Founded in 2013, Burton Hathow is an authentically independent school, continuing to be owned and managed by the founding group. Our mission is to provide children with exceptional preparation for life through a happy, engaging, and stimulating all-round education. We believe in extending learning beyond the classroom to foster each child’s emotional wellbeing and social skills while offering a broad spectrum of experiences.

Our pupils come from diverse backgrounds across Lincolnshire, and our family-oriented approach, enrichment program—including sports, arts, drama, and outdoor learning—and our dedication to developing the whole child attract parents to our school.

Since our inception, we have made significant investments in our facilities, adding new teaching and learning spaces, including a Yurt and a dedicated outdoor learning area, as well as an onsite nursery. These enhancements allow us to expand and welcome more families while maintaining our independence and commitment to offering genuine choices for parents.

I am immensely proud of the team at Burton Hathow. This is an exciting time for a new Head to join us and build upon our excellent academic and enrichment programs. You will have the opportunity to work with and support a dynamic board that shares our ethos of placing children at the heart of every decision. Our board and staff are dedicated to the school’s success, as evidenced by our ‘Excellent’ rating in the last ISI inspection. We welcome interest from a school leader ready to drive our vision forward.

Burton Hathow is a family orientated, independent preparatory school for children aged 2-11, set on more than five acres of wooded grounds in Lincolnshire.

At Burton Hathow, we pride ourselves on providing the best educational experience for children in a safe and happy environment, thoroughly preparing each child for their next step in education and in life. Traditional values, combined with a contemporary curriculum, provide children with a stimulating education both inside and outside of the classroom.

We take an innovative and creative approach to teaching and learning, adapting our curriculum to suit the needs of our cohorts and ensuring diversity and inclusion across all areas of school life. We promote quality first teaching, and each member of our school team works collaboratively to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children. With smaller class sizes, each pupil in our school community has a voice, and we encourage our children to be brave, take risks and step outside their comfort zone.

Our classes are, on average, 12 students strong. Our specialist teachers are experts in their area of study, not overworked and stretched to the limit trying to juggle several different subjects. Many of our teachers have worked, and still do work, professionally in their field which enhances further the meaningful experiences our pupils have, whilst instilling in them the belief that they can achieve anything with a positive mindset and a strong work ethic.

Our teachers pride themselves on knowing each child personally and can tailor their individual experiences to enable them to be the best that they can be. This bespoke and customised approach to learning extends across the teaching and learning in our school.

School aims

• To facilitate educational excellence in every sense by providing a suitably broad environment for learning, offering a range of academic, sporting, artistic, creative, and cultural experiences.
• To equip our students with a personal skillset that will set them up for success, allowing them to leave the school as confident, resilient, and determined individuals who are not afraid to take risks.
• To ensure all students and staff have high expectations of behaviour, treating others as they themselves would wish to be treated, demonstrating personal integrity, and remain honest, humble, and courageous.
• To ensure that our students’ emotional and spiritual wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do, maintaining pastoral support in partnership with parents.
• To be conscious of the fact that the spiritual and moral heart of the school is rooted in Christianity, whilst acknowledging and maintaining an environment that is truly open and welcoming to students and staff of all faiths and none.
• To encourage and instil a strong sense of environmental responsibility in staff and students.
• To cultivate an environment in which students and staff can learn from each other and the wider community.

The curriculum

Pupils’ learning is divided into two distinct phases.

Stage 1: Early Years and Lower School (EYLS) up to school year 2. Lower School refers to year groups reception to year 2, during which learning is cross-curricular and forms parts of a progressive learning journey for ages 2 – 7. Here, the focus is on creating a nurturing environment, through which skills such as problem-solving, reasoning, organisation, and sharing can be developed.

Stage 2: Upper School years 3-6. During this time, we adopt a forward-thinking strategy through which we can prepare students for their educational journey beyond Burton Hathow. We focus on developing their individual skills, abilities, and passions.

Our varied extra-curricular enrichment classes run every day until 4.50pm. These classes give our pupils the option to pick up new skills and hobbies or enhance their understanding of their existing school topics.

Our enrichment programme

We offer all our pupils the chance to take part in sport, art, languages and outdoor learning, all of which are embedded into the programme and curriculum offering. For example, drama is intrinsically woven into the English curriculum. Our school have strong links with David Lloyd Leisure and through their first-rate facilities, swimming lessons are offered to year groups 1-3. Spanish is taught from Nursery upwards, and is something that has proven highly successful embedding it at such a foundational stage. Further, from September, a new STEAM inactive is being launched which will provide additional learning opportunities to our students through an active and varied programme combining context with concept.

Governance and Leadership

The school has a Board of Directors who work alongside an Advisory Body. Together, they encompass a broad skill set and a wide range of expertise from both the commercial sector and education sector. They collectively monitor compliancy and support the school’s mid-to-long-term development plan.

Our board and advisory profiles can be viewed here: Board & Advisory Body – Burton Hathow | Preparatory School‎.

Location

The Burton Hathow school campus is located just off the A57. The school itself is nestled in amongst several acres of beautiful woodland, abundant with wildlife, as well as a lake and three acres of sports playing fields.

Our school is also located conveniently just five miles from Lincoln city centre. A city brimming with Roman history and heritage, Lincoln is a sought after and thriving place for professionals, academics, and families. From the spectacular 11th century Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle at the heart of the city’s cultural Cathedral Quarter, to its two universities within walking distance of the train station, Lincoln is a vibrant place filled with things to do and enjoy.

The Board are prepared to offer an attractive and competitive salary to secure the best candidate. A formal contract detailing terms and conditions will be drawn up on appointment. The following notes provide guidance, without prejudice, on the likely main provisions:

• A competitive remuneration package is available, with a salary commensurate with the seniority of the post and the experience of the successful candidate.
• Salary will be reviewed annually.
• Fee remission of 50% is available for children of the Head.
• School meals and mobile phone allowance are provided.
• The appointment is subject to two terms’ notice.
• The Head’s performance will be subject to a regular review.
• The school will be supportive, whenever possible, of external professional activities such as examining, committee membership and professional body activities, as agreed with the Governors.
• Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Full details are given on the application form.
• Final round candidates will be asked to undertake identity and qualification checks which conform to the school’s Safeguarding Policy. They must also agree to references being taken up at that stage and checks made with past employers.
• The successful applicant will be required to complete a self-disclosure medical questionnaire.
• The appointment is subject to satisfactory references, clearance from the DBS, proof of identity and qualifications and a medical report.

The search for a new Head for Burton Hathow School is being led by Anderson Quigley.

Interested candidates are invited to contact Anderson Quigley to arrange a confidential discussion with Hayley Mintern, hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com or Phil Gifford phil.gifford@andersonquigley.com.

Closing date: Monday 26 August 2024

To submit your application, please upload the following documents in PDF format:

• A completed application form (available on the Anderson Quigley website).
• A covering letter. The letter should explain your motivations for applying for this role.

Interview process

In person interviews will take place at the school on Thursday 5 September. Candidates should allow half a day.

Final panel interviews will take place on Wednesday 11 September, which will involve a presentation to the board and a whole school assembly. Candidates should allow a full day for this interview.