Home / Roles / Governor – Safeguarding | Royal Hospital School Governor – Safeguarding Royal Hospital School Join the Royal Hospital School as our Safeguarding Governor and support our mission, ‘to understand each young person’s strengths, to help them to make the right choices at the right time, navigating through their critical formative years and ensuring their education becomes the foundation for their happiness and success.’ Salary: Unremunerated with reasonable travel expenses paid Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 17th July 2023 About The Royal Hospital School The Royal Hospital School (RHS) is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for 11 to 18-year-olds, set in 200 acres of countryside in Holbrook, Suffolk. RHS was founded in London in 1712 by the Royal Naval Crown charity, Greenwich Hospital, to educate the children of the hospital’s pensioners and prepare them for a life at sea. Many went on to become famous admirals, explorers and pioneers. The school is still owned by Greenwich Hospital, whose sole Trustee is the Secretary of State for Defence on behalf of the Crown. We are immensely proud of our historic, royal and naval links, and discovery, exploration and challenge continue to shape our ethos. The traditional values of loyalty, commitment, courage, respect, service and integrity have underpinned the school’s core aims and philosophy from the very beginning. 300 years later, they are as relevant to the education provided now as they were then. The sense of teamwork, camaraderie and being part of something bigger than oneself instils feelings of pride and belonging to the whole school community. RHS inspires pupils to have the courage to be ambitious for their futures and the commitment to pursue whichever path they choose. We challenge pupils of all academic abilities, steering them to look beyond the moment and beyond the confines of the classroom, and to approach life with an open and receptive mind. It is through thinking creatively and taking the initiative that they discover their influence, strengths and ambitions and establish the skills they need to pursue purposeful and fulfilling lives. Everyone can achieve the most exceptional things, but we are all different. That is why we focus on the individual, getting to know every one of our pupils and finding out what motivates them which, in turn, enables us to navigate them through their critical and formative years. It is this focus on personal challenge and individual guidance that enables pupils to develop into self-reliant, socially responsible adults with enviable open-mindedness and resilience; qualities which are so sought-after by employers and important in life. Facilities The school was purpose-built in 1933 and its progressive design enables us to benefit from fantastic light and spaces, with some of the best inspiring views. Over the last 90 years, the school has continued to invest in its infrastructure, providing modern, well-equipped classrooms alongside other impressive teaching spaces. The investment in larger projects in recent years has focused on aspects that will benefit the most pupils: our indoor sports facilities, including a new climbing wall, refurbished fitness suite and weights room; the library, a beautiful modern study and learning space at the heart of the school; and our new Heritage Café and social hub for the entire community. As a school, we prioritise the importance of well-being in our whole community, including that of pupils, staff and parents, and are committed to promoting and protecting positive emotional well-being and mental health. Our aim is to help our pupils build strong foundations that foster good well-being for life. The school is fortunate to have a large and well-resourced Health Centre that operates 24/7. Fully staffed by registered nurses, it also accommodates a daily doctor’s surgery, a dental surgery and a wide range of specialist medical services including counselling and physiotherapy. Environmental Sustainability Staff and pupils actively identify and put into practice more environmentally sustainable ways of living and working, supporting and encouraging this both within and outside the school community. We have a proven track record of environmental responsibility and aim to further reduce our carbon footprint and renew our Gold Carbon Charter Award. All Governors and staff are encouraged to take a deep personal interest in pupil welfare and understand that young people need to feel safe and supported if they are to succeed academically. Our Governors and staff understand that excellent pastoral care must underpin a good academic education. Regardless of whether pupils are day or boarding, an incredibly effective pastoral network is designed to ensure that at every stage of the RHS journey, our pupils are cared for, nurtured, supported, listened to and provided with all the appropriate guidance to help them develop in confidence. Each pupil has a personal tutor – someone who is responsible for overseeing their academic achievements, pastoral care, welfare and provides a link between teachers and parents. Where possible, tutors retain their tutor groups as their tutees proceed through the school, enabling them to forge strong relationships with their tutees and their parents. Our house system is tailored to meet the specific needs of each age group. Pupils joining in Year 7 all enter Blake House, before progressing into our senior houses that cater for pupils in Years 8 – 12. Senior boarding houses accommodate between 55-65 girls or boys and our coeducational day houses each accommodates 75-85 pupils. As pupils progress through the school, the structures and routines in the houses change to meet the needs of the maturing young people until they reach the Sixth Form and take on positions of responsibility. In Year 13, Nelson House is regarded as the pinnacle of their time at RHS, providing a pre-university experience – not only the place to focus on A-Level and BTEC study but also the perfect springboard to life beyond. Who we are looking for RHS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all Governors and staff to share this commitment. We are seeking a new Governor, with particular responsibility for safeguarding, to support all of our aspirations and ensure that the school continues to offer high-quality education in a setting where the safeguarding and well-being of students is paramount. We require our new Governor to have senior expertise and experience in safeguarding, to ensure that the highest standards of governance and accountability are maintained and help the board monitor and evaluate school performance. The successful candidate will have an interest in and empathy with the independent education sector, bringing experience at a strategic level, providing advice and guidance and, most importantly, supportive challenge. Working collegiately with the senior management team and helping to provide assurance to Greenwich Hospital with regards to safeguarding, they will act as a ‘critical friend’ and play an important role in helping guide the organisation to achieve our strategy and objectives. We are specifically looking for people with a background in safeguarding young people in education, ideally with some understanding of ISI standards relating to safeguarding, and with experience in one or more of the following: independent schools, maintained schools or multi-academy trusts, further education and/or experience of being an inspector (either ISI or Ofsted). We would also consider senior safeguarding experience from outside of the sector including healthcare, social care, the police force or youth-based organisations as these skills would greatly complement our existing board. Time commitment The time commitment associated with the role of Safeguarding Governor varies according to circumstances but is expected to average out at approximately two days a month. This includes the need for availability at unexpected times on occasion. Governors are expected to attend full governing body meetings once per term, in addition to two Governor strategy days held throughout the year. Governors are provided access to training as required. Each Sub-Committee meets up to once per term and it is hoped that the post holder will serve on at least one Committee, including the Educational Standards Committee. School Governors are also warmly welcome to attend School events. The benefits: The chance to shape and guide our educational provision, including safeguarding The opportunity to guide and inform our vision and strategic direction. The opportunity to use and develop your existing skills in shaping key decisions and supporting with the performance management of senior staff. The opportunity to network with a wide range of local stakeholders and employers. Governors must demonstrate a commitment to the mission and values of the School, ensuring that they give sufficient time to their duties and undertake the role with rigour, enabling critique and support to the Headmaster and his senior leadership team. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to join an ambitious and committed non-executive team, and genuinely have an impact on the future success of the School and its students. As a member of our Governing Body, you will help to further develop our forward-looking vision and strategy, making a demonstrable and positive contribution in continuing our work as an exemplar in standards of safeguarding. For further information about the role, or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners: If you would like to know more about this role please contact Shaun Eden Thank you for your interest in the position of Safeguarding Governor at the Royal Hospital School (RHS). RHS is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for 11 to 18-year-olds, providing an outstanding, full and broad education enriched by a unique naval heritage. Founded in 1712 in Greenwich, London, it moved to its spectacular site, set in 200 acres of Suffolk countryside overlooking the River Stour, in 1933. Today we place a strong emphasis on providing pupils with the knowledge and skills, so they are future-proofed. We are proudly a school that seeks to understand each young person’s strengths, to help them to make the right choices at the right time and to ensure their education becomes the foundation for their happiness and success. Our educational aims are to develop our young people as individuals who: develop intellectual curiosity and academic confidence and fulfil their potential in all of their endeavours; are adaptable, resilient and equipped to live healthy and fulfilling lives after school; inspire others through a combination of leadership and teamwork; develop the ability to think and act creatively and imaginatively; are ambitious and adventurous and have a strong sense of self-awareness; value the benefits of service, loyalty and commitment; uphold the school’s unique and rich heritage and contribute to the life of the school and their community; embrace a global outlook with respect for individuality and difference. With oversight by Greenwich Hospital. the Governing Body is responsible for championing the School’s vision and strategy and ensuring that it achieves its aims. Governors provide the Headmaster and his senior leadership team with support, challenge and the stimulus for growth and development. Governors are responsible for upholding our educational standards, for robust financial planning and the ongoing investment in our staff and resources. The Governing Body is also responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, including our obligations relating to our safeguarding and child protection arrangements. The work of the Governing Body is undertaken through several committees We currently have committees which are responsible for: Educational Standards Risk and Audit Finance and Resources Marketing and External Relations Governance and Nominations RHS is more than just a school and we are fortunate that our campus engenders a strong sense of community with many staff and their families living onsite. This community feel is important in creating a warm and supportive environment for both the pupils that learn here, but also for the staff that work here and the governors who support and guide our strategic direction. I very much look forward to receiving your application. Mark Pendlington Chair of Governors For further information about the role, or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners: To access a full job description and application details, please fill out the form below. First name Last name Email address Phone number Your current job title Where did you hear about this opportunity? I agree to Peridot Partners contacting me about potential positions, business services, events or sector articles relevant to me. Yes No I agree to Peridot Partners contacting me about this role under the lawful basis of legitimate interest. Yes No Thank you for your interest in this role. For details of the role description and person specification, please contact Shaun Eden or Eddie Caviexel Cox via the emails below to learn more. To formally apply , please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivationin applying for this position. Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk inserting “ Royal Hospital School – Governor ” into the subject field. For further information about the role, or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners: We wish to encourage applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief. All applications will be considered solely on merit. Applicants with a disability are invited to contact us in confidence at any point during the recruitment process to discuss steps that could be taken to overcome operational difficulties presented by the role, or if any adjustments or support are required regarding the recruitment process. Timetable Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 17th July 2023 Candidates informed of outcome: By 5 p.m. Tuesday 18th July 2023 Interviews: Friday 28th July 2023 Peridot and Royal Hospital School arecommitted to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions.We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application, in the interview phase and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact. The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the new Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018. The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Data Processing, Protection and Privacy Policy By completing the form to view, or if you have access to this page from an email invitation, Peridot Partners will have processed your personal information. For more information about Peridot Partners’ data processing activities and your rights, please readourPrivacy Policy .
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