February 24 Closing Date March 2 or 3 First Interviews

March 7 Final Interview

David Williams of BursarSearch will initially be handling this appointment. For a confidential discussion please feel free to call David on

07713 091657 · david@bursarsearch.com

Heathlands Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AL

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Contents ........................................................................................... 2

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As Bursar: ........................................................................................................................................ 8

As Clerk to the Governors: ............................................................................................................. 8

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team: .............................................................................. 8

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Experience: ......................................................................................................................................... 9

Qualifications.................................................................................................................................... 10

Personal Attributes .......................................................................................................................... 10

Commitment to Independent Education ......................................................................................... 11

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Holme Grange School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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Welcome to Holme Grange School

Holme Grange is a co-educational day school for children from 3 to 16, set in 21 acres of

Berkshire countryside just outside the market town of Wokingham. Originally a 13+ Prep

school, it has grown in popularity in recent years. With increasing numbers of parents asking

if it could continue to GCSE, the governors decided to open a senior section in 2015 and this

too has been very popular with local families. The first cohort of children will be taking their

GCSEs this summer.

The school is still growing and there are currently just over 406 pupils across the different

year groups, a substantial increase from previous levels of 230 in 2010 and 330 in 2015.

There are four distinct sections: Little Grange Nursery, Holme Grange Pre-Prep, Holme

Grange Prep and Eaton Grange (The Seniors). As a whole, the school provides an integrated

pathway from childhood to young adulthood, with consistently very high levels of individual

care, aspiration and attention. In 2015 ISI gave it the top rating, “Excellent”, in every area.

Our parents describe the School as caring, friendly and warm which highlights our

strong pastoral support and sense of community. When a child leaves us, they will be

well-prepared for the world – self-confident, sociable and articulate – and will have

many special memories of their time at Holme Grange.

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Aims and Ethos

A Passion for Learning – Changing Lives

Holme Grange offers a modern, really forward-

thinking education, with breadth and depth,

excitement, and quality. The aim of the School is to

develop children into all-rounders who are

confident individuals with a good sense of moral

purpose, who recognise their own self-worth and

that of others, and who are independent thinkers

with a “can-do attitude”.

At the heart of this, the School believes that it

should do more than deliver a rounded curriculum,

and that it should offer an array of opportunities and pathways for personal development. All

this will inspire achievement beyond what might otherwise be expected.

Vision and Philosophy So, Holme Grange:

Enables every child to thrive through an ethos of

support, challenge and encouragement.

Celebrates a caring culture and ensures everyone, irrespective of ability, leaves the school feeling individually fulfilled and valued.

Explores the advancement of educational thinking and of technological change.

This translates into the following key strategies:

Providing a challenging liberal academic education that stimulates intellectual

curiosity

Promoting high standards of achievement across a wide spectrum of activity,

enabling each pupil to discover and develop individual talents and interests

Nurturing personal development of the individual, within a caring, diverse and

warmly supportive ‘family’ environment, developing pupils’ confidence, self-

esteem and leadership skills

Enabling pupils to develop the values, attitudes and standards that will guide them as

global citizens in a rapidly changing world

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We believe that all members of the School community should be inspired to outperform

expectations on a daily basis. The pursuit of excellence across all areas of school life is

our defining feature. Outstanding pastoral care ensures that pupils are safe and happy.

The care extends to all pupils and enables them to make outstanding progress, both

academically and in their personal development.

Awe and wonder are part of the curriculum; we nurture pupils to attain success across

the widest spectrum of activity, extending far beyond the conventional ‘academic’

horizon. We enable pupils to learn to become the adaptable, resourceful, open-minded

and, above all, creative thinkers that the future will need. At Holme Grange questioning,

divergent thinking and the freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged.

Academic excellence, underpinned by formative and summative assessment enables

first-rate teaching and learning to thrive.

Our students are well prepared for the next stage of their educational journey and are

enriched with a set of values which will colour their actions and decisions throughout

their lives.

History of the School

Holme Grange was founded in 1945 when 40 boys were transferred from Eaton House School, London and became fully co-educational in 1975 when the last boarders left. A year earlier the Pre-Prep was opened allowing children to be educated from three years old through to thirteen. In September 2014, it was decided by popular demand to educate up to 16 years old.

The School is a charitable trust administered by a Board of Governors, many of whom are either past or present parents and have a wide variety of interests. The Head teacher is a member of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools

(IAPS).

Holme Grange, a Grade II Listed Building built in 1883 by Norman Shaw, occupies a large country

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mansion standing in a sheltered position, on the Surrey/Hampshire border of Berkshire, one mile South of Wokingham.

The main building has been modernised for School use comprising seven Pre-Prep classrooms, School library, an original and impressive oak panelled hall, kitchens, dining rooms and administrative areas. In 1991 the Scott Wing opened with rooms used for Information Communication Technology, Science, changing-rooms and a classroom. A new Science Laboratory was opened in September 1994 in the Scott Wing.

Outside is the John Graves Wing, within this two-storey building there are 7 classrooms, changing and toilet facilities. The building is named after John Graves; the School’s second Head teacher and was officially opened on 11 July 1998 by the Rt. Hon. Andrew MacKay, MP for Bracknell. On the opposite side is a two-classroom block with the newly refurbished Reception classrooms and the Humanities teaching base. The Sports Hall, at the end, completes the ‘quad’ effect.

In September 2001, an extension to the John Graves Wing was opened: an art/design centre on the ground floor with Y7&8 housed above with a Modern language room and an English room.

In the extensive grounds are three playing fields, a floodlit tennis court, stream, woods, Forest School area, Willow Village, lake, heated swimming pool and Adventure playground. A new multi-purpose area comprising three tennis courts was opened in September 1995.

During the early part of 1996, with completion in August, the School Bungalow was transformed into Little Grange Nursery School accommodating inside and outside play facilities and an extensive extension was built in summer 2012.

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To date there have been only five Head teachers in its history: Mr J Gordon Walker who founded Holme Grange and was responsible for the School’s move from London. At that time the School’s emblem was the Maltese Cross.

In 1951 Mr John Graves became Head teacher for the next twenty years. Mr David Langton succeeded Mr Graves and in his time, he phased out the last boarders introducing a Pre-Prep and girls as well as improving the School facilities. On his retirement in 1992 his place was taken by Mr Nick Brodrick.

Mrs Claire Robinson accepted leadership of the school in January 2009.

There has been an on-going programme of improvements to the School through the School’s Development Plan, updated annually.

A School Inspection, through ISI, took place in January 2015. We received an Outstanding Report and achieved “EXCELLENT” across the board.

In the summer of 2009 a new Reception Classroom area was created with an additional

facility to provide an outdoor classroom, which is an essential element of the Early

Years Foundation Curriculum.

A Forest School site was established in

2010 where the younger children

develop essential skills within the

outdoor environment. This was further

extended in 2012 when the TLC

(Teamwork, Leadership and

Communication) Hub was developed

and opened by Bear Grylls. A second

Forest Schools site was opened in 2013.

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Development There has been an on-going programme of

improvements to the School through the

School’s Development Plan, updated annually.

In 2014 building commenced on a Senior block

incorporating a second science laboratory, a

food technology suite, three additional

classrooms and a common room. It is now

complete and the children are enjoying the

new facilities.

Other recent projects have included a Sports Hall

extension providing senior changing facilities, an eco-

friendly double story cedar panelled dining facility

with classrooms above and a further building

containing two classrooms within the forest setting of

our school.

Our State-of-the-Art 300 seat theatre, the Caudwell

Hall, was completed in Autumn 2016. This building

includes, in addition to a theatre, drama and music

school facilities.

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The Role The role of the Bursar is pivotal in the life of the school, embracing a wide range of

responsibilities including general management, finance, strategic planning, governance,

buildings, facilities, catering, estates, legal and administration.

He or she will work closely with the Head and Governors in the effective provision of support

services and resources to underpin and ensure the smooth running of a successful and growing

school of over 400 boys and girls.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities The role is very wide-ranging and includes overall responsibility

for the following:

As Bursar: The school’s finances;

The buildings, grounds and other facilities,

including their development;

Health and Safety;

Human Resources;

Administrative services;

Catering and housekeeping;

Procurement of services and equipment;

Compliance with all relevant law and best

practice;

The provision of relevant insurance;

Management of those support staff working

directly for the Bursar.

As Clerk to the Governors: The servicing of meetings of the Board of Governors and all committees;

Providing information and advice to Governors;

The procurement of legal, taxation and other advice as required.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team: Providing advice to the Head;

Contributing to the day-to-day leadership of Holme Grange School;

Promoting the welfare of both pupils and staff.

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The Person The Governors and the Head are seeking to appoint a Bursar with vision, empathy and the

highest level of personal integrity who will work with all members of the Holme Grange School

community in its continued development. Candidates must be able to demonstrate strong

managerial capabilities, sound judgement and outstanding communication skills.

Candidates could come from a wide range of backgrounds including business, finance,

education, another charity, industry, the military and professional services, although greater

significance will be attached to an individual’s ability to transfer experience, knowledge and

commercial skills into a collegiate, collaborative yet business-like academic community.

Ideally the successful candidate will have the following skills and experience:

Experience:

Proven track record of leadership and senior management

in a complex professional

structure;

Senior level experience of financial management and

budgeting in a comparably

sized or larger organisation;

Management experience - will have led a team of

comparable size to that of the

Bursar’s team at Holme Grange School;

Experience of commercial operations, be it in a purely

commercial environment or a

not for profit one;

Experience of management of major building and/or land

development projects;

Evidence of planning and thinking strategically and

contributing to discussions on strategy and priorities;

Business acumen to be able to assist the Governors and the

Head as the school develops;

Track record of working successfully with a diverse range of stakeholders;

Experience of working with regulations;

Computer literate and a confident user of IT for communications, financial and

management purposes.

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Qualifications Qualified to degree level or equivalent, potentially with a professional qualification in

finance, management, personnel or property.

Personal Attributes

Committed team player with a collegiate and collaborative approach together with

an ability and willingness to create a working environment in which staff are

empowered to take decisions;

Good sense of humour and the ability to create a working environment in which people work hard and enjoy being part

of the team;

Develops and maintains strong and positive relationships with

Governors, the Head, other staff and parents;

Personal strength of character through transparency, integrity and fairness. Has a strong sense of personal accountability;

Strong listening and communication skills, both written and

oral;

Evidence of the ability to produce accurate and succinct minutes of meetings;

Personal dynamism, energy and enthusiasm, with a positive outlook;

A commitment to sound principles of management through the establishment of clear standards and expectations of

performance management, and through delegation and time

management;

Sound judgement in the appointment, development, support and encouragement of non-teaching staff;

Good judgment and a calm approach;

Strong attention to detail, efficient and works effectively to deadlines;

Conveys the school’s vision in a clear, compelling and inspiring

way

Comfortable working in a regulated environment;

Strong commitment to safeguarding and welfare of children and young people;

Comfortable in a role where a positive working relationship is key, whilst being able to act as confidante by offering

constructive advice and guidance.

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Commitment to Independent Education

Previous experience in a school is helpful, but not a requirement. However, a strong

commitment to education and to independent education is essential;

Comfortable with championing the philosophy of independent, co-education, with an

interest in the wider changing educational landscape;

Appreciates the demands of working in a school environment;

Enjoys being part of, and contributing to, a diverse community of pupils, teachers, non-

academic staff and parents.

Remuneration and Terms of

Employment A comprehensive reward package will be offered. If appointed, you can

expect:

an excellent salary

contributions to a Pension Scheme

a generous staff discount on your children’s fees (if they join the School)

private health insurance

investment in your personal training and development

The appointment is dependent on

a satisfactory medical examination and a self-disclosure medical questionnaire

three satisfactory references including one from your current / most recent employer

proof of qualifications Enhanced DBS clearance and barred list check proof of your entitlement to work in the UK

A detailed contract will be agreed with the successful candidate, based on normal terms and conditions for independent school senior staff. There will be a probationary period of one year during which either party can terminate the employment on six weeks’ notice. Thereafter, one term’s notice will apply.

A formal contract detailing full terms and conditions will be drawn up on

appointment.

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The Application Process

All applicants should complete their official application form electronically and email it,

together with a covering letter, stating why they wish to apply for the post and the qualities they

would bring to it, with particular reference to the Person Specification included in this Brief. A

Curriculum Vitae should also be submitted but will not be accepted in substitution for a

completed application form and will only be referred to at the short list stage.

Applications should be sent to david@bursarsearch.com and will be acknowledged by email.

The closing date for applications to be received by the school is noon on 24th February 2017.

Long list interviews will take place at the school on 2nd or 3rd March 2017.

Short listed candidates will be invited to interview on 7th March 2017.

All applications will be acknowledged. We will endeavour to arrange interviews at a convenient

time for each candidate.

Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to hearing from you and, hopefully, to

meeting you in person.

The successful candidate will be expected to commit to the following:

Holme Grange School seeks to provide a safe environment for children. All staff will adhere to and

ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policy and Child Protection Statement at all times.

If you become aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety of welfare of children in the school,

you must immediately report any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.