Deputy Head Prep School

Fettes Prep School is seeking a new Deputy Head following the retirement of the existing Deputy at the end of this academic year. This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in a school that is looking to the future with confidence and a clear vision. The strength of operating within the Fettes College structure gives Fettes Prep an enviable position on the local, national and international stages and the position of Deputy Head at Fettes Prep is therefore a significant one.

Fettes Prep School is situated in a 100 acre wooded campus in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh which is very close to the city centre. We have 185 pupils aged 7 -13 and we share this beautiful campus with Fettes College, which was founded in 1870 and is one of the UK’s leading co-educational boarding and day schools.

There is a pervading sense of a school that is moving forward at the Prep. There is also a marked sense of community amongst staff, pupils and parents alike. Everything that we do at the Prep School shows the commitment we have to the happiness of our children and to being the best school we can be, and we are not afraid to innovate to achieve this. The Prep School is able to make use of the College facilities, including the Chapel, Westwoods Sports Centre and the extensive sports pitches but also enjoys the benefit of our own dedicated staff, curriculum and buildings.

Approximately 25% of our Prep pupils board full time and we have two boarding houses- Arran for the boys and Iona for the girls. The Teaching Staff consists of the Headmaster (a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools) and 30 members of the Common Room.

Package Description

The appointment will date from September 2024.

Salary will be by negotiation and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Accommodation by way of a 4 bedroom house close to campus is available.

Employment will be subject to one term's notice on either side .

All applicants must be either registered with the GTCS or eligible for GTCS registration. If you are unsure of your eligibility you must check the GTCS website: www.gtcs.org.uk before applying.

Subject to the availability of places at the time of first entry, you will be eligible for a generous staff discount on school fees.

Other details and conditions of service will be discussed at interview.

The closing date for applications for this role is Tuesday, 20th January 2024, with first round online interviews being held in the w/c 5th February 2024. In person second interviews will be held in the w/c 19th February 2024.

Main Responsibilities

The following list could never be exhaustive but gives an overview of the role.

Leadership Overview

• Deputising for the Headmaster in! his absence
• A member of the Prep School SLT
• Playing a leading role in developing all aspects of the school to further the school’s strategy
• Involvement in the recruitment process for new staff
• A visible presence around school
• High level of commitment to school events Pastoral Care and Discipline
• Work closely with the Head of Pastoral Care
• Rewards, sanctions, management of disciplinary incidents
• The House Competition
• Chair Pastoral Leadership Team
• Transition arrangements between Prep and the Senior School
• Pupil Leadership: training, structures and organisation
• Food Committee

Organisational and Admin Responsibilities

• Day to day running of the school
• Staffing of duties and rot as
• Line managing and organising the Graduate Assistants
• Organising the school calendar, creating balance in activities
• School Handbook (Vademecum) and policy updates as required
• Beginning and End of Term arrangements
• End of Term assemblies – collating awards
• Prizegiving
• Planning school events, liaising with staff in both Senior and Prep schools
• Keeping records of complaints with the Headmaster’s PA
• Updating of Honours Boards
• School photographs

The Ideal Candidate

Personal Qualities

• Empathic
• Energetic
• Creative
• Organised
• Loyal
• Principled
• Finely developed sense of humour and fun

Qualifications and Experience

• GTCS registration or ability to achieve this
• A good degree and a teaching qualification
• Experience of middle or senior management in a school setting
• Experience of planning, making and managing change in a school setting
• Experience and/or understanding of working in a boarding school

Abilities and Knowledge

• Excellent communication skills
• A track record of excellent teaching
• An understanding of the needs of the Prep School age range
• An awareness of current educational trends and developments
• Excellent IT skills Desirable but not essentia
• Evidence of active professional development
• Other interests outside of school
• Ambition to lead a school in the future

About the school/organisation

ABOUT FETTES

Fettes College is a leading HMC co-educational boarding and day school close to the heart of Edinburgh. It has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. Fettes opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co-educational in 1980: it is now an independent school of some 785 students. There are 594 students in the Senior School (13-18 years) and 191 students in the Preparatory School (7-13 years). Fettes follows the English curriculum of GCSEs, and the dual pathway of A Levels and IB. Our full-boarding ethos ensures weekends are vibrant and fun.

The academic staff in the Senior School consists of the Head and 91 full-time members of the Common Room. Our Prep School shares the same site and consists of a further 29 full-time teaching staff. Fettes is a collaborative community in which every member is working towards fully realising their potential whilst supporting those around them.

The school stands on a stunning and secure 100-acre site, but still within walking distance of Edinburgh’s city centre. The historic main building holds the Chapel, Library, the English, Classics and History Departments as well as the Medical Centre and two boarding houses. A large purpose-built teaching block (the SpensBuilding) houses Art, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Economics, Geography and Music. The Theatre, Science Laboratories and Dining Hall are adjacent. The Preparatory School and seven further boarding houses (including a purpose-built co-educational U6th House) are also on the campus. Our sports facilities (including extensive playing fields, two all-weather pitches and a private Health Club) are excellent.

We have a commitment to build even more ground-breaking facilities, including a Wellbeing Centre and construction of new Science and Innovation buildings.

As well as our teaching staff we employ over 220 Operational Staff across the many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing with a pervading sense of community amongst staff, students and parents alike.

OUR VISION

We have created and developed a bold new vision for Fettes, one which focuses on what we believe Fettesians should aspire to be, the skills they will need in life and the impact we want them to make in the world.

We have called this vision Fettes Moving Forward: A place to live. A place to learn. A place to grow. You can find out more about the vision - and how it shapes and informs Fettes' future at www.fettes.com/vision

Please also watch (with sound on) our film below - Ode to Place - which complements the vision and captures the ethos of Fettes College and what a Fettes education means.

THE AIMS OF THE COLLEGE

Fettes College will ensure that our students:

• Feel valued and respected as individuals
• Receive the highest possible quality of education, engaging them in rigorous and relevant opportunities in a dynamic curriculum that creates lifelong learners
• Feel safe, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, while possessing a willingness to take on responsibility
• Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves
• Develop a sense of self-confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners, leadership skills and teamwork
• Value a sense of community
• Are surrounded by inspirational caring staff
• Feel represented and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.

“Our Students will leave the school knowing themselves, looking out for others, capable of thinking critically and ready to make a positive mark on their rapidly changing world. They will be bold and visionary yet compassionate; they will possess a global perspective and be ready to embrace the opportunities of the future” Helen Harrison, Head