Appointment of RE and Christian Ethos Adviser MARCH 2018
CONTENTS Page 1 Introduction by the Bishop of Bedford 2 The Diocese of St Albans 4 The Diocesan Board of Education 5 The Schools Team 6 The Role of the RE and Christian Ethos Adviser 7 Job Description 9 Person Specification 10 Terms and Conditions 11 How to Apply
Introduction by the Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in the role of RE and Christian Ethos Adviser. We believe that this is an exciting time to be working with Church schools as the Board of Education seeks to respond to the challenges of maintaining and improving the quality of the education it provides for 31,500 children and young people across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. The post of RE and Christian Ethos Adviser offers a great opportunity for someone to join a highly committed, hard-working team and to undertake a wide variety of tasks and activities. This is a key role where the appointed person will work across all diocesan schools, equipping them to bring alive the diocesan vision for education and supporting them to enhance the impact of RE and Christian ethos in their teaching and their communities. The likelihood of becoming bored is slim! If you are interested in this post and would like to discuss things further, please contact Vicki Barrière, PA to the Diocesan Director of Education, David Morton, who will arrange for you to speak to one of the senior team members. To do so, please email vbarriere@stalbans.anglican.org or call on 01727 818170. Further information about the Diocesan Board of Education can be found at https:// www.stalbans.anglican.org/schools. Yours faithfully, Bishop Richard Atkinson
The Diocese of St Albans The Diocese of St Albans consists of the counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and part of the London Borough of Barnet. The population is approximately 1.8 million, and the total electoral roll number is approximately 32,000. The Bishop of St Albans has overall responsibility for the Diocese. He is assisted by two suffragan bishops, the Bishop of Bedford and the Bishop of Hertford, who in turn are assisted by the Archdeacon of Bedford, and the Archdeacons of St Albans and Hertford. There are twenty deaneries and the Diocese has 336 parishes, of which about one third are rural, 201 benefices, 400 churches, 269 stipendiary clergy, 60 non-stipendiary clergy, 232 clergy with Permission to Officiate and 264 Lay Readers. There are 136 Church Schools and Academies in the Diocese. Living God s Love is the vision of the parishes, church schools and chaplaincies across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton and Barnet. This Vision is grounded in our love of God and love of neighbour flowing from God s love for us. Its three priorities are: going deeper into God transforming communities making new disciples Using Mission Action Planning we are developing confident and outward looking mission and evangelism, leading to spiritual and numerical growth. The Diocesan Synod is the elected decision-making body of the Diocese and the Bishop s Council as the Standing Committee of the Synod has a key role in formulating diocesan policy. The statutory work of the Church and support to the parishes is provided by the staff of the Diocesan office, located in Holywell Lodge in St Albans. They work in three main teams:- The Board of Finance which is the main employer of lay staff and is a limited company and registered charity. The Board is responsible for formulating the diocesan budget, which is currently about 15m, and for managing clergy housing, investments and overseeing parochial trusts, the combined value of which is about 160m. The lead officer of the Board, who has overall responsibility for the staff of the Diocesan Office, is the Diocesan Secretary. The administrative team which supports the work of the Board is organised into three major departments, each of which is headed by an Assistant Secretary, the Financial Secretary, the Estates Secretary and the Pastoral & Advisory Secretary. The staff of the administrative team are in regular contact with, and provide support to, other Diocesan Officers involved with the work of the other Boards and Council, and a variety of groups and sub-committees which report to them. 2
The Diocese of St Albans The Board of Education is also a statutory body accountable to Diocesan Synod. Its staff include the Diocesan Director of Education, Deputy Directors of Education and RE Adviser who work closely with church schools in the Diocese. The Diocese covers five local authorities, with the majority of the 136 church schools and academies located in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, with one in Luton and two in the London Borough of Barnet. The Board for Mission and Ministry is responsible for the development and learning of ministry teams within the Diocese and the mission of the Church in wider society. There are two teams, led by the Director of Mission and the Director of Ministry. The Diocesan Office staff, with the Archbishop of Canterbury 2015 3
The Diocesan Board of Education The Schools Team is governed by the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE). This is a statutory body established under the Diocesan Boards of Education Measure 1991, with functions including the promotion of education consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England, the promotion of religious education and religious worship in schools and academies, the promotion of church schools and academies in the Diocese, and advice to school governors on any matter affecting church schools and academies. The Schools Team works with the 136 Anglican church schools in the Diocese of St Albans, covering six Local Authorities: the London Borough of Barnet, Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Luton. Seventeen schools are Academies. Most of the schools are primary phase, but there are five secondary schools and six middle schools which are deemed secondary. The Board of Education of the Diocese of St Albans exists to provide support and advice to church schools throughout the Diocese. The Diocesan Resource Centre holds resources for schools, youth work, children's work in churches and general parish use. The Centre is open to all churches and to church schools, community schools and private schools. The vision of the DBE is to see church schools at the heart of the Diocese s vision, Living God s Love. In aiming to achieve this goal, and building on the excellent contribution of 136 church schools (with more in the pipeline) of which 91% are either Outstanding or Good, the Board has established the following priorities: Outstanding education delivered in a distinctively Christian setting Community-focussed schools serving the common good Church schools at the centre of the diocesan vision, Living God s Love High-quality Religious Education The creation of new church schools within new housing developments Strong and fruitful school/parish relationships Rigorous safeguarding that ensures church school pupils are celebrated as children of God These priorities are delivered in ways that recognise the unique local context of each of our schools. 4
The Schools Team The Schools Team currently comprises the following staff: David Morton Lizzie Jeanes Charlotte Johnson Jane Chipperton Bob Garrard Belinda Copson Ruth Garman Director of Education Deputy Director of Education (P/T) Deputy Director of Education (P/T) RE and Christian Ethos Adviser Admissions Adviser (P/T) Governance Officer (P/T) School Buildings Officer/General Schools Administrator (Deputy Directors PA) Hannah Puddefoot Assistant Schools Officer Vicki Barrière General Schools Administrator (Director s PA) (P/T = part-time post) The Schools Team is supported in its work by over 20 educational consultants who provide professional and pastoral support to schools through the diocesan Service Level Agreement. Nationally, the Diocese of St Albans is one of the larger dioceses in terms of the number of schools it serves. This presents a number of challenges for the team s members, who have developed a close working relationship with each other that depends on shared vision, flexibility, hard work and a sense of humour. The appointment of an RE and Christian Ethos Adviser is therefore an important one for the team as a whole. 5
The Role of the RE and Christian Ethos Adviser The role of RE and Christian Ethos Adviser is at the core of the DBE s vison to equip our schools to be distinctively Christian, community focussed and serve the common good. These principles, underpinned by the Church of England Vision for Education, guide every aspect of the work of the Schools Team. The role of RE and Christian Ethos Adviser will support the delivery of RE across all 136 Church schools in the Diocese of St Albans and build on the highly successful diocesan roll out of Understanding Christianity, the Church of England s resource that facilitates the teaching of Christianity through Religious Education. The role will also encompass the management of SIAMS inspections and assistance for schools as they prepare for inspection under a newly introduced framework. Alongside broader training relating to Christian Ethos and Distinctiveness, the RE and Christian Ethos Adviser will develop training to promote engaging and thought-provoking collective worship in schools and support the work of the clergy who lead worship in schools. The appointment of an RE and Christian Ethos Adviser is a key one for both the Board of Education and the Schools Team. The successful candidate will be part of a friendly and committed team working out of the Diocesan Office in St Albans. One of three advisory roles, including RE and Christian Ethos, Governance and Admissions, the post is essential in enabling the Board of Education to fulfil its core mission and aims. This role is suitable for a person with a depth of teaching and leadership experience within schools. You must be in full sympathy with the Christian vision and values of the Diocesan Board of Education and Church schools. Any successful candidate will have demonstrated their outstanding communication skills and their passion for the development of RE and the Christian character of Church schools. You should also be able to demonstrate the ability to lead Continuing Professional Development in a range of contexts, from a conference for head teachers to a small governing body. The ability to travel across the Diocese is essential, as is the ability to deliver late afternoon and evening training sessions. As the post develops, it will possible to be based from home one or two days a week. The post holder will have access to support from specialist consultants to deliver training across the Diocese. We are excited about welcoming a new member to our team. The post of RE and Christian Ethos Adviser offers a great opportunity to join a hardworking and committed team and develop a new career area. A carefully developed programme of induction and regular line management meetings with one of the Deputy Directors will support transition into this role. The team meets together at least once per half term and there is always someone available to talk to via phone or email. If you are interested in this post and would like to discuss things further, please contact Vicki Barrière, PA to the DDE, David Morton, who will arrange for you to speak to one of the senior team members. (vbarriere@stalbans.anglican.org; 01727 818 170). 6
RE and Christian Ethos Adviser Job Description Job Title: Line Manager: RE and Christian Ethos Adviser Diocesan Director of Education (DDE) Key relationships: Diocesan Director of Education (DDE), Deputy Diocesan Directors of Education (DDDEs), Schools Team, diocesan schools, headteachers, governors and clergy Accountability: Diocesan Director of Education and through him to the Chair of the Board of Education, the Bishop of Bedford. The RE and Christian Ethos Adviser reports to the Board of Education Overall purpose of the job to promote and support the delivery of RE within diocesan schools so that it meets the requirements of the Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools (SIAMS) to lead and manage the SIAMS process in the Diocese to lead the development of the Diocesan Board of Education s vision for distinctive Christian ethos in all diocesan schools to provide professional leadership, support and advice to the head teachers, senior school leaders and governors of 20 church schools Main responsibilities and tasks As part of the school improvement function within the Diocese of St Albans, this role is designed to focus on the transformational impact that the Christian ethos of the church school has on the learner, with particular emphasis on RE, collective worship, ethos and SIAMS. a) Diocesan lead officer for Religious Education (RE) and SIAMS manager b) Design and deliver CPD and events to ensure RE and collective worship within diocesan schools are of the highest quality c) Undertake annual briefings to schools and governing bodies on developments in RE and distinctive Christian ethos d) Undertake school improvement visits in diocesan church schools to support the work of RE co-ordinators and to ensure Understanding Christianity is being embedded in all diocesan schools e) Support and facilitate the implementation of Agreed Syllabuses across the Diocese f) Promote RE award schemes such as the REQM 7
RE and Christian Ethos Adviser Job Description (cont.) g) Ensure personal professional learning is maintained to ensure highest quality understanding of pedagogy and practice in RE, collective worship and distinctive Christian ethos h) As SIAMS Manager for the Diocese of St Albans, line manage the administration of the SIAMS process. Quality-assure the training and work of the SIAMS inspectors and liaise with the inspection critical readers as necessary i) Support and facilitate the work of local SACREs (Hertfordshire, Luton Borough, Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire) j) Liaise with, and actively support, the work of the National Church of England Education Office and regional Church of England RE advisers k) Develop positive working relationships with national RE advisory groups (eg RE Today, AREIAC, RE Council) School leadership a) Provide leadership and advice to 20 schools, including pastoral and professional support to head teachers, senior school leaders and governors b) Represent the Board of Education in undertaking school visits to schools causing concern, facilitating discussion and brokering potential solutions Other duties a) Comply with and assist in the development of policies and procedures relating to child protection, security, confidentiality and data protection b) Contribute to and support the vision and priorities of the Diocesan Board of Education c) Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies and professionals d) Attend and participate in regular meetings of the Schools Team and with other diocesan teams as required e) Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required f) Undertake such other appropriate duties as requested by the Diocesan Director of Education The person appointed must be willing to travel, have daily use of own car (mileage paid), have the ability to work on their own initiative and the capacity to work from home. The post will require some evening work. The person appointed will be based in the Schools Team offices at Holywell Lodge in St Albans. The balance between the various elements in this job will alter from year to year depending on national legislation and local initiatives. 8
Person Specification Essential Desirable Qualifications Degree level QTS Evidence of further professional development Experience Planning and delivery of training Senior school leadership RE teaching/re leading / Leadership and management of RE Experience of SIAMS inspection/participation Trained SIAMS inspector Leading collective worship / Leadership and management of Christian ethos at a whole-school level Knowledge, skills and abilities High-level interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate on the telephone, in writing and face to face Ability to present to a range of audiences Understanding of the Christian distinctiveness of church schools and how this impacts on all areas of school life Participation in RE curriculum design and assessment frameworks Ability to manage workload and prioritise tasks Ability to maintain confidentiality Personal qualities Commitment to providing a professional service to schools and to the Diocesan Board of Education Flexible, adaptable Supportive of the Christian ethos of the diocesan Schools Team and the schools they serve A practising Christian of a denomination which is a member of Churches Together in England There is an occupational requirement that the postholder is a Christian. The RE and Christian Ethos Adviser will be a member of a Church recognised by Churches Together in England and will be fully committed to the aims and approach of the Church of England. 9
Terms and Conditions Employment Status: The RE and Christian Ethos Adviser will be an employee of the St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance. Hours: The RE and Christian Ethos Adviser shall work such hours as are necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of employment under their contract and in any event not less than an average of 35 hours per week. There are no normal hours of work. The post will involve travelling around the Diocese, evening work and very occasional work at weekends. The RE and Christian Ethos Adviser will be expected to establish a flexible work programme. Time off in lieu is given for hours worked outside normal working hours. No overtime is paid. DBS disclosure: The appointment is subject to enhanced DBS disclosure. Salary: The post is offered on the scale 36,665 40,364; the starting salary will depend upon qualifications and experience. Pension: The successful applicant will be enrolled in a pension with the Church of England workers Pensions Builder 2014 scheme, to which the diocese makes a contribution of 25% of salary, or will be offered a pension with the Teachers Pension Scheme. Term: The appointment will be based upon a probationary period of three months during which it may be terminated by either party by one week s notice, and thereafter by three months notice on either side. Office facilities: The RE and Christian Ethos Adviser will be based at the Diocesan Office, Holywell Lodge, St Albans. Administrative assistance and office support are provided at the Diocesan/Schools Team office. Expenses: All mileage and other agreed expenses will be reimbursed at the Diocesan rate (currently 45p per mile). Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 22 working days plus statutory Bank Holidays and the working days falling between Christmas and New Year bank holiday and one day in November or December for Christmas shopping. Ongoing Development: The Diocese of St Albans takes its commitment to ongoing development of staff very seriously. The RE and Christian Ethos Adviser will participate in an annual imap (individual mission action plan) review which will help highlight learning and training requirements. The successful applicant will need to provide proof of right to work in the UK before taking up the post. More detailed information on terms and conditions for diocesan staff will be found in the Staff Handbook. 10
How to apply for this position To apply for this post, please send a CV, a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements, and the names and addresses of two referees to the Diocesan Director of Education, Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans, AL1 1HE, or by e mail to vbarriere@stalbans.anglican.org. References may be taken up before interview. Please indicate if anyone may not be approached at this stage. Closing date: Friday 16 March 2018, 12 noon Interviews: Friday 23 March 2018 in St Albans Start date: Saturday 1st September 2018 Further Information about the Diocese can be found on http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/ 11