Director in Residence

This is a Fixed Term Contract from 1 September 2024 to 3 July 2025.

St George’s, Ascot (SGA) is an independent boarding and day school with approximately 270 pupils aged from 11-18 years about 45% of whom are boarders (full, weekly and flexi) and with a Sixth Form of approximately 80 pupils.

We are a welcoming school with a warm sense of community. Visitors are impressed by our facilities within a beautiful setting and the ambition of our educational provision, but most of all they are delighted by the girls who are truly special.

St George’s offers an education that is grounded, relevant and fosters employability. Our unique extended day allows all girls the time and space to foster confidence, independence and academic curiosity providing a future-facing education exclusively for girls in a world that was not designed for girls and introduces the girls to contemporary subjects and topics, through speakers, workshops, classes and visits.

Reporting to the Deputy Head (Pastoral), the Director in Residence provides academic and pastoral support to pupils within the boarding community working with Housemistresses to provide supervision of boarders during weekends and evenings and assisting the Director of Drama. When undertaking work within the Drama Department, the Director in Residence takes daily direction from the Director of Drama.

St George’s has a vibrant theatre culture and is equipped to offer directors the opportunity to realise their ideas with a fullness rarely achievable outside subsidised Repertory Theatre or the commercial sector.  The School mounts a number of productions every year, from classical plays to the best contemporary writing; from bare-stage physical theatre to full-on musicals.  The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, with scenic resources including flying and projection.  Productions are well funded and supported by a full time professional Theatre Technician who will enable the successful candidate to achieve their vision for performance on stage.

The role will provide the successful candidate with:-

• A year of stability and income, whilst making contacts and planning future career moves
• Development of production knowledge through involvement in what is, effectively, a fully equipped and busy Rep Theatre, with near-professional production standards
• Development of directing skills and teaching skills through working with young people

The School is looking to appoint either:-

• A recent graduate from university or drama school with ambitions to direct; or
• A student at university or drama school on a third-year placement; or
• An actor/director moving from theatre to teaching, prior to training or taking up their first full-time position
• Experience of choreography is desirable but not essential

As well as having a background in Drama, the Director in Residence must possess excellent communication skills when dealing with parents, pupils and other staff.  They will have a flexible and willing attitude to participate in the boarding life of the School and contribute to the co-curricular activity programme.  They must have the desire and ability to teach, with an aptitude for inspiring young people.  They must be a role model who girls can respect.

Ideally, the Director in Residence will hold a First Aid qualification, and appropriate training will be provided.

The salary for this position will be in the region of £14,500 (gross) for the period of the contract (September 2024 to July 2025) and the successful candidate will be auto-enrolled into the School’s Pension Scheme if eligible.

A shared self-contained flat within the School is provided throughout the period of employment, inclusive of all bills*.

*Because this is a girls' Senior School and all accommodation is within the girls' boarding houses, we are required to appoint a female member of staff for this position (Paragraphs 7 (2) EB of the Sex Discrimination Act apply).

Meals are provided free of charge on each working day in term time (when the kitchen is open). The Director in Residence will be expected to take meals in the dining room when on breakfast and/or supper duties they will be required to supervise and monitor the attendance of pupils during these times. Members of staff can use the school’s sports facilities at allocated times.   There is free car parking on site. 

This is a term time only position, however, the Director in Residence is also required to be available to attend INSET days and for periods prior to and at the end of terms. The hours of work during term time are varied and include weekends. The Director in Residence will be entitled to at least 48 hours off per week in term time in addition to Exeat weekends, Christmas, Easter and half-term holidays. 

How to Apply:

Letters of application should be no more than two sides of A4 and, together with the completed application form and confidential application cover sheet (available on the website) should be addressed to Mrs Liz Hewer, Head and emailed to recruitment@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk and reach the School by 4pm Monday 11 March with first round interviews taking place online week commencing Monday 18 March 2024 and final round interviews in School shortly thereafter.

The School reserves the right to interview and/or appoint at any time during the recruitment process.

Any queries about this post may be made in the first instance to Mrs Helen Simpson, Deputy Head (Pastoral), on 01344 629900 or hsimpson@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk

St George’s School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children at the School. Therefore, this appointment will be subject to a successful disclosure check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. This will give details of all spent and unspent convictions and other recordable matters. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available, if required, from the School Office. The supplied references will be taken up and the School may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications. A medical questionnaire will be required to be completed by the successful candidate.