Chaplain

Full-time (part-time at Twyford & part-time at St Martins)

Twyford CE High School is seeking to appoint a part-time Chaplain to work with students and staff within this successful and oversubscribed Church of England High School.

Twyford has over 1,500 students ranging from Year 7 to Year 13. The school is the hub of a Multi-Academy Trust with three further schools all of which share the same strong Christian ethos, commitment to individual wellbeing and social activism. We have cultivated a broad and lively institutional expression of the spiritual in which music plays a significant part. Every year group has a worship band, and all year groups sing together with inspiration from a range of choirs from Chamber to Gospel. Activities run by the chaplaincy include discussion groups, a fellowship group and a charismatic service called ‘Ignite’. Our institutional practice also includes more traditional services such as the 9 lessons and carols and year group communions which happen termly and have a high level of student leadership. The student body and staff (perhaps particularly the music staff) are a great resource as well as a lively flock. We look forward to finding a chaplain who will be able to be both charismatic and reflective in the leadership of worship with us.

Whilst the majority of students attending the school come from Christian backgrounds – we pride ourselves in being an inclusive community with a significant number of students coming from families with other world faith backgrounds or from with no named faith. The community is broad in terms of the prior attainment of students and includes an additionally resourced provision for students with speech and language difficulties. Finally, it embraces students from a wide range of cultures and is a strongly held principle that the Chaplain supports them all.   

Our commitment to social justice is lived out within the community via a strong commitment to communal responsibility and student leadership. The Sixth Form has over 500 students, and all are required to undertake formal community service responsibilities. Our sixth form students come from the widest range of faith backgrounds and are the most independently questioning and open regarding their own faith journey. The Chaplain we seek to appoint will support and challenge individuals at this crucial stage as well as nurturing the community as one body.

The Chaplain we are seeking to appoint will be able to feed this community intellectually as well as pastorally – pitching resources at the right level for young people anywhere in the age range from 11–18. S/he will be a skilled communicator, reflective facilitator and an energetic participant in the full and engaging life of the school community.

The role is a split one and the post holder will also hold parish responsibilities as the Vicar of St Martin’s West Acton which is the neighbouring parish. The joint role will work well for someone who is good at balancing competing demands, enjoys building relationships and making creative links.

Those interested in the role are strongly encouraged to come and see the school in action in September. Contact to arrange this can be made via the Twyford Trust Chaplain, Fr David Brammer: dbrammer@twyfordacademies.org.uk

Closing date: Midnight, Wednesday 25 September 2024

We reserve the right to close the application earlier if we find a suitable candidate.

The school reserves the right to research shortlisted candidates on social media platforms and the internet, and the recruitment panel may take this information into consideration during the recruitment process.

The Twyford Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undergo the child protection screening appropriate to the post, including an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and references from previous employers. For more information about the DBS please see https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

The post-holder will also be expected to read and adhere to the Trust’s Child Protection Policy, and any other Safeguarding documents stated within this.