Head at Heathfield School, England

08/10/2009

HEAD

HEATHFIELD SCHOOL ASCOT, ENGLAND

for April or September 2010

Heathfield School enjoys an international reputation as a leading boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18.  The Governors believe that a current Headteacher or Deputy from the NCGS might find the post of interest.  The School is set in splendid grounds of 36 acres, within easy reach of London.

The Governors are looking for an experienced, inspirational leader with a commitment to a full boarding experience for girls.  The new head will have the warmth, vision, confidence and professional skills to lead and enthuse pupils and staff and will be in sympathy with the Christian ethos of the school.  The successful candidate will be well placed to promote the values of the School and to market it both nationally and internationally with imagination and flair, combining respect for its traditions with ambition for its development in a changing world.

One of the major tasks for the new head will be to build up the numbers of pupils at all levels, drawing both on traditional feeder schools and exploring new opportunities of marketing at home and abroad.  The school is full boarding, for girls between the ages of 11 and 18. Pupils are currently drawn from a wide range of feeder schools.  Just below a half of the girls live in London, a similar proportion elsewhere in the UK, and the remainder live overseas, of whom a few are from expatriate families and the remainder foreign nationals.

Pupils join the school at 11, 13 and16, and are selected through either 11+ or 13+ Common Entrance papers, or the school's own entrance papers set for pupils at all levels.  Those joining at 11+ or 13+ generally come from fee-paying preparatory schools; most pupils have not boarded before.  The boarding provision was given significant praise in the last Inspection report (www.isi.net: follow 'reports' and click on Heathfield St Mary's)), where it was described as good with some outstanding features.  'The high quality of the boarding experience is due to the outstanding expertise and dedication of those involved in pastoral care'.  Girls enjoy a very positive boarding experience.  Maintaining the high quality of boarding has been of particular importance and has been seen as a priority for the school during recent changes.

In 2006 the school undertook a merger with St Mary's School, Wantage.  This merger brought together two schools on separate sites at some distance from each other.  This major change was managed through co operation and loyalty of those on both sites and the school now operates as a single entity with a distinctive identity.  The significant multi- million pound investment in new building and refurbishment has resulted in outstanding provision of facilities.  The school has reverted to using its original name, Heathfield, and this will be reflected in the web address and all other literature very shortly.  Following the completion of the merger and subsequent restructuring the then headmistress, Frances King, moved on after five years in post to the headship of Roedean.  Subsequently Margaret McSwiggan, with the experience of two previous headships, took up the role in summer 2008.  Tragically, after a short battle against cancer she died in May 2009.  After such a painful and unsettling time for the school the Governors seek to appoint a candidate with proven leadership experience who will be able to engender the trust, support and confidence of pupils, parents and staff and whilst respecting the traditions and ethos of the school will be aspirational and ambitious in enabling it to move forward.

The school aims to enable girls to become articulate, confident all rounders, at ease with themselves and with others, well prepared for their future working lives and for their contribution to future communities.  The school's outstanding pastoral care, academic excellence and strong commitment to cultural, aesthetic, sporting and leadership activities provide opportunities for each girl to flourish and find success in a small, friendly environment.  The Christian foundation is central to the school's ethos, and the spiritual life of the school is important.  The school encourages girls to develop a deeper, broader perspective on life and their responsibilities as members of the wider community.  The new head will be in sympathy with the Christian ethos of the school and will be expected to lead assemblies and to attend chapel.  The school has its own chaplain.

Beyond the academic and pastoral side of school is a wide enrichment curriculum which enables girls to take advantage of a huge range of opportunities, from sporting activities ranging from pilates to polo,as well as cultural, aesthetic, leisure and leadership opportunities.  The school is keen to develop further its links with the community.  The new head will be expected to enjoy supporting girls in their many activities both within and beyond the school day.

Please look at the School website at www.heathfiledstmarys.net for further information

How to apply

Please send a full resume, accompanied by a letter of not more than 2 sides of A4 in support of your application, indicating your reasons for interest and the ways in which your professional experience would equip you for the post.  Please include names and full contact details (email, postal address and telephone numbers) of two professional referees.

This should be sent by email to Penelope Penney, Consultant to the Governors, form whom further details may be sought.

p.a.penney@btinternet.com. (Please note correct spelling -Penney)