Chorister Supervisor

NATURE OF THE ROLE

The Chorister Supervisor reports to the Housemistress of Barrington House, Chorister School and the Master of the Choristers and Organist of Durham Cathedral to oversee the safeguarding, the duties, and the pastoral care of the Cathedral Choristers, and to liaise with the relevant leads in the Cathedral, Chorister School and Durham School over all day-to-day matters regarding the Choristers. The Chorister Supervisor also liaises with Chorister parents as relevant.

The role is supported by Resident Tutors at Chorister School who undertake parallel duties or cover for the Chorister Supervisor. There is also overlap between the Chorister Supervisor’s duties and those of the Housemistress at the Chorister School where these two post holders will work closely together. A weekly rota system is in place to cover the week and weekend duties as required.

Up to 48 Choristers (approximately 24 boys and 24 girls) sing in Durham Cathedral Choir and are educated by Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation. The Choristers (either the boys or the girls) sing alongside up to 12 adult singers, under the direction of the Organist or Sub-Organist, although they occasionally sing and often practise on their own. Occasionally, both boy and girl Choristers sing together on special occasions. Choristers are educated on two sites – Chorister School and Durham School – according to year groups. Choristers have opportunity to board at the Chorister School, Monday to Friday and on exeat and Chorister periods.

In order to empathise and engage with attendance at rehearsals and up to seven choral services a week in term time and at Christmas and Easter, as well as various special services and concerts of sacred music, the applicants for this post should ideally (but not necessarily) be practising Christians and/or choral music enthusiasts.

SAFEGUARDING AND PASTORAL CARE

The ability of the Chorister Supervisor to exercise safeguarding oversight and to offer pastoral care will only flourish if he or she becomes well acquainted with the Choristers. This is not just a supervisory role but a role requiring engagement with the boys and girls, whose wide age-range (7–13) and spirited characters can create issues that need constant management, occasional discipline, and regular support. Regular interaction and liaison with the Chorister parents are also vital.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

·        Master of the Choristers and Organist, Durham Cathedral

·        Principal, DCSF (who is also Headmaster of Durham School)

·        Headmistress, Chorister School

·        Precentor, Durham Cathedral

·        Housemistress, Chorister School

·        Deputy Head (Pastoral), Durham School

·        Sub-Organist, Durham Cathedral

·        Music Department Administrator, Durham Cathedral

·        Resident Tutors, Chorister School

·        Choral Scholars, Durham Cathedral

MAIN DUTIES

·        Compliance with DCSF’s and the Cathedral’s safeguarding policies and procedures

·        Working with resident tutors to implement a rota which covers all relevant and necessary duties

·        Supporting the Organist in the exercise of his duties

·        Chaperoning of Choristers as they travel between the schools and the Cathedral

·        Attendance at morning and afternoon practices in the Cathedral or in the schools

·        Attendance at services/concerts in the Cathedral at which the Choristers sing

·        Pastoral care and first aid for Choristers who need to leave a practice or service because of illness

·        Supervision of the Choristers in between practices and services/concerts

·        Supervision of the arrival and collection of Choristers by their parents before and after services/concerts

·        Pastoral response to the needs and concerns of Choristers

·        Attendance at the weekly liaison meetings between the DCSF and the Cathedral to identify  activities and co-ordinate calendar schedules

·        Liaison with chorister parents concerning duties and routines, or changes to the aforesaid, and attendance at meetings with parents and/or the schools regarding the welfare of the Choristers

·        Oversight of photography and filming of Choristers in relation to safeguarding and consent

·        Assistance with the Choristers’ social activities

·        Oversight of communication regarding the Choristers’ achievement

The items above do not form an exhaustive list of duties, and the Chorister Supervisor will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by the changing role within the organisation and the overall objectives of the organisation.

An example schedule and person specification are attached.

CONCERTS AND VISITS OUTSIDE OF THE CATHEDRAL AND SCHOOLS

Whenever the Cathedral Choir gives a concert or makes a visit to sing a service in another church, the Chorister Supervisor is expected to be in attendance, and to travel with the Choristers.

CHOIR TOURS

The Chorister Supervisor is expected to travel (free of charge and accommodation costs) with the Cathedral Choir whenever it goes on tour. The Choir has not recently toured but it is hoped that tours will be undertaken in the future, potentially once every other year.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

As a conflict of interest could easily arise, the DCSF has resolved not to appoint to this post a close relative of one of the serving Choristers.

DBS ENHANCED DISCLOSURE

This appointment is subject to satisfactory clearance following an enhanced disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and entry onto the DCSF’s single central register for safer recruitment.

INTERVIEW  PROCESS:

Completed application forms should be returned to HR@dcsf.org.uk.

The closing date for applications: Tuesday 30 May

Interviews: Tuesday 6 June 2023

Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation is committed to promoting the safeguarding of children and expects all employees to share this commitment. Any job offer will be made subject to satisfactory checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure. Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications regardless of age, gender, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.