ST. RICHARD’S SCHOOL
Appointment of a new Head at St Richard’s from January 2014
Notes for candidates
St Richard’s is a Catholic boarding and day school, including a thriving pre-preparatory section, of about 120 boys and girls set in
35 acres of stunning Herefordshire countryside. Non-Catholic children are welcomed and readily absorbed into the life of St
Richard’s, which combines a comfortable, busy but homely atmosphere with devoted individual care.
St Richard’s was founded in 1921 and has always enjoyed a reputation for its very special atmosphere and ethos, based on the
idea of an extended family. The Head takes personal care of the pastoral and academic welfare of each child, along with an
exceptionally dedicated staff, who between them combine experience with youth, and continuity with innovation. Several
members of staff reside within the school, ensuring round-the-clock care for the small number of full boarders, and the large
number of weekly and ‘flexi’ boarders.
Bredenbury Court is an imposing 19th Century mansion, three miles from Bromyard in Herefordshire. Its extensive grounds
enjoy spectacular views to the Malvern Hills in the south. The main buildings are surrounded by gardens and grounds adapted
to make fine playing fields. Much of the school is contained within the original house, with the current Headmaster and his wife
and children occupying spacious, private accommodation within the building. There is a fine chapel, used daily, and an
impressive, panelled entrance hall. There is a heated outdoor swimming pool in the grounds, as well as a lake, extensive
parkland for the numerous horses and ponies, an equestrian cross-country course, stabling, an outdoor riding school, and a
sports hall.
St Richard’s draws pupils from a wide radius, from Leominster to the west, and Hereford and Ross-on-Wye to the south.
Boarders come from local families, as well as from the Services and from Spain. The school has strong links with Spain: a
number of Spanish families have been sending their children to St Richard’s for generations.
The school is not selective academically, but prides itself on the excellent quality of its teaching for children of all abilities. The
list of scholarships of all kinds to leading secondary schools over the last few years is impressive, and can be viewed on the
website. A huge range of opportunities, be they sporting, musical, creative or cultural is offered to children of all ages to
develop their confidence, raise levels of achievement and, most importantly, ensure that their schooldays are as happy and as
fulfilling as possible. St Richard’s also has a fine reputation for its equestrian activities, and several pupils have their ponies at
school during term time.
The teaching week runs from Monday morning to Saturday lunchtime, and there is a full programme of matches on Wednesday
and Saturday afternoons. An exciting programme of activities is laid on for boarders at weekends and in the evenings.
Although there is a warm welcome for children and staff of all faiths and of none, St Richard’s is a Roman Catholic school and all
staff are expected to support the spiritual life of the school. The community comes together for Mass every Saturday morning,
celebrated by the visiting school Chaplain, who is a monk of Belmont Abbey in Hereford. Many children choose to be prepared
each year for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation, the latter being conferred most years in the school
chapel by The Archbishop of Cardiff. Christian practice, ethos and tradition underpin the school’s daily life, and serve to bring
the community together.
The Head is required to live at the school.
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Remuneration and Benefits
The salary will be commensurate with the experience of the successful applicant, and will be subject to regular review.
Additional benefits include:
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Substantial family accommodation
Membership of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme
Substantial school fee concession (to be agreed with the Governors) for the Head’s children to be educated at St
Richard’s if desired.
The Application
Please complete the application form and submit it, together with a letter of application, and the names, addresses and
telephone numbers of three referees (one of whom should be the candidate’s current employer) to:
Mrs C. Bengough
St Richard’s School
Bredenbury Court
Bromyard
Herefordshire HR7 4TD
Email: schooloffice@st-richards.org.uk
Applications may be submitted by email or by post. Candidates are very welcome to submit a C.V. in addition to the application
form if they wish, but not in place of it.
The deadline for applications to be received at St Richard’s is Friday 31st May.
Interviews will take place at St Richard’s on Thursday 13th June.
Second round interviews will take place on Monday 17th June, when spouses will also be very welcome.
Safeguarding
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Candidates should be aware that all posts in the school involve some degree of responsibility for safeguarding children.
Accordingly this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions
and bind-overs, including those regarded as ‘spent’ must be declared. Please refer to the application form which
advises on the notification of any convictions.
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The successful applicant will be required to complete a DBS disclosure at the enhanced level. Foreign nationals who
have lived in the UK for less than one year will be required to produce a similar document from their country of origin
or the country in which they most recently resided before moving to the UK.
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If you are currently working with children on either a paid or voluntary basis, your current employer will be asked about
disciplinary offences, including disciplinary offences relating to children or young persons (whether the disciplinary
sanction is current or time expired), and whether you have been the subject of any child protection allegations or
concerns, and if so, the outcome of any inquiry or disciplinary procedure. If you are not currently working with children
but have done so in the past, that previous employer will be asked about those issues. Where neither your current nor
previous employment has involved working with children, your current employer will still be asked about your
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suitability to work with children, although it may, where appropriate, answer ‘not applicable’ if your duties have not
brought you into contact with children or young persons.
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You should be aware that the provision of false information is an offence and could result in the application being
rejected, or summary dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral to the police and/or DCSF
Children’s Safeguarding Operation Unit.
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If you are invited to interview, the areas which it will explore will include suitability to work with children.
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All candidates invited to interview must bring documents confirming any educational and professional qualifications
that are necessary or relevant for the post. Where originals are not provided by the successful candidate, written
confirmation of the relevant qualifications must be obtained by the candidate from the awarding body.
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Any offer to a successful candidate will be conditional upon:
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Receipt of at least three satisfactory references
Verification of identity and qualifications to include evidence from foreign nationals of their right to work in
the UK. Such evidence must be provided prior to appointment and this may be in the form of an official work
permit or a passport visa stamp.
A satisfactory DBS check of the highest level
Verification of professional status
Where the successful candidate has worked or been resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks
and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance
Where a candidate is:
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Found to be on List 99 or the Protection of Children Act List, or the DBS disclosure shows he or she has been
disqualified from working with children by a court; or
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Found to have provided false information in, or in support of, his or her application; or
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The subject of serious expressions of concern as to his or her suitability to work with children, the facts will be
reported to the police and/or the DCSF Children’s Safeguarding Operations Unit.