HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL
This post becomes available following the decision of the current post-holder – Mrs Gail Denham –
to retire at the end of the 2013-14 academic year. Mrs Denham has held the post since January
2009. She has done an outstanding job overseeing the expansion of Concord’s Lower School,
developing a sense of collective purpose and well-being as well as a significant rise in academic
standards. It is expected that the successful candidate will seek to build on this very strong legacy.
Job Description and Person Profile
Concord’s Lower School is very much part of the College as a whole. The term ‘Lower School’ here at
Concord is used to describe students in Forms 3, 4 and 5 (Years 9 to 11). The role of the Head of
Lower School is to work closely with the Principal and Senior Management Team in the leadership
and management of the Lower School and to enhance the achievements and reputation of the
College. The Lower School has roughly 160 students between Form 3 (Year 9) and Form 5 (Year 11).
Students in these year groups are absolutely integral to the Concord community and to Concord’s
longer-term success. Not only are they special young people in their own right, but it is very often
former Lower School students who become leaders of the College in their sixth form careers. It is
the expectation that Concord’s Lower School students will make the necessary grades to progress to
Concord’s sixth form and flourish during their four or five years at the College.
The role of the Head of Lower School is to nurture students who come into Concord in Form 3 and
Form 4 and to ensure that they are able to imbibe Concord’s values and ethos. It is recognised that
younger students can take time to settle and to adjust to the self-motivated culture that is prevalent
in Concord as a whole. The role of the Head of Lower School is to provide leadership for students
and staff in ensuring that this transformation of attitude can take place. It is also expected that in
Form 5 the Head of Lower School will take clear oversight of the year group to ensure that their
work habits are strong and that they are clearly focused on the challenge of terminal exams at the
end of the year.
The Head of Lower School reports directly to the Principal over Lower School matters, whole-college
issues, marketing and recruitment. The Head of Lower School is subordinate to the Vice-Principal
(Academic) and Vice Principal (Pastoral) over academic and pastoral matters respectively.
Key Responsibilities
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To create a happy and purposeful attitude amongst the students; to encourage high
expectations, conscientious attitudes and a powerful work ethic.
To encourage and support staff involved with Lower School students.
To create an ethos in the Lower School that encourages students to develop positive values,
self-confidence and a broad portfolio of skills in an environment that is safe and secure.
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To stay abreast of current developments in the education sector appropriate to the Lower
School and report on these to the Principal and Senior Teachers as appropriate.
Concord College is a boarding school. The Head of Lower School is a ‘senior resident’ post.
The Head of Lower School is expected to be involved in the boarding life of the College and
to attend most major College events, especially those involving Lower School students. They
will also be part of the Senior Staff residents’ rota, providing support to duty staff on
Saturday nights and during those holiday periods when students are in residence (this
commitment is limited and shared with other senior residents over the course of the
academic year).
Management Responsibilities
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To be a member of the Senior Management Team and represent Lower School issues in the
whole College context.
To liaise with Lower School parents over the progress of their child as appropriate.
To take oversight of Lower School student progress and/or if a teacher, tutor or parent
expresses concern.
To establish and maintain close contact with local schools in the maintained and
independent sector. To attend marketing events annually at such schools (including
Moffatts, Prestfelde, Shrewsbury High School Prep, Packwood Haugh, The Priory and Church
Stretton)
To take an active interest in the recruitment of high calibre students. This might involve
some overseas marketing and will certainly involve meeting prospective students and their
parents.
To liaise with the Vice-Principal (Academic) to ensure an appropriate and enriching
curriculum for the Lower School.
To maintain a high standard of behaviour amongst Lower School students.
To stay in regular contact with Lower School day parents regarding academic and pastoral
welfare issues.
To support and manage the Assistant Head of Lower School,
To support and manage Lower School tutors and other staff as appropriate.
To attend Heads of Department Committee Meetings and the Student Overview Committee
and represent Lower School interests on these groups.
To be a member of the Pastoral Management team.
To attend committee meetings of the Board of Trustees as required by the Chairman of
Trustees and the Principal (specifically the Marketing Committee and the Welfare
Committee).
To be a senior residential member of staff and take oversight of Lower School boarding
issues, including student welfare and discipline in liaison the Vice-Principal (Pastoral) and the
Principal.
To chair Lower School Tutors’ meetings as appropriate.
To make recommendations to the Principal regarding ‘promotions’ from one year group to
the next.
To liaise with parents over promotion issues, in particular from Form 5 to the Sixth Form.
To meet regularly with the Principal and keep him informed of developments in the Lower
School.
To take oversight of Lower School optional subject choices, in consultation with Tutors and
the Vice-Principal (Academic).
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College Routines
 To take a role in the senior staff Saturday night duty rota.
 To assist with the starts and ends of terms to ensure that students settle into the College well
and that they leave their rooms in good order.
 To hold regular assemblies.
 To take an active interest in Lower School Active Tutorials and in Lower School PSHE.
 To oversee an appropriate programme of enrichment activities involving the Lower School (e.g.
Form 3 Activities week, Lower School Dinner, Careers Fair, Christmas Fayre etc.).
 To coordinate and award prizes to members of the Lower School as appropriate.
 To coordinate the setting and administration of entry and scholarship papers for Lower School
entry in liaison with Heads of Department, Vice-Principal (Academic) and the Principal.
 To write summary reports on each student in the Lower School as appropriate to the reporting
period. Reports should display a clear knowledge of the individual student.
 To communicate effectively with the Principal’s office with copies of appropriate
correspondence.
 To oversee the appointment and management of Lower School Monitors annually
 To attend meetings of the Residents’ Committee.
The Head of the Lower School should also be willing to take on any other reasonable responsibility
to develop the Lower School within the College as requested by the Principal.
Key Skills and Experience
The candidate should be able to demonstrate:
- The ability to lead and guide others
- A genuine interest in young people and their social and academic development
- The ability to speak to student and parent groups effectively and appropriately
- The ability to write reports, letters and e-mails appropriates and professionally
- Background as an effective and experienced educational practitioner, perhaps as a Head of
Department or in a senior pastoral role
Person Profile
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate most or all of the following qualities:
- Dignity and integrity, along with a sense of humour
- Energy, moral consistency and flexibility of thinking
- High levels of organisational ability
- The ability to work with others as part of a team
- Clarity of thinking and the ability to make well-judged decisions
- The ability to listen to the needs of others and respond accordingly
It will be essential that the successful candidate enjoys the atmosphere of a boarding school and
wishes to play a significant role in its community.
Remuneration
The successful candidate will be expected to teach up to 14 lessons/ week (a 40% timetable)
A four bedroomed piece of accommodation will be provided free of charge
The candidate will be paid as a member of the SMT and the salary will be negotiable and
commensurate with the level of responsibility.
N G Hawkins, Principal, 20 October 2014
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