SCHOOL LIBRARIAN - The King's School

REGIA SCHOLA
VIGORNIENSIS
Details of the post of
SCHOOL LIBRARIAN
at The King’s School, Worcester
www.ksw.org.uk

REGIA SCHOLA
The King’s School, Worcester
The character of the school, and some recent achievements
The Senior School
King’s is an academically selective co-educational school, with two Junior Schools as part of its Foundation. There are 930 pupils in the
Senior School, which is situated next to the Cathedral and the River Severn on a peaceful and attractive site in the centre of Worcester. In
the last few years, entry at 11+ has increased from four to six forms of between 20 and 25. Up to 15 pupils join the school at 13+ and up
to 25 at 16+.
Our two Junior Schools
King’s St Alban’s is adjacent to the main site and has 175 boys and girls from 7-11 with two forms in Years 3 and 4 and three forms in Years
5 and 6. It shares many of the facilities of the Senior School. St. Alban’s celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2002. It has a new library and
reception area. The purchase of a pub opposite the school in 2006 allowed us to build and open a Pre-prep department (Reception, Year
1 and Year 2) for the school in 2009. It has made a very successful start.
King’s Hawford is just north of Worcester in spacious grounds and currently has about 320 children from Kindergarten age up to 11. The
school was acquired by King’s in 1996, at which time it was a free-standing Preparatory School. King’s Hawford has two forms from Years
3 to 6 as well as thriving infant and junior sections. There have been major improvements to the site in recent years. The latest completed
projects have been new classrooms and Music facilities, and a new scheme for the landscaping of the centre of the school. The restoration
of the Droitwich Canal, which runs by the school, has opened up some excellent new opportunities for water-based activities at King’s
Hawford.
The great majority of Year 6 children from both Junior Schools proceed to the Senior School by means of an 11+ entrance exam. They
are joined in Year 7 by between and 40 and 50 children from local Primary Schools. Each of the Junior Schools has its own Head, who is
responsible to the Head of the Senior School.
Some history, ancient and modern
The oldest building at the King’s Senior School is College Hall, once the twelfth
century monks’ refectory, subsequently the School Room and now the Assembly
Hall. It stands for an enduring relationship with the Cathedral and the Dean
and Chapter, from whom we rent it and other buildings around the Green. It
recalls the refounding of the school by Henry VIII in 1541 when the monastery
was closed and there began the grammar school tradition that has been an
important part of the school’s character, particularly in the last hundred years
or so, when the fortunes and size of the school have steadily increased.
Two important decisions in the 1990s have had an important part in shaping
the school into its present form. In 1991, girls were admitted to St Alban’s and
at 11+ in the Senior School (following 20 years of admission of girls to the Sixth
Form). Girls now make up well over 40% of the numbers in all three schools. In
1999, boarding came to an end. This opened up considerable opportunities to
develop some of the school’s finest buildings and offer proper departmental
areas to all subjects.
Development of the school site
A development programme costing more than £10 million over the last 10 years
has produced a new administrative centre, a centre for English and Classics
with a large additional ICT room, a new base for Maths, with three additional PE
rooms in the basement, a new Music School, a new Library and Careers Centre, a new Art School, an expanded and refurbished Design
and Technology Department, the refitting of all 13 science laboratories, a Languages Computer Centre with the latest software for the
teaching of French, German and Spanish, a new Reception area and major improvements to our 306 seat John Moore Theatre. We have
greatly improved our playground provision for all ages. The recent purchase of a second (larger) pub on the perimeter of the senior school
site will enable us to build an additional sports hall with a drama/dance studio and a range of other facilities. Initial work has already
begun on this project. A substantial gift from a former pupil will cover the entire cost of a new Boathouse on site (in the same location as
the current Boathouse) with accompanying social and changing facilities. Work on this building is already underway.
Other facilities on the main site include a sports hall and indoor swimming pool. The school has extensive playing fields across the river
within walking distance.
Academic provision and success
The school has had considerable (and growing) academic
success in recent years. In summer 2010, 77% of grades at
A level were A*, A or B (with 21.5% at the new A* grade). At
GCSE, 68.5% of grades were A* or A. These results mean that
we maintain our record for some years as being the top school
in Worcester at A Level and in the county as a whole at GCSE.
24 different subjects are offered at A level including a choice of
two different courses in each of Maths, English and Chemistry.
In Year 7, French, German and Spanish taster courses lead to a
free choice of language in the second term. We run language
exchanges and work experience programmes in France,
Spain and Germany and have developed special links with
the Cathedral School in Magdeburg. The school is currently
involved in a two-year EU-funded Comenius project which links our students with students in five other EU countries for a programme of
conferences and activities. All pupils take up a second language in Year 8 which many take on to GCSE as part of an option system that
includes 10 subjects. Pupils choose three of these options in addition to the core curriculum. Most pupils take three separate sciences at
GCSE. We currently enter all pupils for the IGCSE Maths course and have just introduced IGCSE courses in English and Physics as well.
Critical Thinking AS level is taken by a number of our Upper Sixth students. All Lower Sixth students take part in our own ‘King’s Certificate
for Skills and All-Round Achievement’ which we have devised jointly with the University of Worcester and the local Chamber of Commerce.
The pastoral system
The pastoral system in the Senior School is a particular strength, based on Forms (with a Pastoral Head) in Years 7 and 8 and a House
System from Years 9 to 13. There are eight parallel Houses with about 85 pupils and six staff in each. Each year group within a House has
its own tutor but strong emphasis is also placed on the vertical grouping and the mixing of ages within a House. There is a well established
programme of inter-Form and inter-House competitions. The high quality of our pastoral care was noted in the last inspection as was the
strong moral code amongst the pupils.
Sport, outdoor activities and trips
King’s has a proud tradition of breadth in extra-curricular activities. Sport is very
strong among both boys and girls. Our Rugby 1st XV is among the best in the
region and, as in all sports, we have experienced coaches for all ages. Our Rowers,
boys and girls, have, over recent years, won many medals in international events
and at the National Schools Regatta and the National Championships and many
have been chosen to row for their country. Between 2008 and 2010, seven of
our pupils were selected to represent their country (in Rowing, Cricket, Hockey,
Netball and Kayaking). One former King’s pupil played senior international Rugby
for England (Luke Narraway) and another (Zac Purchase) won an Olympic Gold
Medal in Rowing. Two of our Netball teams (U19 and U16) reached the National
Finals in 2010.
Cricket, Netball, Hockey (girls) and Athletics are all currently strong and soccer
(boys) is developing well. Other sports include Tennis, Rounders, Basketball,
Swimming, Sailing, Kayaking, Sub Aqua, Judo, Cross-Country Running and
Fencing. The school achieved the Sport England Sportsmark Gold Award in 2005.
We have just completed the construction of our Astroturf pitch. Outdoor activities
are very popular and often based on our Outdoor Activities Centre in the Black
Mountains which all pupils visit in Years 5, 6 and 9. Duke of Edinburgh Award
and Army and RAF contingents of the CCF are voluntary but well subscribed.
Our Orienteering teams, both boys and girls, are currently national champions.
A Himalayan Club sends a party of between 20 and 40 Lower Sixth students to
the Himalayas, Africa or South America each year. Similar opportunities are on
offer to those in Years 10 and 11. There is a climbing wall in the school. There is a
very large number of trips open to pupils across the whole age range each year.
An Art Trip to China, Classics Trip to Greece, Music tour to Spain, History Trip to
France, Rugby Tour to South Africa and Netball Tour to Australia, Cricket Tour to
the Caribbean and Religious Studies Trip to the Netherlands are just a few recent
highlights. We also make sure that there are many value-for-money trips within
this country each year across a wide range of subjects and activities.
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REGIA SCHOLA
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REGIA SCHOLA
The creative and performing arts
The creative and performing arts are exceptionally strong. Large numbers of pupils study Art at GCSE and A level and achieve outstanding
results. Music is an historic strength, particularly in the areas of orchestra and choir. We have a distinguished record of producing music
scholars at Oxford and Cambridge and players for the National Youth Orchestra. The Cathedral (boy) choristers are all pupils at King’s
and five members of the new girls’ choir are from this school. There are
many drama productions each year (Noyes’ Fludde, Guys and Dolls,
Les Misérables, King Lear, Pillars of the Community, Me and My Girl,
Oklahoma, West Side Story, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe and
Macbeth being recent triumphs) and more than 80 pupils choose to have
speech and drama lessons. One of our pupils recently won a place at the
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Dance is popular at all ages. We hold a
major themed week each year in the Autumn which is either ‘Words Alive!’,
‘Arts Alive!’ or ‘Science Alive!’. These, along with an annual ‘Creative and
Performing Arts Day’ for Year 7, are some of the many opportunities each
year to bring experts and professionals (in these areas and many others)
into the school.
Charitable work
There is a Sixth Form Charity committee which
oversees and plans a good variety of fundraising
(and awareness-raising) events each
year. A recent Charity Walk by the whole school
raised £20,000. Three interesting annual events
are a summer garden party for all the children
and staff at a local special school, a Christmas
show and entertainment for residents of
sheltered housing in Worcester and the
collecting of shoe boxes full of presents (almost
200 this year) under the auspices of Operation
Christmas Child. A number of Houses and
Forms have chosen their own particular
charities to support throughout the year. Two
local hospices and a trust for bereaved families
have been a particular focus of our attention.
Our Christian tradition
The school maintains its Christian tradition
through assemblies (many of which are in
the Cathedral), the teaching of RE, a Christian
Union and a weekly Eucharist in the Cathedral crypt for pupils, staff and parents.
Other extra-curricular strengths
These include Young Enterprise, taken up by over 50 pupils in the Lower
Sixth each year (we have had the Best Company in the region in five of the
last seven years and were national finalists in 2000 and 2002), Debating
(Oxford Union finalists), Public Speaking and General Knowledge (national
finalists in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007), and producing a newspaper
each year for ‘The Times Newsday’ competition (in which we were
second nationally in two of the last three years). Our ‘Maths Challenge’
team has reached the national finals in five of the last six years, and our
‘Chemistry Quiz’ team reached the regional finals. We enter
‘Model United Nations’ competitions. There are many clubs and other
activities. There is also a Community Service Group. A number of our
pupils volunteer to read with local primary school children or to assist as
scribes at the local school for blind and partially sighted children. We are
developing an interesting partnership with a local maintained secondary
school which includes joint activities in a range of curricular and extracurricular
areas. We put on a number of events each year for children in
local primary schools.
The School Library at King’s
Librarian
The school library moved to its present site in 2006. It is a purposedesigned
award-winning study and research space and was popular
with pupils from day it opened. Located at the heart of the school it
aims to be the central resource for the supply of curriculum-based
content whatever the medium, and there is ample access to computer
and printing facilities.
Resources for recreation and to encourage a love of reading are also a
priority and there is a thriving pupil reading group, ‘WRAITH’. ‘What’s
New’ is a monthly publication advertising new acquisitions and library
events, and has a wide mailing list as well as being available online.
The Library is developing an online presence as part of the school’s
portal, enabling on-line information to be consulted at school or at
home.
There is a full-time professionally qualified Librarian, a full-time
Assistant Librarian, and a part-time Library Assistant. Supervision of the
Sixth Form study room is carried out by a rota of teaching staff.
School Librarian
Line Manager:
Working hours:
Pauline Baum
library@ksw.org.uk
Academic Deputy Head
Full time; the Library is open from 08.00 until 17.30, Monday to Friday during term time, with the
hours covered by the Librarian and Assistant Librarian. Participation in Open Mornings and certain
other school events is also required.
The role of the Librarian is to acquire, manage, develop resources for, and to promote the use of the School Library so as to ensure that
an efficient, effective and appropriate service is provided for all pupils and staff. He/she is expected to have a key role in the development
of new policy and planning for the use of the Library. He/she reports to the Academic Deputy and is a member of the Heads of
Department Committee. He/she is secretary of the Library Committee and may also be asked to participate in relevant working parties
linked to the development of the Library at the School. He/she is expected to liaise closely with Heads of Department, the Head of the
Sixth Form and the Head of the Fourth Forms. He/she is responsible for all staff who work in the Library and is expected to ensure that
the environment is safe for staff and pupils and that appropriate resources and accommodation are provided.
The Librarian will be expected to:
• be responsible for such staff as may be employed in the Library.
• set and manage the Library budget each year after consultation with the Library Committee.
• maintain a secure and appropriate working environment in the Library so as to ensure that there is a studious and purposeful
atmosphere.
• provide up to date, appropriate resources to support teaching and learning at all ability levels:
• liaise regularly with all departments
• research new acquisitions based on the school curriculum.
• provide resources for leisure interests.
• ensure that learning resources reflect a commitment to equal opportunities.
• monitor stock for relevance and currency and delete as necessary.
• promote the Library to staff and pupils:
• promote reading for enjoyment, in liaison with other interested parties.
• report regularly to Heads of Department staff meetings.
• discuss course resource needs with staff.
• disseminate to staff information relevant to subject departments.
• introduce new staff to the Library.
• prepare displays, competitions and other events to publicise library stock and outside events e.g. World Book Day.
• contribute to the school website, the school ‘Bulletin’ and other publications as necessary.
• participate in school Open Mornings.
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REGIA SCHOLA
VIGORNIENSIS

REGIA SCHOLA
• support the development of information skills:
• co-operate with King’s teaching staff in delivery of information skills through Library-based lessons
• introduce the Lower Fourth (Year 7) to the Library, and continue to promote it with older year groups.
• promote the use of ICT within the Library, both for administration and for the enhancement of learning. In particular, to:
• maintain an up to date catalogue of Library resources including weblinks and stored digital media.
• advise users on research, evaluation, and presentation skills in relation to the Internet, including copyright
and plagiarism.
• maintain, update and advise on the use of on-line resources, and software and hardware used in the Library.
• promote the Library at the Year 7 Activities Fair, and offer to train volunteer pupil librarians to assist in counter duties and some
administrative tasks.
• run the reading group, ‘W.R.A.I.TH’ (Writing, Reading and Imaginative THinking) which meets every half term, with a member of the
English teaching staff.
The Librarian is secretary to the Library Committee. This is chaired by the Academic Deputy Head who will organise the agenda. The
Committee is comprised of teaching staff and staff with Year Group responsibilities, e.g. the Head of Sixth Form.
The Librarian will ensure that the Library is efficiently administered so as to ensure that:
• Resources can be easily accessed by users:
• learning resources will be arranged by nationally accepted schemes.
• a computerised, networked searchable catalogue will be maintained.
• Library guiding will assist users in finding location of resources.
• Appropriate administrative records are kept:
• copies of book orders and tracking reports; invoices, budget running total, breakdowns by subject; copies of reports
and minutes of meetings, and loan statistics.
The Librarian will liaise with other Libraries and outside organisations in order to maintain current awareness and exchange
ideas of good practice, and will:
• coordinate all external school borrowing e.g. from the British Library.
• establish and maintain contacts with local and national sources of information as necessary.
The Librarian will ensure that he/she is aware of new developments in librarianship:
• He/she will be responsible for ensuring that all library staff attend appropriate INSET, internal and external, and will inform staff,
where appropriate, about new developments in Librarianship.
• The School will support all library staff in all reasonable requests for development of skills in librarianship training, subject to the
availability of resources.
The Librarian will be responsible for the monitoring of expenditure, resources and performance within the Library. He/she will report
regularly to the Library Committee about the operation of the library, and will write an Annual Report for the Headmaster.
The Librarian will monitor the performance of the Library, paying particular attention to:
• Loan statistics differentiated for example by form/year, and by different media.
• Department involvement and support.
• Resources.
The Librarian and Assistant Librarian will be reviewed regularly through the review and development procedure.
The Librarian is not perceived as a teacher by the pupils and relationships that are built up with pupils (some of whom see the Library
as a sanctuary) often reveal concerns that may not have been revealed to teaching, Form, or House staff. Listening skills without being
judgemental are essential, in order that vulnerable pupils can be supported and concerns passed on to relevant staff.
The school is required to ensure that the successful candidate is checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. Details of the school’s policies
on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as well as equal opportunities are available on request.
References will be taken up before the appointment is confirmed.
How to apply
Please download an application form from the ‘vacancies’ section of the school website (www.ksw.org.uk) and send it, completed, to
the Headmaster (Mr T.H. Keyes) with a letter of application which outlines your relevant experience, how you would intend to take the
subject forward at King’s and the particular qualities and strengths which you would hope to bring to the post. A CV is not needed but
feel free to include one if you feel that it would be helpful to us in assessing your experience and achievements.
Closing Date for applications Tuesday 7 June, 2011
Interview Date Thursday 16 June, 2011
VIGORNIENSIS

REGIA SCHOLA
VIGORNIENSIS
www.ksw.org.uk
The King’s School, Worcester: a company limited by guarantee Registered in England: Company Number 4776324
Registered Office: 5 College Green, Worcester WR1 2LL Registered Charity Number 1098236
Front page photograph by Chris Dobbs cdobbs44@tiscali.co.uk