housemaster of the priory - repton school · 2021. 1. 15. · an introduction to repton school 3...

Housemaster of The Priory

September 2021

Contents

1

From the Headmaster ……………………………….. p. 2

An introduction to Repton School……………….….. p. 3

A Global Family of Schools ……….……….……….. p. 5

The Priory …………………………..….…………..… p. 6

Key Areas of Responsibility ….………............…….. p. 8

Candidate Qualities…………………………………… p. 12

Teaching at Repton………...………………………… p. 13

Information for Candidates ..……………………….. p. 14

J O B D E S C R I P T I O N | H O U S E M A S T E R O F T H E P R I O R Y

Repton is a wonderful and inspiring place to

work: one of the UK’s foremost co-

educational boarding and day schools,

located in the heart of the English

countryside, yet within easy reach of major

cities; strengthened by a history that goes

back over a thousand years, yet with a keen

eye on the challenges of the twenty first

century.

The House is in a true sense every

Reptonian’s home in the School – the place

where pupils eat, sleep, work and live;

where their most enduring relationships with

peers and members of staff are born; and a

secure, stable base within the busy life of a

boarding school. It is under the expert care

of the Housemaster that pupils are

encouraged to develop academically,

socially and in all aspects of their

extracurricular life. We are looking for a

Housemaster who can lead The Priory with

care and commitment, building on all that is

already great about this thriving boys

boarding house.

From the Headmaster

2

Mr Mark SemmenceHeadmaster

A major programme of investment and

expansion has been completed across both

Repton and Repton Prep in recent years,

and Repton International now has schools in

Dubai (2), Abu Dhabi (2), China, and

Malaysia with plans to open a further four

over the next few years.

We are a school with ambition and purpose,

eager to employ and reward teachers who

share our values and aims. Accommodation

will be provided, and with a commitment

to invest in the professional development of

our staff, a generous fee-remission scheme

and continued participation in the Teachers’

Pension Scheme, Repton is a very attractive

place to work.

I hope very much that you will read this

document with interest and I encourage you

to apply.


An Introduction to Repton School

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Repton is the ancient capital of Mercia, and the School, founded in 1557 from a bequest

from Sir John Port of Etwall, was established on the site of a 7th century Anglo-Saxon

Benedictine abbey and latterly a 12th century Augustinian priory.

The School today incorporates many of the original buildings from the estate, namely, the

Guest Chamber and Prior’s Lodging (which as the Old Priory currently houses the School

Library and Common Room), Overton’s Tower, Tithe Barn, and the Arch. The latter is all

that now remains of the Priory’s original gatehouse and which helped inspire the School’s

motto: porta vacat culpa.

Today Repton is a world class, modern, flourishing community with a clear sense of

purpose and momentum. As a pre-eminent co-educational and boarding and day school,

Repton provides an exceptional broad-based education, blending heritage with the pursuit

of excellence in a 21st century context, offering world class facilities as well as high quality

teaching and pastoral care.

The School has a thousand pupils across the Prep and Senior School, making it large

enough to achieve excellence in and out of the classroom, yet small enough for individuals

to grow and flourish. At Repton Senior, each pupil, whether day or boarding, is a member

of a House, of which there are 10 (six for boys and four for girls).


Academic standards are high and creative activities, including music, art, drama and

design, flourish. The School has a national profile in sport, in particular in football, hockey

and swimming. Our pupils thrive both in and out of the classroom and they develop the

skills, qualities and values that will lead to a successful life.

Whilst Repton is undoubtedly modern in terms of practice and outlook, the traditional

values of encouraging pupils to aim high whilst showing respect for all are still of utmost

importance. The School continues its strong educational vision, recognising the importance

of being able to offer a Repton education to potential pupils from all backgrounds by

providing scholarships and bursaries in a wide range of subjects. The School’s

considerable strengths were recognised in the 2020 ISI Inspection which found Repton to

be ‘Excellent’ in each of the areas examined. The inspectors judged that Repton pupils

‘achieve highly and make excellent progress across the wide range of academic and extra-

curricular opportunities available to them’. The School was found to have met all the

requirements of the ISI Regulatory Compliance Inspection.

Repton and Repton Prep have always enjoyed a very close relationship and in 2020,

the schools became a through-school with the aim of securing the very best pupil

outcomes. Robert Relton, the Head of Repton Prep reports to Mark Semmence as

Headmaster of Repton and Chief Executive of both schools.

4


Repton was one of the first British schools to establish overseas schools with the

establishment of Repton School Dubai in 2007, and the development of a community of

international schools is key to Repton’s future vision. Currently, Repton has schools in

Dubai (2), Abu Dhabi (2), China, and Malaysia with plans to open a further four more over

the next few years.

The additional income generated by our overseas schools provides financial support will

enable Repton to select pupils simply on merit and without regard to their parents’ financial

means. The Headmaster and Senior Management Team play a key role in helping to shape

the development of Repton as a leading, global educational brand.

Repton also currently has three schools in the UK (Repton, Repton Prep and St Wystan’s)

with the ambition to grow its UK family of schools.

A Global Family of Schools

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The Priory is a flourishing, successful boarding house providing home to 60 boys, boarding

and day, aged between 13 and 18. After nine years as its Housemaster, Dr Nathaniel Pitts will

be taking up the position of Assistant Head (Academic) at Repton.

The building that now houses the boys of The Priory was built by J. M. Gurney, a Repton

master, as a school house and opened in 1885 under the name of St. Wystan’s. Gurney

retired from being an active housemaster in 1901 and in his will he left the house to the

school. A new wing containing two studies, was added, the building was renamed The Priory

House, and in 1921 the boys of the original Priory House, housed in what we now know as

The Old Priory, moved under S.S. Jenkyns to their new home. Apart from a new dormitory

built in 1927, the Priory remained unchanged in structure until the 1980s when ‘new wing’ was

added and then extended. Accommodation for a resident tutor and their family was the most

recent addition to the building in 2017.

The Priory

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Substantial refurbishments to the House have

enabled a happy marriage between much-loved,

traditional features and all the facilities of

modern boarding life. Current Priory pupils have

access to a multi-media world with full wifi

capability, while still enjoying the games of pool

and table tennis in the two common rooms and

the use of two cooking areas, that previous

generations will have enjoyed. The traditional,

panelled dining room is the heart of the House in

which all meals are taken. Here, pupils, staff and

guests can enjoy delicious food freshly prepared

by the in-house chef. A sense of history is

important and Priory boys are as proud now to

get their house ties and their names on the

house boards as they ever were, proud to be

part of a legacy which includes author Roald

Dahl, test cricketer Chris Adams and, of course,

TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, all of whom

spent their formative years in the house.

The Priory provides a wonderful environment for

teenagers to develop into rounded, polite and

purposeful young men. and critically, it is one in

which the boys feel safe and comfortable; one in

which they work hard and are given advice and

support as they grow towards university and the

world of work. It is also a place where they feel

at home; where they can relax, play cricket,

football, or simply enjoy each other’s company

in the house garden (arguably the best in the

School) as part of a unique house community.

Much then may have altered, but some things

never change: core values remain and,

regardless of technological, educational or

constructional transformations in the intervening

years, Old Reptonians from The Priory,

returning to their old house, would appreciate

and recognise the friendliness, loyalty and

ambition of the boys here today.

7


Key Areas of Responsibility

8


This is the best job a teacher can have. No

other affords the depth of relationships with

pupils as this one does – the chance to

work with parents and staff to shape and

guide a pupil’s life with care and

compassion as a Repton Housemaster.

Living amongst some sixty pupils requires a

genuine interest in young people, the gift

both to enthuse and to listen, to be an

example of kindness and tolerance and to

have the stamina to deliver unwavering

support through the school year. It is an

undoubted challenge for an individual of the

highest calibre but it offers a breadth of

experience and a satisfaction that is

unrivalled in education.

Repton School holds a very strong

reputation for excellence in its pastoral care

and this exciting opportunity offers the

successful candidate the chance to take full

responsibility for a full and thriving boarding

house.

The position reports directly into the Deputy

Head Pastoral, who works collaboratively

with the Houseparent team across the

School’s ten Houses. Steered by a

consistent pastoral approach, there is

considerable scope however for the

individual’s ideas, energy and personality to

shine through to foster a unique home-from-

home that can make a significant difference

to the lives of the boys in the House.

Leading an experienced team of house staff

– including a Resident Tutor, a live-in

matron and four other tutors – it is the

Housemaster’s responsibility to ensure the

highest levels of support of the boys in their

academic, extra-curricular and personal

development.

The Housemaster is responsible for

maintaining the highest standards within the

House at all times, so that parental and

pupil confidence in the House is high and

that demand for places is strong. Following

National Minimum Standards and ISI

regulatory requirements relating to boarding

and safeguarding, the Housemaster also

has responsibility for the welfare and safety

of pupils in his or her charge and stands in

loco parentis.

This is a varied and highly rewarding role,

which requires a broad range of skills and is

suited to an experienced teacher with a

genuine commitment to education and

boarding life. The Housemaster will eat all

meals in the House with the boys and live in

a substantial and well-appointed four-

bedroom, two-bathroom family home in the

private side of the boarding House, with a

considerable private garden.

9


Pupil Welfare and Discipline

The Housemaster will:

• ensure the safety and welfare of every pupil in the House, in accordance with Child

Protection procedures and school safeguarding policies.

• create an environment in which every pupil feels valued and secure and can develop

to his or her full potential academically, personally and in extra-curricular interests.

• encourage pupils to play a full part in the life of the School

• ensure that pupils are familiar with the School Rules and understand the expectations

regarding all aspects of their conduct.

• investigate all allegations or instances of inappropriate behaviour where appropriate in

tandem with the Deputy Head Pastoral and the Principal Deputy Head. Where

sanctions are applied, these must be in accordance with School policy and properly

administered.

• ensure that pupils’ appearance reflects credit on the School and is in accordance with

the School’s Dress Regulations.

• maintain full pastoral records, to include detailed records of sanctions and complaints

or individual pastoral concerns and a record of significant events or parental contacts.

• maintain individual pupil pastoral records and welfare plans, ensuring that relevant

staff are aware of any significant concerns or safety issues relating to specific

individuals.

• register pupils in accordance with the School’s policy, maintain attendance records

and ensure that any absences are promptly investigated.

• write a report on each pupil at the end of each term.

• produce the UCAS reference, incorporating the academic information supplied by

Tutors, and any other such references as required.

• manage the House Tutors and Matron to ensure that appropriate arrangements for

supervision are in place to ensure the safety of all pupils at all times and that all

relevant information relating to pupils’ welfare and performance is communicated

effectively and sensitively.

• liaise closely with Tutors on academic issues relating to individual pupils and ensure

that pupils are receiving appropriate support.

• attend weekly Housemasters’ meetings and any other meetings required by the

Headmaster.

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Communication with Parents

• maintain regular communication with the parents or guardians of the pupils in the

House and ensure that parental concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.

• entertain parents socially on formal occasions such as Speech Day and at other

times.

Safety and Maintenance

• maintain the pupils’ side of the House together with its furniture and fittings. All

damages should be reported to the Maintenance Department, identifying where

appropriate the names of pupils who should bear a share of the costs of damage

arising from wilful or negligent act or omission.

• ensure that all members of the House are familiar with the arrangements for the

prevention of fire and for maintaining written Fire instructions and Fire Risk

Assessments for the House and ensuring the remedial action is taken as necessary,

and for carrying out termly fire practices and for testing fire alarms weekly.

• maintain a Risk Assessment of the House, ensuring that appropriate action is taken

to address any issues identified.

1 1


Recruitment

• assist the Headmaster with the marketing of the School and the House to prospective

parents and pupils and to preparatory school heads, to ensure that promotion of the

School is of the highest standard; specifically:

• meeting prospective pupils and their parents when they visit the School.

• developing relationships with families whose children have registered to join

the House.

• representing the School on visits to preparatory schools.

• supporting school events attended by prospective pupils and parents

• reporting to preparatory schools on former pupils’ performance.

Management of Staff and Finance

• with the assistance of the Domestic Bursar, be responsible for the selection and

appointment of House Matron/Housekeeper and, through her, of all domestic staff,

agreed by the Bursar to be necessary for the pupils’ side of the House.

• through the Housekeeper, be responsible for the efficient management and

administration of domestic staff and the effective control of budgets allocated annually

for the running of the House.

• act as the line-manager for the Matron/Housekeeper and conduct an annual

appraisal.

• administer such accounts as the Housemaster may control from time to time within the

House and make proper provision for the security of cash and cheques at all times.

• support the Manager of Repton School Enterprises by permitting the use of the

School’s accommodation for hire during School holidays.

1 2


Skills Required

Ability to create and maintain strong, supportive relationships with pupils, staff

and pupils and the community Essential

Strong communication and interpersonal skills Essential

Excellent organisational skills Essential

The ability to manage a team Essential

Willingness to take action to confront issues and overcome problems Essential

Ability to inspire, motivate and support others Essential

Clarity of thought Essential

Qualifications / Attainment

At least a second-class honours degree (or equivalent) from a recognised

universityEssential

Proven track record of outstanding teaching and pupil outcomes Essential

Experience of working within a boarding school environment Essential

Personal and Professional Qualities

Willingness to be fully involved in the life of a busy boarding school Essential

Aspirational and empathetic, with a genuine belief in the potential of every pupil Essential

Resilient, determined, pragmatic Essential

Persuasive and influential Essential

An effective and collaborative team player Essential

Flexible and resourceful Essential

1 3

Teaching at Repton

The School is committed to employing and

rewarding teachers who share its ambition,

its aims and its values. This will be reflected

in a highly attractive remuneration package

as well as the investments in both staff and

facilities.

Repton has its own generous salary scale

and the person appointed will enter the

scale at the level suitable to his/her

qualifications and experience.

The School may provide accommodation in

connection with this position.

Full-time teachers also benefit from:

• Participation in the Teachers’ Pension

Scheme

• An attractive fee-remission scheme

• Private health care

• Free membership of Repton’s Sport

Centre

In its buildings and grounds, Repton

combines the old and the new. The heart of

the School is a beautiful 12th century

Augustinian Priory, but following a major

period of investment, the School has

outstanding new and refurbished facilities in

most teaching areas, most notably in the

Science Priory, the School Theatre and a

new Mathematics and PE Block.

A new Sports Centre including two full

sports halls, a gym, a strength and

conditioning suite, swimming pool,

hospitality and reception suites and a café,

was opened in November 2019.

Teachers work in well-equipped, spacious

classrooms. All teachers are tutors in

boarding houses and contribute to the

extracurricular life of the School. This

helps to develop the collegiate and

purposeful atmosphere which is valued so

much by staff at Repton.

The School is committed to the

professional development of its staff so

that they can continue to grow as teachers

and educators, and invests significantly in

this.

Repton itself is a thriving village with a

fascinating past. Situated in the Trent

valley between Derby and Burton on

Trent, on one side of the village is the Old

Trent, the remnants of the former course

of the river, and on the other three is

attractive rolling farmland. The village has

a vibrant community with clubs, societies,

shops, pubs and other attractive

amenities. It is close to the cities of Derby

and Nottingham and major transport

routes, and much of the wonderful Peak

District National Park lies within

Derbyshire itself.


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Information for Candidates

In accordance with the Children Act any

appointment to the Repton staff is conditional on

criminal records clearance and the successful

candidate will be required to supply the

necessary information and documentary

evidence. References will be obtained on all

candidates called for interview and applicants

should be aware that the interview will contain

questions relating to the candidates’ suitability to

working in a post involving children.

The School is committed to safeguarding and

promoting the welfare of children and young

people and expects all staff and volunteers to

share this commitment. Therefore the following

shall be deemed to be included, in addition to the

duties that you may be required to perform:

Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of

children and young persons for whom you

are responsible and with whom you come

into contact.

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 it is a

criminal offence for a person over 18 (e.g.

teacher, matron, sports coach) to have a sexual

relationship with a child under 18 where that

person is in a position of trust in respect of that

child, even if the relationship is consensual. This

applies where the child is in full-time education

and the person works in the same establishment

as the child, even if s/he does not teach the

child. Moreover, whatever the age of the pupil, a

sexual relationship between an employee and a

pupil will be considered an abuse of a position of

trust and gross misconduct, likely to result in

dismissal.

Candidates should apply to Mr Mark Semmence ([email protected]) with a covering

letter and a fully completed Repton School application form, which includes the names and

addresses of two professional referees, by Wednesday, 24 February at 6pm.

Applicants will be contacted for interview if they have been successful in the short-list process.

Interviews will take place the weeks commencing 1 March and 5 March.


mailto:[email protected]

Repton Derbyshire DE65 6FH

repton.org.uk

housemaster of the priory - repton school · 2021. 1. 15. · an introduction to repton school 3...

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