From the Bursar:

The role of the Foundation and Development Director is a new role for Wellingborough, a role which is genuinely exciting, challenging, and will be fundamentally key to bettering the outcomes for our pupils.

This is a senior leadership role and will take strategic responsibility for our foundation and fundraising. We are a nationally regarded school, steeped in history and we are looking to significantly expand our fundraising for two specific aims:

First, bursary funding. We know that bursaries can change lives – no matter what a pupil goes on to do after school, the benefits of a Wellingborough education last well into adulthood. We want to maximise the opportunities afforded by an education here, where fees might otherwise be a barrier, by playing our part in supporting social mobility through our bursary programme – the 1595 Fund. We want to raise sufficient funds through philanthropy to double (and sustain) the number of bursary students at Wellingborough by 2030.

Second, to financially support Project Copernicus. In 2022, the Governors considered ways that the 60-acre site should be developed to sustain the margin of excellence that has so distinguished a Wellingborough education for more than 425 years. This resulted in a master planning exercise under the title Project Copernicus, which set out a statement of strategic intent of how physical assets will be delivered to enhance teaching and learning and to achieve a net carbon sustainable footprint, in order to deliver the School’s vision. Some of these ambitious plans will be financed through philanthropy.

This role will be suited to someone who is comfortable operating within a strategic environment and who wants the freedom to generate and run with their own ideas. We want to look beyond traditional fundraising models and create something specifically focused on our pupils, be they Wellingburians of today or tomorrow. We want you to challenge, and innovate and create a sustainable foundation. If you bring the energy, enthusiasm, we will provide you the authority and freedom to create.

Wellingborough is a wonderful school. It has a warm, relaxed feel with a sense of partnership between pupils, staff and parents. There is a constant buzz created by a determined, purposeful desire to support each other and to fulfil the pupils’ ambitions. The School is never still, as everyone in our community tries to get the most out of the opportunities that are provided.

We embrace our history and traditions, but not are held back by them. Founded in 1595, we have always sought to make bold and timely decisions in order to ensure that the pupils are able to flourish and thrive, and that the nature of the School supports this aim.

The School moved to its current site in 1881 to support its growth, but leaving the town centre did not reduce the importance it places on its links with the local community. Our pupils and staff lead and support a number of initiatives, engaging with other schools, businesses and charities in Wellingborough and the surrounding area.

Girls were first taught here nearly 50 years ago, and the School became fully co-educational in 1979. Girls now make up more than 40% of the pupil body. We welcomed pupils below the age of 8 for the first time in 1990 with the introduction of a Pre-Prep in a purpose-built facility, just a few years before converting to a day school at the turn of the century.

Each of these changes has strengthened the School’s ability to maintain its appeal to a diverse range of pupils, a feature which is part of its core and attracts families from across five counties. Academic achievement is important, but we focus on adding value and look to accept every child who we believe will be happy in our environment.

We are extremely proud of our pastoral care and believe that we are far ahead of most schools with regard to pupil welfare. Our Club system in the Prep School and the Senior School House structure, the dedicated team of two counsellors in our Wellbeing Department, frequent and regular liaison between colleagues: all of these play a part in ensuring that each individual pupil’s needs are met.

We know that our pupils will need much more than exam results when they leave us, and we put an emphasis on developing softer skills through a breadth of co-curricular opportunities. Sport, Music, Drama, CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh Award might be the ‘big five’, but there are so many other ways in which the pupils build confidence, leadership, flexibility, resilience and the ability to know what they want to do with their lives.

The area

Northamptonshire and the surrounding area is a nice place to live, with a significant amount of countryside. Road links are excellent, enabling travel in all directions, and the area is served by two railway lines into London. St Pancras is only 45 minutes by train from Wellingborough, and Euston is under an hour from Northampton and Milton Keynes.

Benefits

Working at Wellingborough School is hugely rewarding, albeit demanding and busy. Wellingborough School is a nice place to work. The School community is welcoming; there is mutual respect between pupils and staff; parents are engaged and supportive. These are some of the cultural reasons to want to work at Wellingborough School, but there are a range of other benefits.

The School has recently reviewed its appraisal system so that all staff can benefit from professional development, both internal and external. Staff input into INSET is encouraged, and the School is a member of the East Midlands Group of independent schools, which provides opportunities for collaboration and discussion. All new staff profit from an induction programme that is tailored to their individual needs. There is free onsite car parking and use of the School’s sports facilities. All staff have lunch and refreshments provided.

• 52 Weeks a year contract.
• Annual Leave: 27 days holiday + 8 public holidays p.a.
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Some flexible working will be considered.
• Salary: c£80,000 per annum.
• Location: We expect the role largely to be remote working with our alumni events taking place between London, Cambridge and Oxford. There will an expectation to visit the school.

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Wellingborough School. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications for the roles is Sunday, July 16, 2023

Applications should consist of:

• A full CV.
• A covering letter (maximum of two pages) setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the experience criteria of the person specification.
• Please include the names and email addresses of two referees. Referees will not be approached until the final stages and not without prior permission from candidates.
• All shortlisted candidates will need to complete an application in line with the safer recruitment policy.

Safeguarding:

The post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible or with whom s/he comes into contact, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy Statement 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 risk to the safety or welfare of children in the School, s/he must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Person or to the Headmaster.

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Alberto Lidji at alberto.lidji@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7743 927 988.