St Mary S School Ascot

St Mary’s School Ascot is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

1. Title. Director of Studies.

2. Location. St Mary’s School Ascot, St Mary’s Road, Ascot, SL5 9JF

3. Background. St Mary's School Ascot is a leading Roman Catholic girls' boarding school set in 55 acres of beautiful grounds in the heart of Berkshire. We are a friendly, stable and caring community, proud of our academic and sporting achievements and dedicated to bringing out the full potential of each of our 380 pupils. There are 120 pupils in the sixth form. We are committed to full boarding, with spaces for a few day pupils living nearby. We offer a stimulating range of extra-curricular activities which take place in the evenings and throughout the weekend. For further details see the website: www.st-marys-ascot.co.uk

St Mary’s has a strong reputation as an academic school within the Catholic tradition. Entry to the school is selective and all pupils are expected to take 9/10 GCSEs. All members of the sixth form follow A-level courses and for the past few years entrance to university has been 100%, including 20% to Oxbridge.

4. The Appointment. The appointment is for April or September 2013, depending on the candidate’s availability (please state your preference).

5. Responsibilities.

The Director of Studies is a member of the Senior Management Team and is responsible for all curriculum and co-curriculum matters within the school. The Director of Studies oversees the work of the curriculum co-ordinator and timetabler, the external and internal examinations officers and the cover supervisors. In addition, the Director of Studies has access to significant administrative support. The Director of Studies has general oversight of many areas of the school, working with individual members of staff and with teams.

It is the responsibility of the Director of Studies to:

·  continually review and improve curriculum and co-curriculum provision at St Mary’s

·  consider external developments in the curriculum and co-curriculum and introduce new developments to St Mary’s

·  oversee the production of a balanced teaching timetable for all academic members of staff, including part-time staff

·  oversee the staffing of the co-curricular provision

·  advise SMET on staffing requirements arising from the timetable including arrangements for maternity cover

·  oversee daily provision of cover, including authorising requests for staff absence

·  maintain an oversight of all issues related to external examinations including oral and art examinations

·  maintain an oversight of all invigilation timetables for internal and external examinations

·  provide and check ISC, DFE and CISC census and examination data

·  provide and analyse public examination results and internal examination results for internal use and for the Governors Education Committee

·  manage the MidYIS and ALIS programme

·  maintain an oversight of the assessment and reporting systems

·  update the curriculum and reporting sections of the school handbook

·  oversee the implementation of the GCSE options programme, the AS options programme, and design the timetable option blocks

·  advise girls (and their parents) in year 10, LVI and UVI about subject choices throughout the academic year

·  oversee modern language choices in year 8 and 9

·  be responsible for keeping an overview of changes in inspection procedures; advise SMET and HoDs on all matters related to inspection including regulatory compliance; produce documentation in advance of inspection;

·  monitor diary events which affect curriculum time

·  maintain an oversight of the school management information system, ISAMS

·  chair the Curriculum Committee meetings, prepare agenda and oversee minutes for the Curriculum Committee and prepare agenda and oversee minutes for the Heads of Department meetings

·  organise, manage and oversee the induction of all new teaching staff, including newly qualified teachers as part of the government’s NQT scheme

·  manage the provision for pupils with special needs

·  act as senior management link to five academic departments, including the appraisal of the heads of department

·  maintain an oversight of the use of all curriculum areas and buildings, to supervise the tidiness of the curriculum areas including wall displays

·  assist in running the teaching and learning group

·  be part of the Health and Safety Committee

·  maintain an oversight of the programme for PHSE, with the Skills for Life co-ordinator and the Pastoral Deputy Headmistress

·  supervise the extra-curricular timetable

·  oversee educational trips run by departments, including all risk assessments and staffing requirements, and including residential trips

·  oversee the provision of clubs and societies in school

·  have general oversight of Duke of Edinburgh provision, including staffing, dates and timings of practice and actual expeditions.

·  be available in school from the Wednesday morning before A-level results until the Thursday pm after GCSE results

·  be available for 2 ½ day SMET INSET during the summer holidays (usually taken following the GCSE results)

·  teach one quarter of a timetable in any subject

6. A Catholic School. Nearly all pupils and about 50% of the staff are Roman Catholic. It is not a requirement of this post that applicants should be Catholic but all staff at the school are expected to be sympathetic to the religious and boarding character of the school. To find further details about St Mary’s, please access our website on www.st-marys-ascot.co.uk

7. Conditions.

Accommodation: Two bedroom accommodation on site may be available for candidates although this is not an essential requirement of the post.

Salary: Salary is paid according to the St Mary’s scale.

8. Applications. A letter of application, a completed application form and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three referees should be sent by Tuesday 27 November 2012 to: Mrs Mary Breen, Headmistress, St Mary’s School, St Mary’s Road, Ascot SL5 9JF.

First interviews will be held at the school on Wednesday 5 December 2012. Second interviews will take place on Monday 10 December 2012 and will include teaching a lesson.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Introduction

This policy was updated in August 2012 and complies with:

Sir Roger Singleton’s report: Keeping our Schools Safe 2009

Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2010

Safeguarding Children in Education 2004

Education Act 2002

DfE Statutory Guidance August 2011

In all matters relating to child protection the School will follow the procedures as laid down by the Berkshire Local Safeguarding Children Board’s: Child Protection Procedures 2006 as last revised June 2012. These procedures and Working Together to Safeguard Children are published and frequently updated on a dedicated web-site at http://proceduresonline.com/berks.

Mrs Elizabeth Hewer, and in her absence Mrs Virginia Barker, is the designated person responsible for co-ordinating action within the school and liaising with other agencies. Both these senior members of staff have status and authority to take responsibility for child protection matters, have received training in child protection and inter-agency working and are familiar with ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’. All teaching and support staff, ancillary staff and all adults working at the school should familiarise themselves with the procedures outlined below.

Mrs Oonagh Berry is the school governor with an overview of child protection procedures within the school.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the child protection policy at St Mary's is to safeguard and promote the welfare, health and safety of our pupils at St Mary's Ascot by fostering an honest, open, caring and supportive ethos. The welfare of the pupils is of paramount importance. As a full boarding school we fully recognise and are committed to the responsibility we have under section 87(1) of the Children’s Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of each pupil and to protect and support them in all academic pursuits and all boarding situations.

Our policy has three main elements:

Prevention of harm: by creating and maintaining a positive school atmosphere with excellent pastoral support and stimulating teaching of a varied curriculum.

Protection from harm: by following agreed procedures as laid down by Berkshire Local Safeguarding Children Boards - Child Protection Procedures 2006, last revised June 2012, by ensuring that appropriate staff are properly recruited, trained and are supported to respond sensitively and appropriately to child protection concerns.

Support: by giving appropriate support to pupils and staff if incidents concerning child protection issues occur.

We recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and a clear line of communication with a trusted adult help all children especially those who may be worried or anxious. St Mary's, therefore, promotes an ethos where pupils feel secure and are encouraged to talk and are listened to.

Pupils are reminded in assemblies taken by the Headmistress or Deputy Headmistresses or the School Council, in House meetings, tutor groups, the Skills for Life programme and in their study diaries to whom they are able to talk. That may be their Head of House, their tutor, their residential member of staff, the School Chaplain, their teachers, their house captains, their tutor monitor, School prefects, the Independent Listener, the School nurses or the School doctor, the Headmistress or the Deputy Headmistresses. They are encouraged to find a person they trust. Pupils are kept aware of the Anti-Bullying policy which encourages them to speak about issues worrying them.

The school also values and promotes effective relationships with parents and colleagues from other agencies.

Ensuring Safe Staff

St Mary’s ensures the implementation of safe recruitment practices (see the Recruitment and Selection Policy and the CRB Procedures). Statutory procedures for checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children are always followed including enhanced CRB checks and compliance with Independent Schools Standards Regulations.

All staff including the Headmistress, part-time staff and voluntary staff are made aware of this policy and will receive training which will include which signs to look out for and appropriate record keeping. Refresher training for staff is provided every 3 years with the designated persons receiving training every 2 years. As part of their induction programme newly appointed staff who come into contact with pupils receive training in child protection issues. All child protection training is given by one of four members of staff: Mrs Elizabeth Hewer, Mrs Virginia Barker, Mr Giles Brand, Mrs Nicola MacRobbie, all of whom have themselves received training in child protection matters.

Assurance is obtained that appropriate child protection checks and procedures apply to any staff employed by another organisation and working with the School’s pupils on another site.

Training for Senior Pupils

As part of their induction programme the head girls, and upper sixth and lower sixth prefects also receive training on the action to take if they receive any allegations of abuse from other pupils.

Procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse

Allegations of abuse may be against a member of staff or against another pupil or pupils.

If a member of staff is made aware of an allegation of abuse, or if knowledge of a possible abuse comes to his/her attention it is his/her duty to listen to the child, to provide re-assurance and to record the child's statements, but not to probe or put words into the child's mouth.

On hearing an allegation or complaint directly from a child, a member of staff should limit questioning to the minimum necessary for clarification. Leading questions should be avoided. No inappropriate guarantees of confidentiality should be given; rather the informant should be told that the matter will be referred in confidence to the appropriate people.

The member of staff should make and submit an accurate written record and inform the Headmistress and the designated person immediately so that appropriate agencies can be informed within 24 hours and the matter resolved without delay. The designated person will contact the LADO (local authority designated officer) for advice or direction and will inform OFSTED if appropriate.

Should the allegation of abuse concern the designated person the member of staff should inform the Headmistress and the deputy to the designated person who will act in the place of the designated person. Should the allegation be against the Headmistress the designated person will immediately inform the Chairman of Governors.

All concerned should act with the utmost discretion. A complaint swept aside on the pretext that it is frivolous or malicious can damage the child. A mistaken allegation can damage the career of a member of staff.

The Headmistress/designated person will refer all allegations or suspicions of abuse to the local authority designated officer (LADO). Borderline cases will be discussed without identifying individuals in the first instance and following discussions the LADO will judge whether or not an allegation or concern indicates possible abuse. The LADO and the Headmistress/designated person will decide in the circumstances what further steps should be taken. This could involve informing parents and calling the police.

If the allegation concerns a member of staff or another pupil he/she would normally be informed as soon as possible after the result of the initial investigation is known. He/she will be warned that anything said will be recorded. The School will appoint a representative to keep the member of staff informed of the likely course of action and the progress of the case.

If it is established that the allegation is not well-founded, either on the basis of medical examination or further statements, a written record will be made of the decision and the justification for it and then the person against whom the complaint has been made would normally be informed that the matter is closed. Allegations that are found to have been malicious will be removed from personnel records and those that are not substantiated, are unfounded or malicious will not be referred to in employer references.

If the police decide to take the case further, the member of staff or pupil concerned will be suspended only if there is no reasonable alternative. The reasons and justification for suspension will be recorded and the teacher informed of them. In the case of staff the matter will be dealt with in accordance with the Disciplinary Procedure. Where a member of the residential staff is suspended pending an investigation of a child protection nature, the Headmistress will make suitable arrangements for alternative accommodation away from children. In the case of a pupil the matter will be dealt with under the School Rules, Discipline and Sanctions Policy.