The King's School
Chester
Information for applicants for the post of
Director of Rowing
The post of Director of Rowing is a new appointment for September 2009 (or earlier if
possible), due to the continuing expansion of rowing at King’s.
The King’s School is nationally renowned for rowing. The 1st VIII were runners-up in
the Princess Elizabeth Cup two years ago and have regularly been amongst the top half
dozen school crews nationally. Four boys currently represent Great Britain at junior
level, a former pupil is an international at Under 23 level and three former pupils at
senior level. Two former pupils represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in
Beijing, one winning a gold medal.
The successful candidate will be a talented, well-qualified and imaginative leader,
manager and coach, with relevant experience of working with young people, excellent
communication skills and the ability to think ambitiously, sensitively and strategically.
The King’s School has engaged the services of Mr N V Bevan, formerly Head of
Shiplake College, to assist in the appointment process.
About The King’s School
Henry VIII founded The King’s School in 1541 and for over four hundred years the school
occupied buildings adjacent to the cathedral. The school moved to a new site on the
Wrexham road in 1960. In 1989 additional buildings were opened, and in 1994 there was an
extensive development of the junior school and in 2000 a further development of the senior
school incorporating the impressive Wickson Library.
An exciting major development plan was launched in October 2002. By September 2004 an
all-weather playing surface, extensions and improvements to the art and technology centres, a
new medical room and an additional classroom had been completed. The new music school
was completed in 2005 and the old music school converted to provide additional teaching
rooms.
The school retains strong links with the cathedral and with the city. It is Chester’s oldest
independent school and is proud to serve the city as well as the surrounding areas of
Cheshire, the Wirral and North Wales.
The King's School comprises the junior school (ages 7-11) and the senior school (ages 11-
18). There are currently 730 pupils in the senior school (190 in the sixth form) and 220 pupils
in the junior school. In September 2003 the school became fully coeducational.
King's is a school for pupils of high academic ability. We seek to develop this ability in each
pupil to its full potential and at the same time to develop the pupil’s character and other
talents in a friendly and stimulating atmosphere.
Further information about the school can be found on our website at www.kingschester.co.uk
About the post
The King’s School wishes to appoint a Director of Rowing to take responsibility for the
management, coaching and development of rowing throughout the school. King’s enjoys an
enviable reputation for rowing and has established a national reputation over many years. At
least as important is the breadth of participation: we aspire to have pupils rowing for pleasure
as well as competition. Catering for all-comers is complicated by safety, first and foremost,
but also by physical limitations such as space in the gym and the number of coaching
launches available.
Rowing is currently run by Mrs Karen Shapland (Master in charge of Rowing) who teaches
Modern Languages full-time; she is assisted by a chief coach and a number of other part-time
coaches, as well as some full-time members of the teaching staff who coach crews.
It is envisaged that the new Director will oversee both part-time ‘professional’ coaches and
full-time members of staff who also coach, building a strong team focussed both on success
in competitions and recreational rowing.
Director of Rowing: Job Description
The Director of Rowing is responsible to the Headmaster for the smooth running, success and
development of the King’s School Rowing Club, but is expected to work in consultation with
the Director of Sport. The Director of Rowing will take responsibility for:
Managing all aspects of the rowing programme
Developing a long-term strategy for rowing
Taking a lead role in coaching
Overseeing the allocation of coaches and ensuring high standards
Overseeing all aspects of administration and communication
A reduced timetable of teaching in the school, either in the PE Department or
another academic department.
The requirement to be a teaching member of Common Room is central: communication with
all colleagues and pupils on a daily basis is of the utmost importance and this is best effected
by a Director who is seen in and around the main school site on a daily basis.
The Director will operate in the following areas:
1. Leadership objectives
to coach to the highest standard in all three terms
to encourage, support and offer advice to all other coaches
to determine, in consultation with the Second Master and Director of Sport, the
School’s requirements for rowing staffing for the forthcoming year
to foster links with competitor schools and sporting associations
to manage and develop the school’s best rowers, developing appropriate programmes
of training and fitness
to encourage representative achievements, putting forward pupils for representative
honours as appropriate
to oversee the development of all rowing coaches and implement a programme of
coach development
to develop a strategic plan for rowing and the Boathouse, in the light of growing
numbers and the possibility of expansion of facilities.
2. Administrative objectives
to liaise with the Boatman on all matters relating to the condition and maintenance of
the Boathouse and boats (the Boatman is River Safety Officer)
to oversee all rowing administration including ARA membership, results submissions,
Head Race and Regatta entry forms, rowing camps and trips
to co-ordinate the reporting of regular results to the Headmaster in good time for
weekly Assembly and of termly results for the end-of-term Assembly
to keep the Director of Marketing abreast of significant achievements in rowing
to ensure that all coaches check attendance at rowing sessions and report absences
to ensure that notices are posted to inform the school and the parent body of training
times
to liaise with the Director of Sport with regard to clashes of commitment
to consult with the Bursar and Second Master over the annual budget bids and manage
the budget for rowing
to review and update all literature about rowing at King’s
to complete the annual safety audit
3. Team management
to establish a structure for rowing which enables top level success and wide
participation
having developed the structure, to lead with sensitivity the teams operating within
rowing (specialist external coaches, staff coaches, pupils and parents)
to build up strong relationships with the King’s School Rowing Parents’ Association
and to attend committee meetings
to support and to take an interest in the achievements of all crews and recreational
rowers
to attend meetings of the Kitchin Society
The King’s School Rowing Club
The KSRC enjoys the use of a Boat House with a wonderful setting on one of the best
stretches of water in the country, which is the envy of many other clubs and schools. The
Club enjoys too the support of a vigorous Rowing Parents Association, which helps with
fundraising and general support; this is a significant supplement to the school’s generous
budgeting.
The Director of Rowing will be supported by: a full-time Boatman, the chief coach and the
rest of the coaching staff, which currently includes a former pupil who was a Henley winner
in 2007 and runner-up in 2008 and a member of the GB women’s lightweight U23 squad.
Applications for the post
Candidates for this post should complete the application form which should be posted, faxed
or e-mailed to the Headmaster to arrive not later than 12 noon on Monday 10th November.
However early application for this post is encouraged.
The Headmaster, The King’s School, Chester, CH4 7QL
hm@kingschester.co.uk
Fax: 01244 689501
A curriculum vitae will not be accepted in place of the completed application form.
Candidates may be contacted informally by Mr Bevan during the time leading up to the
formal interviews. Interviews will be held during the week commencing Mon 17 November.
Short-listed candidates will be asked to make a short presentation to members of the Senior
Management Team, coach a crew and meet other key members of staff. The selection
procedure will include at least one formal interview and there will be an opportunity to see
round the school and Boat Club.
Candidates shortlisted for interview will be asked to complete a confidential health
questionnaire. Lunch and reasonable travelling expenses will be provided. King’s offers a
competitive salary and relocation package.
For any further information on the post please contact the Headmaster’s PA by email
(hm@kingschester.co.uk) or by phone (Tel: 01244 689523)
CHILD PROTECTION
POLICY
The school is committed to the welfare, protection and safekeeping of all its pupils.
All children have a fundamental right to be protected from harm and from all forms of
neglect, abuse and exploitation and should feel safe and secure at school
Parents should be reassured that it is the aim of the school always to act in the best
interests of their child and to encourage the fullest possible involvement of and
consultation with parents.
Pupils should know that they have a means of raising issues of personal concern. They
should feel that their concerns are taken seriously, that they are encouraged to talk and
that they are listened to.
Teaching and non-teaching staff should be aware of their responsibilities in identifying
and reporting possible cases of abuse.
The school provides a structured internal procedure to be followed by all members of
the school community in cases of suspected abuse.
The school will support pupils’ development in ways which will foster security,
confidence and independence.
Statutory duty
The School will take immediate action to safeguard the welfare of any pupil who it suspects
is being harmed or is in danger of being harmed.
The school adopts the provisions of The Children Act, 1989, and the advice given in
Circular DfES/0027/2004
All staff appointed to the school, and who will have substantial opportunity for access to
pupils, are subject to a criminal record check from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
before the appointment is confirmed. In addition proof of identity and academic
qualifications is required.
If we are hosting a visitor such as a work experience volunteer, or a potential PGCE student
observing for a short while (i.e. less than a term), we insist that they have a current (i.e.
within the last 12 months) enhanced disclosure from CRB and that the Headmaster of
Bursar sees this document before they join or on their first day here.
If someone is undertaking a placement for more than a term at King's we seek an enhanced
disclosure from CRB in the usual way even if they already have one
Child Protection Co-ordinator
The child protection co-ordinator (the designated person) is the school nurse who will work
in conjunction with the Headmaster on all child protection issues.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
The King’s School is committed to securing equality of opportunity through the creation of an
environment in which individuals are treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and
abilities. This commitment is shared by pupils, staff, parents and governors.
We oppose all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of race, sex or
disability and aim to ensure equal treatment for all.