effective and up to date academic curriculum in conjunction with the Director of Studies • monitoring pupil progress and ensuring that parents are provided with regular feedback • handling queries and concerns in line with the School’s policies and procedures • maintaining good relationships and regular contact with The King’s School and other senior schools as appropriate in order to advise parents effectively on suitable school choices for their children • managing public relations, promoting the School locally, nationally and internationally • continuing the development of the School’s expanding music, art, sport, drama and other co-curricular activities • preparing termly written reports for the Governors detailing the School’s progress and any issues of interest and concern • being responsible for the overall financial management and performance of the School, in conjunction with the Bursar, in order to meet the annual budget agreed by the Governors • liaising with the Estates Department over the management of buildings, grounds and facilities in conjunction with the Bursar

• reviewing and updating the school’s Development Plan on an annual basis • overseeing an outstanding Admissions department to ensure that pupil numbers are maintained at capacity • interviewing and appointing all academic staff in line with current regulatory guidelines and together with the HR Department, providing them with written contracts and job descriptions • overseeing the professional training and development of all staff and the efficient working of the appraisal system • setting an example of continuous personal development, and participating in regular appropriate training in order to maintain up-to-date professional expertise • being a member of IAPS, and attending relevant national and district events, and representing the school on other bodies, such as the BSA, where appropriate • to ensure that the School is inspection ready at all times

Compliance (in conjunction with the Bursar) • ensuring that the School meets all legal requirements, including compliance with Independent School Regulations, Safeguarding, Child Protection and Health and Safety regulations, statutory guidance or codes of practice which are relevant to the School’s operation • maintaining a thorough knowledge of government ‘good practice’ guidance and school inspection requirements (including those of the Independent Schools Inspectorate) and keeping all staff and Governors well-informed on these in order to deliver proper compliance, in particular on Safeguarding (Safer Recruitment and Child Protection) issues • maintaining up-to-date plans for crisis management and disaster recovery • ensuring that all policies are up to date and relevant

Personal Qualities

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he successful candidate is likely to possess:

• a good university degree • relevant teaching qualifications • an understanding of and support for Christian values and the centrality of the relationship with Canterbury Cathedral and the neighbouring parish church • extensive educational leadership experience • energy, creativity and commitment to a range of tasks together with a flexible outlook • problem solving skills with understanding for different cultural and educational backgrounds • an understanding of the commitment and enjoyment of the life of a boarding school • a warm, engaging personality with a good sense of humour • the ability to demonstrate a calm demeanour and level-headed judgement in crisis situations • strong communication skills with pupils, parents, and staff • financial acumen and business marketing skills • high levels of stamina, enthusiasm and commitment

Terms of Employment

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he Head’s salary will be based upon qualifications and experience and subject to annual review by the Governors. The Head will be expected to live on site, in a house provided rent-free for the effective performance of their duties. There is a fee remission scheme for the children of school staff.

The post is pensionable under the Teacher’s Pension Scheme, and will be offered with private medical insurance for the Head and spouse/partner (where applicable) and all dependent children.

Full details of the terms and benefits of the post, which will be commensurate with the importance of the role, will be discussed with the successful candidate at the time of the initial offer. This offer will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, DBS and other regulatory clearance and to a successful medical check as well as completion of a Medical Questionnaire. The successful candidate will receive a written contract shortly after final offer and acceptance of the post.

Application & Interview Process

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andidates should submit a short letter of application, addressed to the Chairman of Governors, The Very Reverend Dr Robert Willis, along with the completed Application form including CV through the School’s website www.kings-school.co.uk.

Closing date for applications: Midday Wednesday 28th September 2016.

Candidates will be informed after 6th October 2016 whether they will be invited to a first interview on the 12th October 2016, following which candidates may be invited to a second interview.

Second interviews by the Governors’ selection panel will take place on 11th November 2016 and an appointment will be made by the end of term.

Referees will not be sought until candidates have been notified that they have been selected for the second interview.

If any candidate would like a confidential discussion on the school or the role, they should contact the School’s external advisor, Joanna Grant Peterkin on grantpeterkinj@gmail.com.

Nursery

Pre-Prep

Prep

“Vision, leadership and commitment across the age range”

Junior King’s Milner Court Sturry Kent CT2 0AY www.junior-kings.co.uk