About St George s St George s is an independent boarding and day school with approximately 270 pupils aged from 11-18 years about 45% of whom are boarders (both full and tailored) and with a Sixth Form of approximately 80 pupils. The school operates as an Educational Trust administered by a Board of Governors, is a member of the Girls Schools Association (GSA), Boarding Schools Association (BSA), and is ISC accredited. We are a welcoming school with a warm sense of community and visitors often comment on the perceptible supportive and cheerful atmosphere. We believe that a happy and successful school is one where all pupils have the opportunities to develop their strengths. The richness of opportunities within and outside the classroom are fundamental elements of the St George s experience and this allows the girls to foster the confidence, independence and academic curiosity that lead to success. Our academic results are impressive, with the value-added in public examinations a real strength. We understand how girls learn effectively and we regularly add at least one grade higher at GCSE and A Level than baseline testing would suggest. In 2018 at GCSE St George s was placed in the top 4.5% of Schools nationally for value added.
Our location St George s is approximately 25 miles west of central London, on a beautiful, leafy 30 acre site, within walking distance of Ascot High Street. We are close to Windsor, Eton, Bracknell and Heathrow airport, and equidistant from the M3 and M4 motorways. Ascot High Street can be reached on foot in five minutes while Ascot Railway Station is less than a mile away. All facilities are on site and include, amongst others, a state-of-the-art 350 seat theatre, three boarding houses, a sports hall, squash courts and gym/dance studio, spacious library, Science centre, photographic, textiles and art studios, 6 floodlit netball/tennis courts, extensive sports pitches and a new 25m 6 lane indoor swimming pool is due to open Summer 2019. Academic Results We aim to get the very best from each girl and Georgians are encouraged to work conscientiously and to the best of their ability as well as get involved in the wider school community and all the activities that are on offer in the busy co-curricular programme. This, combined with committed and inspirational teaching, delivers excellent GCSE and A Level results. Our pupils achieved the following results in 2018: GCSE: 40% 9/8 or A*, 61% 9-7 or A*-A, 97% 9-4 or A*-C A Level: 35% A*-A, 100% pass rate
Boarding at St George s St George s aims to create a happy, friendly and purposeful environment where girls feel physically and emotionally secure and are keen to make the most of the opportunities available to them. Boarding gives each girl a settled routine and helps make her self-reliant, adaptable and thoughtful of the needs of others. During their time boarding at St George s, girls make friends for life, discover new interests, learn to work hard and enjoy being part of community life. Girls live in boarding houses and in each house there is a team of resident staff who look after the girls including the Housemistress, Assistant Housemistress and Resident Tutos. There are three separate boarding houses - Markham House - First Year (Year 7) through to Fourth Year (Year 10) Knatchbull House - Fifth Year (Year 11) and Lower Sixth Loveday House - Upper Sixth Boarding, in its various forms, is a popular option at St George s and it is common for some girls to change from being day girls to boarders as they move through the School. In each boarding house there is a mixture of full boarders, tailored boarders (who board between 4 and 6 nights per week) and occasional boarders who opt to board on occasional nights, sometimes on a regular basis, where there is availability. Occasional boarding is increasingly popular with the younger girls in Markham House as they, and their parents, get a first taste of boarding in a way that fits with their family life. The health and welfare of each girl is a priority and there is a Health Centre in the School that is staffed by a full-time qualified nurse during the school day. The School Nurse works in conjunction with the School Doctor who visits once a week and we are also near to local hospitals in the case of emergencies. When the nurse is not in School, first aid cover is provided by resident boarding staff who are first aid trained and the Markham Housemistress will be expected to play a role in this first aid cover and in supporting the Health Centre.
Responsibilities St George s is seeking to appoint a resident Housemistress for Markham House (Year 7 to Year 10) or September 2019. This is a non-teaching post. Markham House accommodates up to 58 girls and they are placed in bedrooms according to their year groups, friendship groups and sleeping patterns. The Housemistress for Markham House leads a team of boarding staff comprising the Assistant Housemistress for Markham House, Resident Tutors and resident teaching staff with boarding responsibilities. The post holder will be line managed by the resident Deputy Head (Pastoral) on a day-to-day basis. There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post is filled by a woman. Boarding and pastoral responsibilities: Running Markham House to provide a very positive and enjoyable experience for the boarders so that they receive the very best support, guidance and nurture in loco parentis and embrace all the opportunities available to the pupils at St George s, taking pride in their house Leading the Markham House staff team, overseeing the duties and roles of the Assistant Housemistress, Resident Tutors and teaching staff with boarding responsibilities who work in Markham House Ensuring clear, effective and regular communication within the Markham House staff team and, where appropriate, recording information within the house daily handover log and sharing information with other School staff Supervising boarders in Markham House in the morning and evening according to a duty rota, with the assistance of the House staff team Communicating with parents, and guardians where appropriate, on a very regular basis by email, telephone and in person Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of pupils at the School; being fully conversant and compliant with the School s safeguarding policy and procedures Providing advice and support for pupils concerning emotional, social or behavioural problems they might have; informing the Deputy Head (Pastoral) if any referral to outside agencies is required in line with the School s policy on safeguarding and child protection Supporting the School s rewards and sanctions policy and, by encouragement and reward, fostering an acceptance of the code of conduct of the School; informing the Deputy Head (Pastoral) in cases of breaches of School rules and keeping appropriate records Administration for Markham House to include maintaining pupil and other records including compiling laundry and common room duty rotas
Taking pride in the appearance and organisation of all rooms, areas and operations within Markham House and liaising with the Domestic Bursar, Clerk of Works and Operations Manager about the general upkeep of the boarding house Providing a full and comprehensive induction programme for new boarders in Markham House Providing supervision during meal times and morning and afternoon breaks Working closely with the School Nurse and Health Centre, accompanying boarders to medical or other appointments as required and providing out of hours first aid cover when required Contributing to the planning, organisation and preparation of the programme of co-curricular activities and trips available to boarding pupils during evenings and weekends Compiling regular and accurate lists of boarders weekend and travel arrangements Accompanying boarders on evening and weekend outings as required Planning (with the Admissions and Marketing department) and leading the termly boarding taster nights for prospective pupils and attending appropriate Admissions and other events to promote boarding at St George s Promoting and encouraging the boarding opportunities for day pupils in Years 7 to 10 including organising boarding taster events to increase the uptake of occasional boarding among current day pupils Preparing boarders reports in line with the School s protocol Attend relevant continuing professional development and training courses Attending Chapel, staff meetings, Departmental meetings (if relevant) and other School functions as required Preparing and closing down the boarding house in the periods prior to and at the end of each term Liaising with the Housekeeper and Operations Manager to coordinate the use of Markham during any residential lets during school holiday time Carrying out other duties as deemed appropriate by the Deputy Head (Pastoral) Other responsibilities: This is a non-teaching role although it is expected that the Markham Housemistress will also play a role in wider School life such as supporting the curriculum or co-curricular programme of clubs and activities, outreach and community work, D of E etc. depending on experience, interests and the needs of the school
Person specification The successful candidate will - demonstrate a genuine liking of young people and a desire to see them thrive in a boarding environment have relevant experience of working in a boarding or residential environment demonstrate excellent leadership and teamwork skills with the ability to motivate others have the vision and drive to ensure that junior boarding at St George s is a popular, enjoyable and life-enhancing experience be an excellent oral and written communicator promote high standards of education, care and behaviour confidently use ICT for a range of administrative and communication purposes display strong interpersonal skills forming excellent working relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents demonstrate sound judgement and discretion be well-organised and have the ability to plan effectively, clearly and well ahead, whilst being able to juggle successfully multiple tasks of varying size and importance be conversant with current equal opportunities, child protection and safeguarding legislation and guidance be cheerful, flexible and adaptable when going about their work have energy, commitment and stamina show commitment to personal development and innovation have a good sense of humour and be able to work effectively as part of a team be sympathetic towards the ethos of a busy boarding and day school holding a relevant first aid qualification is desirable but not essential (training will be provided)
Salary and Benefits a. Start date: 1 September 2019 b. Salary: St George s operates its own generous salary scheme. The salary starting point for this non-teaching post is 26,000 per annum, negotiable dependent on experience. c. Pension: There is a School pension scheme applicable to your employment. d. Hours of work: This is a full-time post during term time. All housemistresses are required to attend staff training days preceding each term and to be available for 48 hours prior to the start of, and after the end of, term. The Markham Housemistress will have 48 hours off during the week in term time as advised by the Deputy Head (Pastoral) in addition to exeat weekends, Christmas, Easter, Summer and half-term holidays. e. Notice Periods: Following the probationary period, the notice period required by either side to terminate your employment will be one full term. f. Accommodation: A self-contained 2 bedroom flat within the School is provided. Breakfast, lunch and supper are provided during term time and boarding staff supervise boarders in breakfast and supper on a rota bases. Members of staff can use the School s sports facilities at allocated times. There is free on-site parking. The Process Letters of application should be no more than two sides of A4 and, together with the completed application form, should be sent to the address below or emailed to headmistress@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk and reach the School by 4pm Wednesday 20 March Mrs Liz Hewer Headmistress St George s School Wells Lane Ascot SL5 7DZ First interviews will be held on Monday 25 March Final interviews will be held on Thursday 28 March St George s School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children at the School. Therefore, this appointment will be subject to a successful disclosure check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. This will give details of all spent and unspent convictions and other recordable matters. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available, if required, from the School Office. The supplied references will be taken up and the School may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications. A medical questionnaire will be required to be completed by the successful candidate.