Head of Human Resources April 2021 - Brief for the position of Winner: Independent Boys' School of the Year 2019 Independent Schools of the Year ...
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Brief for the position of
Head of Human Resources
April 2021
Winner: Independent Boys’ School of the Year 2019
(Independent Schools of the Year Awards: ‘Celebrating student experience’)
Contents
Background 3
The HR Department and this Post 4
Job Description 7
About Tonbridge School 11
Application Process 13
Cricket on the Head – the First XI pitch Tonbridge School: Head of Human Resources Tonbridge School is one of the leading boys’ boarding schools in the country and is highly respected internationally. The school aims to provide a caring and enlightened environment in which the talents of each individual flourish. We encourage boys to be creative, tolerant and to strive for academic, sporting and cultural excellence. Respect for tradition and an openness to innovation are equally valued. A well-established house system at the heart of the school fosters a strong sense of belonging. Tonbridge seeks to celebrate its distinctive mixture of boarders and day boys; this helps to create a unique broadening and deepening of opportunity. We want boys to enjoy their time here, but also to be made aware of their social and moral responsibilities. Tonbridgians should enter into the adult world with the knowledge and self-belief to fulfil their own potential and to become leaders in their chosen field. Equally, we hope to foster a life-long empathy for the needs and views of others; in the words of the great novelist and Old Tonbridgian E.M. Forster: “Only Connect”. Head of HR 3
tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
The HR Department and this Post
Tonbridge School wishes to appoint a Head of Human Resources, to start during Summer 2021. To
achieve the School’s aims, its facilities need to provide the best possible learning environment for
the boys and teaching facilities for the staff, support excellent pastoral care, and make the School
feel welcoming, safe and easy to get around.
The School’s facilities are on an extensive campus close to the centre of Tonbridge and include
many important historic and impressive buildings, 11 of which are Grade II listed, including
significant academic buildings, 7 boarding houses and 5 day houses, a Sports Centre, Medical
Centre, Theatre, the Chapel of St Augustine of Canterbury, over 150 acres of grounds and almost
100 units of owned and rented residential accommodation of various types.
Tonbridge School employs over 800 staff in both academic and support staff positions. The School
has excellent facilities which are set in a 150-acre site, including a sports centre, theatre, chapel and
medical centre. Highly qualified and committed teaching staff help the School to achieve consistent
academic success, while also providing excellent pastoral care and being actively involved in co-
curricular activities such as sport and music. There are also a wide range of positions within the
support staff, including administrators, sports coaches, technical staff, catering and domestic roles.
The Head of Human Resource is assisted by two HR Advisers and line manages a Catering HR
Adviser. The key purpose of this role is to manage the HR Team as well as providing an excellent
service running the day-to-day HR operations of the School.
The HR Department is committed to ensuring that staff wellbeing is a priority across the School,
such as during the current Covid-19 pandemic:
“I wanted to write to say thank you so much for the ways you have been of help to me during the Covid-
19 epidemic. It was fantastic to be paid 100% of my wages, even adding on all of the ‘extra hours’ that I
worked last year. It was very hard not being able to come to work, but thanks to the regular emails I
received, I still felt part of the Tonbridge School community, very much cared for and not forgotten. I am
really pleased to be back working again and the School site feels safe (thanks to all of those who have
carried on working hard to make it so). Many thanks for all of your hard work on my behalf.”
Department Structure
Head of Human
Resources
Assistant Catering
HR Adviser HR Adviser Manager / HR
Adviser
Head of HR 4
tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
The School and Grounds
Inside The Barton Science Centre
Head of HR 5
tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
Job Description
Job Title: HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Reporting to: BURSAR
Main Purpose: To manage the HR Team as well as providing an excellent service running the day-
to-day HR operations of the School.
MAIN DUTIES
The nature of the post is such that it would be neither appropriate nor realistic to define strict Terms of
Reference; however, the main duties are:
• To be the team lead for a high quality and efficient Human Resources service covering the full range
of HR disciplines as well as development and training.
• To manage the complex and busy workload for the department as a whole, delegating where
appropriate.
• To be the key contact for senior stake holders within the School e.g. Headmaster, Senior Deputy
Head, Deputy Heads and the Bursar.
• To manage both the Support Staff Professional Development and Recruitment budgets and associated
costs.
• To lead the team in ensuring the recruitment processes work well and efficiently, which will include
being involved in senior and general support interviews and safer recruitment interviewing.
• To ensure that correct action is taken and records maintained in the processing of Disclosures
through the DBS (acting as a counter-signatory), along with all other checks required to be recorded
on the Single Central Register (SCR).
• To ensure that good HR records, electronic and manual, are maintained and processed in accordance
with relevant data protection legislation.
• To issue relevant HR paperwork including offer letters and contracts, other relevant paperwork and
file notes for both academic and support positions.
• To ensure that the Single Central Register (SCR) is up to date and inspection ready at all times.
• To provide support to line managers and staff on all HR matters including managing and advising on
complex ER cases.
• To ensure that the school, in its practices, complies with all current employment legislation, including
Safer Recruitment requirements.
• To ensure that Payroll has all the information it needs to be able to pay staff correctly on a monthly
basis and administer the pay review process annually.
• To act as Secretary for the Support Staff Council including minute taking.
• To oversee and take responsibility for the induction of new staff into the organisation.
• To manage the support appraisal process across the site.
• To monitor sickness levels across the school, taking action as appropriate.
• To update relevant policies on an annual and cyclical basis to ensure they are legally compliant,
appropriate and up to date.
• To update and maintain the School’s PASS database including running relevant reports where needed.
• To undertake any ad hoc HR projects as required.
• To undertake any other duties as requested by the line manager.
Head of HR 6
tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
CONFIDENTIALITY
The successful candidate must maintain the confidentiality of information regarding the School, its staff
and its business. Information must not be communicated to other persons either in or outside the School
except in the recognised course of their duties.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
• Strong and varied HR experience.
• Excellent people management skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, along with strong interpersonal skills and a
customer service focus.
• High levels of administrative efficiency.
• Very high standards of accuracy and attention to detail.
• A focus on continuous improvement with a desire to improve HR ways of working.
• Ability to deal with staff at all levels on all types of HR issues.
• Ability to professionally and efficiently run disciplinary and grievance, absence and performance
management processes.
• Good understanding of Microsoft Office packages, including the use of Excel.
• Ability to multi-task and work to tight deadlines within a complex and busy environment.
• Strong working knowledge of employment law.
• Full understanding of employee confidentiality and data protection with the appropriate handling of
sensitive information.
• A positive and can-do attitude.
• Degree or equivalent.
• Fully CIPD qualified.
• Ability to manage the workload, once established in the role, with little day to day supervision or
direction.
Experience
No previous experience working in a school is required, but this should not dissuade those with such
experience applying. The post would suit an individual with some or all of the following experience:
• Experience of running a HR team.
• A good understanding of, and experience in, generalist HR matters, i.e. management practices, drafting
policies and guidance, and HR information systems.
• A good knowledge and experience in the practical application of employment law.
• Previous experience of working in a very busy environment, working to tight deadlines and managing
multiple issues at any one time.
• Previous experience of implementing or improving a HR database and using it to examine the
structure and accuracy of data and to drive process improvements.
HOURS OF WORK
This is an all-year, full-time position (36.25 hours a week). There will be a need for flexibility in this respect.
Head of HR 7
tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
• An annual salary of £45,000 to £60,000, dependant on skills and experience
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays per annum
• CARE Pension Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Lunch provided free of charge during term-time
• Fees remission (after three years’ service).
• Sports Centre membership (staff rates)
The post-holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for who he or she is
responsible, or with whom he or she comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and
Child Protections Policy at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post-holder becomes aware of any actual
or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School he or she must report their concerns to the Designated Safeguarding
Lead or to the Headmaster.
Tonbridge School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be
willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to any post, including checks with past employers and the
Disclosure and Barring Service.
Head of HR 8
tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
About Tonbridge School
History
Tonbridge School was founded in 1553 by Sir
Andrew Judde. The Charter ordained that the
Governors of the school after the death of the
Founder were to be the Worshipful Company of
Skinners, one of the oldest City Livery Companies.
Sir Andrew, himself a distinguished member of this
Company, left property in the City of London and
in the parish of St Pancreas as an endowment for
the school. The income from these estates is at
the disposal of the Governors for the general
benefit of the School. The Skinners Company,
especially through the Governors, is still heavily
involved in the day to day life of the School.
Location
Tonbridge has been ranked 16th “best place to
live” in the UK. This study is based on results of Transport links are excellent and Tonbridge is
the annual Halifax quality of life study, which looks the junction for railway lines to London.
at a range of factors including health, earnings, The M25 and M20 are a short drive from the
crime rates and education. School. Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports
Tonbridge School is situated on a campus of 150 are easily reached, as are the Channel Tunnel and
acres in the town of Tonbridge in West Kent. The ferry terminals. It is a short drive to the
school is placed at the top of the High Street of the neighbouring towns of Sevenoaks and Tunbridge
town and is surrounded by outstandingly beautiful Wells.
Kent countryside.
The School Facilities
Tonbridge is a school with enviable facilities. The
buildings are a fine blend of old and new. There is a
dedicated music school, an art and DT centre and
the E. M. Forster Theatre, often used for theatrical
and musical events for the general public as well as
the school. The newly refurbished Library is central
to the boys’ experience of the school. In 2019 our
state-of-the-art Science facility, The Barton Science
Centre was opened to wide acclaim. The sporting
facilities are outstanding.
The cricket, rugby and football pitches are well
known as some of the finest school pitches in the
country and the Hockey astros are among the best
of their kind.
The superb Sports Centre was opened in 2008
by Lord Coe. There is an indoor 25m swimming
The Smythe Library, transformed and re-opened in 2017 pool and full-size athletics track. The school was
Head of HR 9
tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL
chosen by the Australian Athletics team as its
training base for the London 2012 Olympics, and
again for the 2017 World Championships. Three
floodlit clay tennis courts were opened in the
summer of 2015 and the outdoor basketball court
was opened in 2017.
A second Rackets court was recently built – the
first new court built in England for over a century.
Academic Life
The School is academically very strong and
offers a wide range of subjects for GCSE and A
level or Pre-U. In 2019 the School achieved
excellent GCSE results with 92% of all grades
being 9-7. At A level two thirds of grades were A*
or A or Distinction for Pre-U subjects. Typically,
between 25 and 40 boys win places at either
Sporting Life
Oxford or Cambridge Universities. Applications
Tonbridge is well known as a school which
to overseas universities are increasingly common
offers a broad range of sport to its pupils. In
with 15+ applying to US Universities.
addition to the traditional field sports of cricket,
rugby, hockey and football, there are around
The House System twenty other sports offered ranging from Fencing
Tonbridge has a federal system of school to badminton, rackets to cross country, golf to
Houses. There are twelve of these, seven boarding ultimate frisbee. All boys are encouraged to take a
and five day. Boys often identify very strongly with full and active part in the sporting programme, with
their house in their time at Tonbridge. The boys mass participation valued as much as competition.
of a House eat their meals together and there is A number of Tonbridgians have carried on to
an extensive programme of House competitions professional sporting careers, particularly in cricket
for sport, music, art and debating. All the Houses, and rugby.
day and boarding, have their own buildings with
study and recreation areas. Each Boarding House
has its own resident Housemaster, matron and
Co-Curricular Life
Tonbridge School aims to provide an
several House tutors who look after the boys.
unsurpassed education of excellence and breadth.
We focus our efforts and resources on achieving
this by offering, amongst other things, a vibrant and
balanced programme of Co-Curricular Breadth and
Depth. Involvement in sport, music, art, drama and
many other activities underpins a culture of
creativity, innovation and excellence.
The Co-Curricular programme also provides
opportunities for service to others, and the
development of self-reliance and leadership skills.
This ranges from a full CCF programme to
Community Action, Conservation to Music, Social
Entrepreneur programmes to the annual full School
Community Day. Outreach is an important bedrock
of Tonbridge’s ethos.
Head of HR 10tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL Application Process Applications forms, accompanied by a short letter of application, should be sent to: The Bursar Tonbridge School High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1JP. Telephone: 01732 365555 Email: anthony.moore@tonbridge-school.org Website: www.tonbridge-school.co.uk Closing Date for Applications: 7th May at 5.00pm Interviews: May 2021 Full details and an application pack may be found on the Employment Opportunities page of the website http://www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/ contact-us/employment-opportunities/. The selection process will typically involve: • Interviews with Senior Academic and Support Managers. • A presentation • Assessments • A tour of the School site. Details of the members of the Academic Senior Team can be found on the website: https://www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/about/school- management/senior-team Tonbridge School is a Covid-19 secure environment. Interviews will be held in person in line with social distancing requirements. Head of HR 11
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