Candidate Brief

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Brief for the position ofHead, Roedean | January 2013Brief for the position ofHead, Roedean | January 2013

Visit Roedean atwww.roedean.co.uk

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Contents Background 3The Role 8The Individual 10How to Apply 13

www.odgersberntson.co.uk 3

Roedean’s Foundation

Roedean was founded in 1885 by the three Lawrence sisters, Penelope, Dorothy and Millicent. The school opened in Brighton with just 10 pupils, but within a decade had grown to 400. The early pupils were the daughters of the professional middle classes and industrialists.

Roedean’s foundation was motivated by a commitment to provide girls access to the full range of academic studies. A high level of academic achievement was expected, motivated by the then ground-breaking view that young women should be given the means to earn a living and, if necessary, to support their families.

The founders acquired a 45 acre campus overlooking the English Channel on the eastern edge of Brighton and moved the school in 1898. This is where the school sits today.

The Vision

From its exceptional coastal location, Roedean provides an excellent all round education for aspirational girls in a thriving boarding and day school.

Students educated at Roedean see themselves as global citizens who look outwards and embrace the opportunities available at school and in the wider world. They leave as confident, well-educated young women equipped with the skills to balance successful personal and professional lives.

Aims of the School

At Roedean, caring and committed staff ensure that pupils:

• develop their intellectual curiosity and maximise their academic, musical and sporting potential

• acquire the confidence to make informed choices • develop their leadership skills, whilst also

understanding the need to work cooperatively as part of a team

• appreciate cultural diversity• enjoy learning, are happy, safe and encouraged

to be curious.

The school is a community where:

• each person is welcomed as an individual, whilst recognising the importance of their role as part of the whole

• academic, musical and sporting excellence are prized by all, whilst being seen as part of the broader nature of education

• self confidence is encouraged, whilst recognising that it develops through risk taking and making mistakes

• the environment is valued.

The following values are central to our life as a community:

• fairness and honesty• respect and tolerance• compassion and forgiveness.

Background

The Chairman and Council of Roedean School are seeking to recruit a new Head to replace Mrs Frances King, who is leaving in July 2013 after five highly successful years. An outstanding and charismatic leader is sought to drive forward the future of this world famous girls’ school.


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The School

Roedean is a global community. There are currently 370 girls aged 11-18 enrolled at the School. Two thirds of these are boarders – flexi (from Sussex), weekly (from London) and full boarders. 45% are international students, from 30 different countries. Roedean girls enter the world of university education and subsequent careers with a deep appreciation of how international communities interact and collaborate. With boarding at the heart of the School, there is a strong community atmosphere and associated benefits.

The main intake points are Year 7, Year 9 and Lower Sixth and there is also a growing pre-A level Foundation programme. Approximately 120 new full time girls are admitted each year, with an additional group of short stay and exchange students from Canada, Australia, Spain and Germany.

Roedean offers a traditional British curriculum of GCSEs, incorporating IGCSE Maths, and A levels. There are no more than 20 pupils per class and an overall staff: student ratio of 1:7.

2012 A level results were excellent, with a 100% pass rate achieved (including 22% A*s). Nine students obtained an Extended Project Qualification, three of these at A*. At GCSE, the A* pass rate of 33% was the highest since 2007; 15 girls obtained A* or A grades in every subject. Overall value-added was statistically significant at both A level and GCSE, particularly in Mathematics and Art and Design.

Naturally, with our girls’ global career ambitions, a leading university is their next step. In 2012 a third of leavers went to a college of the leading University of London (Imperial, UCL and LSE). Five went to the USA; four to Hong Kong and one each to France, Switzerland and Australia.

The founders originally modelled the school as an extended family unit, where the House was ‘home’ and everywhere else was ‘school’. To this day, boarding underpins the cherished sense of community at Roedean. Everyone – day girls, boarders and staff – belongs to, and develops a strong sense of loyalty to, their House. There are four Houses for Year 7 to Lower Sixth girls. The Upper Sixth House, Keswick House, has a canteen and extended freedoms, giving it a university feel.

Campus

Roedean is located on a beautiful 45 acre campus, and owns another 75 acres of agricultural land adjacent to the site. It is the only school in the UK to be set within a National Park and on a coastline and within the boundaries of a vibrant city. The sense of light, space and fresh air is incomparable.

The Grade II listed main building and Keswick House were designed by the leading Victorian architect, and Roedean parent, Sir John Simpson. His designs characterise the Arts and Crafts movement.

The main building incorporates the four main boarding Houses, the dining rooms, the library, and teaching and administration space. Later additions include the chapel, science laboratories, theatre and dance studios, music wing, Keswick House, and Lawrence House; plus buildings housing the DT, textiles and sports facilities. The buildings are clustered together; nothing is more than a five minute walk away.

The Head’s home, Roedean House, is located in the centre of the campus.


The School is in the process of producing a 10 year master plan to develop the site and prioritise the new builds as well as the refurbishment of existing buildings. This is being developed together with local planning consultants and architects. The funding will be provided by the combined resources of operating surplus, reserves, donors and grants.

Facilities

• Three libraries and a fully wifi campus• Chapel which seats the whole school community • Science wing with six laboratories and wind

tunnel• Art and design studios with kiln and darkroom• Performing Arts Centre (320 seat theatre with

orchestra pit and green room, dance studio and music rooms)

• Sport: dual use area providing 15 outdoor tennis courts / 15 netball courts, and three hockey pitches, an athletics track, a cricket pitch and golf driving range; 25m indoor pool; multi-purpose sports hall with fitness room; squash courts; and close relationship with local riding school.


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2012 Highlights

Commencement of £10m boarding refurbishment project

The School has recently embarked upon a £10m modernisation of five boarding houses. This includes the significant and sensitive redesign of almost 200 bedrooms, communal spaces and private study areas for both boarding and day girls. It is without doubt one of the most exciting boarding projects in the independent sector today.

Comfort, security and warmth are the key elements which inspired the architects. The transformed accommodation will be homely, light and reflect the original Arts and Crafts heritage of Roedean. Each house will have a palette of house colours, complemented by a mix of high quality new and vintage furnishings.

This extensive project is being managed by the award-winning architects BuckleyGrayYeoman with an anticipated completion date of late 2013. As well as educational projects, the design team have refurbished boutique hotels in London, New York and Paris.

Phase 1 of the project, the refurbishment of Lawrence House, was completed in August 2012. 61 bedrooms, three staff flats and communal spaces were restored to an exceptionally high standard in time to be occupied at the start of September.

Launch of Strategy for Teaching and Learning

Academic excellence is at the forefront of all we do at Roedean. In 2012 this was formalised in a Strategy for Teaching and Learning (STL) and will be further strengthened by the appointment of a Director for Teaching and Learning (Deputy Head level) in early 2013.

In summary, the number of lesson observations was increased, Assessment for Learning (AFL)

training was organised, the structure of the school day was changed, introducing one hour lessons, and ‘Teaching and Learning’ Heads of Department were appointed to champion academic excellence through peer support. The School has continued to invest in the Middle Leaders’ Programme (run by the National College of School Leaders), and is part of a consortium of eight schools (including Eton and Brighton College) that founded the new London Academy of Excellence and provides advice on the history offering.

Pupils

• Morgan Taylor appeared on Newsnight to debate European integration with Nigel Farage

• Yeona Kim achieved 5 A* at A level and Iona Tarbet achieved 13 A*s at GCSE

• Ivy Robin carried the Olympic torch

• Nikki Payne was selected for Millwall FC women’s first team

• The Lower Sixth made a music album which raised over £20,000 for charity in one day.

Old Roedeanians

Dame Elizabeth Gloster DBE, the first appointed female judge of the Commercial Court, presided over the case of R. Abramovich v B. Berezovsky in 2011-12.

Katy Bourne was elected as Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012. She is Chairman of the Southern Region of the Conservative Womens’ Organisation.

Lorna Wallis, owner of design agency Foundry Works, launched the Best of Britannia exhibition to promote British product design and manufacturing.


Deborah Knight was elected the first lady Master of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, whose Royal Charter dates from 1448. (At the same time, she became the first Lady Master of a Great Twelve Livery Company). She oversaw the formation of the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Academies’ Federation, consisting of 3 academies and 3 primary schools.

Speakers and visitors

• Professor AC Grayling (New College of the Humanities)

• Nicholas Soames MP

• Authors including Rachel Ward and Philip Eade

• Fleet Street journalist Eleanor Mills

• Professor Malcolm Grant (UCL) was the Guest of Honour at Speech Day.

Parent quotes

“I wanted to thank all Roedean´s staff for making my daughter feel at home and for all your attention and dedication. I feel she is truly happy.”Maria, mother of Belen, 14, from La Coruna

“Harriet simply loves every aspect of school life; we have been delighted to the extent that we will definitely send daughter number two, Olivia, to Roedean too.”Helen, mother of Harriet, 14, from Crawley

“Since starting at Roedean I have never seen Saskia so happy to go to school. She has gained a lot of confidence in herself.”Jane, mother of Saskia, 15, from Brighton


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Main purpose

The Head will lead and manage the School in accordance with the strategy, specific goals and targets agreed with the School Council. The strategy will ensure the highest quality education for all pupils and constant improvement in standards of teaching and learning. Be accountable to the Board of Trustees, the Roedean School Council, in particular the Chairman, for the effective delivery of Council’s strategy and the day to day management of the School. Chair and steer the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), currently comprising the Deputy Head, Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), Director of Admissions and Communications, Assistant Head of Teaching & Learning, Assistant Head of Holistic Care, Head of Sixth Form, Head of Middle School and Head of Key Stage Three. The Head will ensure development of the SLT with clear roles and responsibilities, and expectations of the highest standard of performance.

The DFA is responsible for managing the operational and financial side of the School and keeps the Head updated with all relevant issues. He acts as Clerk to Council and the committees.

Leadership and Management

The Head will provide professional leadership and management of the School, ensuring the highest quality education is provided and excellent academic results obtained. The Head will motivate, support and enable staff to carry out their respective roles to the highest standard, with a particular focus on constructive performance management processes. In addition, future leaders will be identified and developed through appropriate training, targets and support.

Strategic Vision

The Head will communicate and establish commitment to a shared vision for the education of the whole girl. Leading by example, s/he will inspire and motivate pupils, staff, parents and members of Council. The Head will create an ethos which promotes outstanding teaching and learning whilst sustaining improvement in pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, emotional and physical development, and which also enables pupils to achieve their full potential in musical, sporting and cultural activities as well as academic ones.

Curriculum and Pastoral Care

It is the responsibility of the Head to ensure the education offered to the pupils is in accordance with the School’s stated policy. Due attention must be paid to the breadth and rigour of the curriculum, the calibre, motivation and experience of the teaching staff, the quality of teaching spaces, the provision of sufficient good quality resources to support learning and teaching, and the provision of the widest possible range of excellent co-curricular activities.

The Head is responsible for ensuring that, in accordance with the stated policies of the School, all boarding and day pupils are appropriately supported in their learning and personal development.

The Role


Marketing and Public Relations

The Head is responsible for recruiting pupils to the School in accordance with the strategy for pupil numbers agreed by the Council. The Head must ensure that there are robust, imaginative and creative marketing and public relations programmes in place which are appropriate for the successful delivery of all aspects of this strategy. There is an exciting opportunity for the incoming Head to set in place initiatives to identify and secure donations from both national and international sources that will contribute to the funding of bursaries and major capital projects. The Head will be assisted in this project by a Director of Development, who will be recruited in 2013.

Financial accountability and awareness

The Head is responsible for ensuring effective management and monitoring of budgets and investments, in liaison with the DFA, as agreed with Council. The Head must remain fully informed of significant issues, including overall priorities for expenditure decisions, and the efficient use of resources. The Head is also responsible for the effective use of buildings and resources throughout the year, in collaboration with the DFA. All the above will be in line with the School’s strategic financial plan.

Alongside the DFA and other members of the Roedean community, the Head will identify and ensure implementation of new opportunities for the School to increase its capital and income.

Child Protection, Health and Safety and Recruitment

The Head is responsible for the implementation of statutory and Council requirements for the above policies for Child Protection, Health and Safety, and Recruitment.

Roedean School Council

The Head and the DFA will attend all meetings of Council. The Council meets formally three times a year, at which the Head will make such reports in keeping with his/her role, and there are termly meetings for the standing committees.

The Head is expected to work closely with the Chairman of Council and to keep him informed about strategic school issues. The Chairman draws a clear distinction between the executive function of the Head and the Senior Leadership Team, and the strategic and statutory purpose of the Council.

Statutory legislation

The Head is responsible for ensuring that the School meets its statutory obligations as specified by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), and for advising the Council accordingly.


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The Individual

Personal qualities and beliefs(ie charisma, gravitas, presence, warmth, global orientation)

• A strong, charismatic leader with high levels of energy and enthusiasm

• Representational skills and the ability to act as an ambassador for the School, with strong personal credibility, highly articulate and the capacity to quickly build strong relationships with different stakeholder groups – in particular, current and prospective parents

• A clear understanding of how international communities interact, and commitment to the philosophy of a truly global organisation

• A warmth of personality to develop and cement relationships with pupils, parents, staff, feeder school Heads, the Old Roedeanians’ Association (ORA) and the local community

• Gravitas and presence; integrity and independence of thought

• Confidence in own abilities; and with the confidence to make difficult decisions

• A shared belief in single-sex education, in terms of ethos and performance, in line with the School’s longer term strategy

• Demonstrable commitment to excellence in girls’ academic, musical and sporting education

• Sympathy with, and supportive of, the charitable objects and Christian traditions of the School.

Management skills(ie leadership, strategy, business acumen, innovation, change management)

• Ability to lead the Roedean community with passion and good humour

• Commitment to change management and the ability to promote the benefits to all relevant stakeholders.

• An ability to provide clear strategic leadership, and the flexibility to adapt to the latest developments in education

• Financial and business acumen, and a clear understanding of the finances of the independent school sector

• Capable of identifying individuals’ skills and making the most of them – a team leader, a team builder, a team player

• Ability to bring and implement new innovative ideas to the School which will develop Roedean’s brand globally

• Marketing skills - the ability to increase pupil numbers in line with the School’s current growth strategy.

The successful candidate should possess the following skills and characteristics:


Relevant experience(ie career progression, head/deputy head roles, delivery of results)

• Experience of senior management, preferably with a significant boarding element

• A good breadth of educational experience, ideally incorporating UK and overseas schooling plus A levels and International Baccalaureate

• A successful record of delivering results, with a clear commitment to improving the quality of teaching and learning and results in public examinations

• Outstanding inspection reports obtained in previous schools.

Educational competencies(ie academic excellence, pastoral care, safeguarding, teaching and learning)

• A profound interest and proven record in the welfare of young people and in providing excellent pastoral support

• A proven record in providing excellence in academic, musical and sporting education

• Demonstrate the strongest commitment to the safeguarding of children.


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The Governors of Roedean have engaged the services of Odgers Berndtson to assist with the recruitment of the next Head.

In order to apply please submit a covering letter and a detailed CV. The CV should include names and contact details of three referees.

Applications can either be submitted online at, www.odgersberndtson.co.uk/41782 or sent by email to [email protected]

If candidates prefer to send their application by mail, it should be addressed to:

Diana Ellis Education ResponseOdgers Berndtson20 Cannon StreetLondonEC4M 6XD

For an initial discussion, please contact:

Diana Ellis - +44 (0)207 529 1037Rebecca Russell - +44 (0)207 529 6316Freddie Dennis - +44 (0)207 529 6366

Applications must be received by 1 February 2013.

Interviews with the Committee will take place at Odgers, 20 Cannon Street, London on 26 February. Final interviews will take place on 13 March 2013.

Roedean School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Criminal Records Bureau.

How to Apply

Roedean Group structure

The group structure incorporates Roedean School (charity), Roedean School Enterprises Ltd (trading company) and Roedean (St Mary’s Hall) Trust.

Roedean School was originally incorporated under the Companies Acts 1908 and 1917. It was reincorporated by Royal Charter in 1938, and was registered as a Charity in 1966 (registration number 307063).

The school owns 100% of the issued share capital of Roedean School Enterprises Limited. The principal activity of this company is the hiring out of Roedean’s premises for various activities, including a visiting summer school, and regular letting of the theatre and sports facilities. The company donates its taxable profits to the School each year under the Gift Aid Scheme.

Through Roedean’s merger with St Mary’s Hall School in 2009 and subsequent sales of the land, the Roedean (St Mary’s Hall) Trust (Charity Number 307063-2) was established. The proceeds of the Junior School land, less costs of sale and settlement of outstanding liabilities, total £9m. This sum is held by the Trust as a permanent endowment, and is used to enhance Roedean’s bursary offering and increase opportunities to access independent education. The School acts as trustee of the Trust, controls investment of the funds via the Finance Committee, and agrees the transfer of accumulated funds annually.

Governance

The Members of the Roedean Corporation are known as Governors. The strategy and oversight of the business and affairs of the Corporation is managed and administered by the Roedean Council who are the trustees under charity law.

The Council appoints such committees as are deemed necessary for the effective oversight of its business. At present the following standing committees report directly to Council:

• Finance• Nominations• Academic• Risk and Compliance• Marketing and Development • Awards

The Head is accountable to the Council for the overall leadership and management of the whole school in accordance with the strategy, and specific goals and targets agreed with Council.


The Governors of Roedean have engaged the services of Odgers Berndtson to assist with the recruitment of the next Head.

In order to apply please submit a covering letter and a detailed CV. The CV should include names and contact details of three referees.

Applications can either be submitted online at, www.odgersberndtson.co.uk/41782 or sent by email to [email protected]

If candidates prefer to send their application by mail, it should be addressed to:

Diana Ellis Education ResponseOdgers Berndtson20 Cannon StreetLondon EC4M 6XD

For an initial discussion, please contact:

Diana Ellis - +44 (0)207 529 1037Rebecca Russell - +44 (0)207 529 6316Freddie Dennis - +44 (0)207 529 6366

Applications must be received by 1 February 2013.

Interviews with the Committee will take place at Odgers, 20 Cannon Street, London on 26 February. Final interviews will take place on 13 March 2013.

Roedean School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

How to Apply

mailto:41782%40odgersberndtson.co.uk?subject=


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Roedean School

Roedean Way, Brighton BN2 5RQ

Registered charity 307063www.roedean.co.uk

An independent day and boarding school in Brighton for girls aged 11 to 18

Documents

Candidate Brief