This is an exciting opportunity to join a thriving school as Head of Outdoor Education.
The Head of Outdoor Education will be a dynamic, forward-thinking and ambitious individual, and a strong advocate for the value of outdoor education. They will be able to articulate an exciting and ambitious vision for outdoor education, inspiring confidence and enthusiasm across our community and showcasing the myriad advantages of our location in Edinburgh, with easy access to the Pentlands and the wider Scottish outdoors.
Package DescriptionTerms & Benefits
Hours of work are 8.30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday during term time (34 weeks) with a one-hour unpaid lunch break, however, due to the nature of the role flexibility is required around these hours. During the school holidays, the successful candidate would be required to attend up to 2 weeks CCF camp, one week at Bisley, one week adventurous training (typically skiing) and up to 2 weeks to assist with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Working during the remainder of the school holidays (considering the above specified days) is not normally required. For clarity, the role is anticipated to be required to work for 40 weeks per year.
Annual Salary: £45-48,000 dependent on experience
Benefits include:
• Parking within the campus grounds. The campus is easily accessed by car and bus.
• Membership of Westwoods gym and health club which offers a range of excellent fitness and leisure facilities including a 25m swimming pool.
• Free lunchtime meals during term time, and at other times when catering is provided, and you are on duty.
• Life insurance scheme (3x salary).
• Excellent Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Benefits portal with extensive discounts section, as well as healthcare, dental plan cover etc.
• You will be opted into the Fettes Trust Non-Teaching Staff Pension Scheme after 3 months service. This scheme is a money purchase one and full details of it and your options will be made available to you prior to your opt-in date. The Fettes Trust will contribute to the scheme and your contribution will be subject to the minimum overall combined employer and employee contribution limits set by the Pensions Regulator. Fettes operate a contribution matching scheme up to 10% of base salary.
Main ResponsibilitiesPlease see the full Job Description for duties and responsibilities for this role.
The Ideal CandidatePerson Specification
This is a superb opportunity for an ambitious and dynamic leader who shares our vision of outdoor education, which provides pupils with a lifelong love of the outdoors, a colleague who will seize this exciting opportunity to work at Fettes College.
• Able to demonstrate a high level of personal drive, vigour and ambition to achieve challenging targets.
• Able to plan strategically and delegate effectively.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Supportive of the co-curricular curriculum as a key component in building students’ self-esteem, school ethos and academic excellence.
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Have meticulous organisation skills, facilitated by the effective use of technology where appropriate.
• The ability to solve problems, remain flexible and conduct dynamic risk assessments within an outdoor setting.
Qualifications / Experience (Desirable)
• Experienced at working with young people in an educational setting.
• Mountain Leader.
• Rock Climbing Instructor.
• Duke of Edinburgh Assessor.
• Additional Outdoor Qualifications (Mountain Biking, Water Sports, Skiing, Bushcraft etc).
• Experience in creating structured training programmes that promote personal development.
• Previous military experience and/or a willingness to Commission into the Combined Cadet Force.
Training and acquisition of appropriate qualifications will be available as part of the role.
About the school/organisationABOUT FETTES
Fettes College is a leading HMC co-educational boarding and day school close to the heart of Edinburgh. It has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. Fettes opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co-educational in 1980: it is now an independent school of some 785 students. There are 594 students in the Senior School (13-18 years) and 191 students in the Preparatory School (7-13 years). Fettes follows the English curriculum of GCSEs, and the dual pathway of A Levels and IB. Our full-boarding ethos ensures weekends are vibrant and fun.
The academic staff in the Senior School consists of the Head and 91 full-time members of the Common Room. Our Prep School shares the same site and consists of a further 29 full-time teaching staff. Fettes is a collaborative community in which every member is working towards fully realising their potential whilst supporting those around them.
The school stands on a stunning and secure 100-acre site, but still within walking distance of Edinburgh’s city centre. The historic main building holds the Chapel, Library, the English, Classics and History Departments as well as the Medical Centre and two boarding houses. A large purpose-built teaching block (the Spens Building) houses Art, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Economics, Geography and Music. The Theatre, Science Laboratories and Dining Hall are adjacent. The Preparatory School and seven further boarding houses (including a purpose-built co-educational U6th House) are also on the campus. Our sports facilities (including extensive playing fields, two all-weather pitches and a private Health Club) are excellent.
We have a commitment to build even more ground-breaking facilities, including a Wellbeing Centre and construction of new Science and Innovation buildings.
As well as our teaching staff we employ over 220 Operational Staff across the many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing with a pervading sense of community amongst staff, students and parents alike.
OUR VISION
We have created and developed a bold new vision for Fettes, one which focuses on what we believe Fettesians should aspire to be, the skills they will need in life and the impact we want them to make in the world.
We have called this vision Fettes Moving Forward: A place to live. A place to learn. A place to grow. You can find out more about the vision - and how it shapes and informs Fettes' future at www.fettes.com/vision
Please also watch (with sound on) our film below - Ode to Place - which complements the vision and captures the ethos of Fettes College and what a Fettes education means.
THE AIMS OF THE COLLEGE
Fettes College will ensure that our students:
Feel valued and respected as individuals
Receive the highest possible quality of education, engaging them in rigorous and relevant opportunities in a dynamic curriculum that creates lifelong learners
Feel safe, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, while possessing a willingness to take on responsibility
Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves
Develop a sense of self-confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners, leadership skills and teamwork
Value a sense of community
Are surrounded by inspirational caring staff
Feel represented and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.
“Our Students will leave the school knowing themselves, looking out for others, capable of thinking critically and ready to make a positive mark on their rapidly changing world. They will be bold and visionary yet compassionate; they will possess a global perspective and be ready to embrace the opportunities of the future” Helen Harrison, Head
