Thank you for your interest in joining the teaching community at St Catherine’s, Bramley. We hope that this leaflet, together with the recruitment page on our website and the detailed job description for the post in which you are interested, will provide you with a sense of the vibrancy of the academic provision at St Catherine’s and the strong sense of community which permeates the whole school.
St Catherine’s values all its staff as the single most important part of everything that underpins a great education for the girls. The governors have staff wellbeing and enjoyment of their roles at the top of their list of strategic priorities, an aspiration shared by the Headmistresses and management of the School. This begins from the engagement of many senior leaders in the interview process for all recruited teachers. For the successful applicant, support is provided from the moment of appointment through detailed induction programmes, termly INSET provision, and any specific training required to help all our teachers feel comfortably in control of every aspect of their professional lives in school. Through this approach we hope to nurture happy teachers, excited by the opportunity to pass on their academic enthusiasm and expertise in pastoral care, leading to happy and fulfilled students. The result is a dynamic and vibrant community where everyone genuinely matters.
What follows are some details of the employment package offered to successful applicants for posts at St Catherine’s School, Bramley.
Alice Phillips - Headmistress
Naomi Bartholomew - Headmistress of the Prep School
St Catherine’s is an academically selective Church of England school with a strong focus on roundedness. It offers all its pupils’ access to a first-rate education in the broadest sense. There are approximately 860 pupils, aged 4-18, including some 250 in the Preparatory School, 170 boarders in the Senior School (boarding is from 11+) and 175 in the Sixth Form.
St Catherine’s was founded in 1885 as a girls’ day and boarding school and for over 135 years, the School has been a forward-looking educational establishment for girls and young women which retains the best values of the past whilst embracing new educational approaches and committing to preparing young women for their ongoing education and lives beyond School.
The School is set in the beautiful countryside of the Surrey Hills on a 25 acre campus, just 3 minutes from Guildford and Godalming. Our pupils enjoy outstanding success in every field - academic, cultural, sporting - and we are proud of all that we can help them to achieve. By creating an environment in which their confidence can grow, we ensure that our girls thrive. How do we create such an exceptional environment? By treating each girl as an individual, by constant encouragement, and by striving to ensure that every pupil finds her place in our thriving community. A dedicated and successful team of teachers underpin this success.
SALARY AND REMUNERATION
Salaries are based on the St Catherine’s salary scale and will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate. All colleagues are offered medical insurance cover which is a taxable expense.
PENSION
St Catherine’s is a member of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and there is an appropriate alternative scheme for non-teaching members of staff. Details are available on request.
MEDICAL INSURANCE
St Catherine’s offers Private Medical Insurance cover for all staff, on appointment or at the start of each academic year, with an option for employees to upgrade the service to provide additional cover to include partners and children. This gives access to private medical treatment, 24 hour GP service FOC, counselling & support services, life management support (guidance on everyday matters such as legal and financial concerns), cover for hospital admissions and specialist treatments to name a few of the benefits. As well as enabling staff to schedule in appointments and treatments at convenient times, services such as physiotherapy can be accessed without a GP referral, meaning treatment is often quicker and more streamlined. Confidential help with mental health issues is also provided via a dedicated app called Thrive
ON SITE ACCOMMODATION
St Catherine’s offers boarding to pupils in Years 7 - 13, looked after by a large and energetic resident staff team led by our Senior Boarding Housemistress and her team of Boarding Housemistresses. The resident staff team comprises teaching, support and ‘Gap Year’ staff. Accommodation for resident staff is provided free of charge (with a monthly utilities charge) in return for evening and weekend duties on a rota. Resident staff are also offered all meals, seven days a week during term-time, free of charge. There is also the opportunity to accompany trips to a number of interesting and exciting locations.
SCHOOL FEES DISCOUNT
Full time members of staff are entitled to a discount on School fees for daughters educated at St Catherine’s. This is calculated on a pro rata basis for part-time members of staff. This is available to both teaching and non-teaching members of staff. A place at the School is dependent on the girl passing the relevant entrance examinations.
The staff have been exceptional at tailoring their pastoral and academic support to each of our daughters; their dedication in finding the right approach for each child throughout their time at the school is a hallmark of their desire to achieve the best for each of their pupils.
Current Parents, Prep & Senior School
WELLBEING
Governors and Managment believe staff and student wellbeing is a priority and offer all staff the following benefits:
FITNESS
Join the St Catherine’s Sports Club with a small one-off lifetime payment. Facilities include access to a fitness suite, swimming pool, squash court with dedicated ‘staff’ early morning slots, and yoga.
Staff families can access sports facilities during Term when not in use by girls, including the pool, provided they are accompanied by the staff member. Access to facilities in the school holidays is also offered with times published to avoid any school lets.
HEALTH
Flu vaccinations are provided free of charge annually for all ages of staff and administered on site.
Access to qualified nursing staff during the day for initial consultation or medical needs.
COUNSELLING
Up to 6 weeks free counselling service is provided for every member of staff by our insurers and staff can access to the School’s Resident Psychologist through the Directors of Staff in both Schools.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
We believe in lifelong learning at St Catherine’s and are fully committed to providing excellent continuous professional development for colleagues across the school. We are fortunate to be able to start each academic year with inspiring speakers and presentations from professionals at the top of their field who inspire the very best practice. We are also able to support colleagues attending courses, visits to other schools and seek opportunities for sharing of best practice between colleagues. Colleagues also benefit from the links which are made via professional associations. We are a member of Girls’ Schools Associations, Independent Association of Prep Schools and Boarding Schools’ Association as well as International Coalition of Girls’ Schools.
St Catherine’s has a very successful record of training excellent teachers for over a decade and we welcome applications from good graduates wishing to train ‘on the job’ with bespoke support from experienced mentors.
We also provide full support and mentoring for ECTs in partnership with ISTIP (Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel)
COMMUNITY
THE ASSOCIATION - YOUR COMMUNITY FOR LIFE
The sense of community at St Catherine’s is a significant strength of the School. Established in 2004, the St Catherine’s Association connects current and former pupils, parents, staff, and governors, members of the local community, and other friends and supporters of the School. As a staff member you are automatically enrolled into the Association, which provides free, life-long membership. We offer a wide variety of opportunities and something for everyone to enjoy including trips, Foundation Day, St Catherine’s Presents - a series of concerts, lectures and entertainments by notable performers, academics, broadcasters and artists, and Non Nobis - a biannual newsletter. In the Summer Term The Association Choir that Sings Rock perform in the annual Jazz and Rock Concert after three rehearsals.
BE A PART OF SOMETHING
Love singing? The Association runs a non-auditioned choir for current and former staff, parents, and anyone with a connection to St Catherine’s who loves to sing. The choir rehearses weekly in the Autumn and Spring terms, culminating in a concert of a major choral work performed alongside current St Catherine’s choirs and orchestras. Recent works include Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Handel’s Messiah
Are you a keen Saxophonist or dedicated drummer? There are plenty of opportunities for staff to get involved in performing in our state-of-theart auditorium. Current staff join the girls in various music groups such as Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band for major performances.
If you are a keen rambler or just enjoy the countryside, there are lots of opportunities for staff to support pupils with outdoor pursuits such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions, be that in the Brecon Beacons or the Wye Valley. Or you can go further afield on the Sixth Form expedition. Recent destinations include Vietnam, Costa-Rica, Borneo, and Cambodia. (Our students have gained over 300 DofE Gold Awards since 2010.)
EVERYDAY BENEFITS
PARKING
Free off road parking close to your place of work.
LUNCH
Free two-course lunch for staff with hot and cold options including salad bar. Breakfast and supper are available when you need to stay in School for activities such as Parents’ Evenings, or can be purchased on an occasional or regular basis, should you wish. Any special dietary requirements can be catered for.
REFRESHMENTS
Free-flowing tea, coffee, biscuits and cakes, and facilities to make other snacks - such as a microwave and Nespresso machine (bring your own pods).
DELIVERIES
The Estates Office will take receipt of staff’s personal deliveries which can be useful around Christmas and other celebrations.
ENRICHMENT
From time-to-time Staff are also able to take advantage of various webinars, lectures and presentations on subjects as diverse as Financial Wellbeing, Parenting, Energy & Cost of living that we are fortunate to have access to via our links with professional bodies and from our own medical and psychologist colleagues as well as experts booked to speak here by the PTAs.
WRAP-AROUND CARE
For staff with children in the School there is an optional breakfast club from 7.45am (at a small charge) and after-School care in Cat Club (with no charge for staff) until 6pm.
TECHNOLOGY FINANCING
Interest-free loans for purchase of personal devices/laptops etc. with payments staged over a year’s salary in monthly installments.
There’s a freedom to think, to teach and to learn here. I like that.
Current staff member
St Catherine’s is a family school. The presence of the boarding community strengthens this feeling, but it is all pervasive. It’s not just cool to be clever at St Catherine’s; it’s cool to be kind.
Current staff member
What’s striking about St Cat’s is the confidence of the girls and their willingness to step up and try something new or challenging, and to pull it off with aplomb!
Current staff member
The School is well-rounded, with a rich tapestry of opportunities for girls and staff.
Current staff member
Subject and study skills widely praised by parents, as were teachers who are generally described as ‘off the scale’ and ‘dedicated’.
Good Schools’ Guide, Oct 2022
St Catherine’s
GSA Day & Boarding School since 1885 | 4 - 18 years | Guildford GU5 0DF
