St Bees School

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History of the School.In 1583, Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury obtained a Letter Patent from Queen Elizabeth to found a 'FreeGrammar School' at St Bees. Building started in 1587, much of the stone probably being taken from the ruins of themonastery, and comprised a two storey block, the lower floor being the school room and the upper containing themaster's quarters and a room for the Governors. This building, now of three storeys, was incorporated inFoundation House in 1840 and forms the North side of the Quadrangle where the original door-way can still beseen. The School room is now the dining hall.The principal part of the School's endowment was the Lordship of the Manor of Kirkby Becoc but in the midseventeenthcentury the Governors, for reasons now unknown, alienated nearly all the land on 999 year leases atpepper-corn rents. Much more seriously, in 1742 they leased to Sir James Lowther all their mines and collieries for868 years. Sir James, a major land-owner in the County and a clever entrepreneur, was responsible for much of themining development and the lay-out of Whitehaven and was clearly a forceful character. Both he and his agent wereGovernors of the School and presumably the others were afraid to oppose so influential a person. Many yearspassed before this scandal came to public notice, resulting in a long series of legal suits in the Chancery Court.Eventually in 1827 the Court awarded substantial restitution and the execution of a new lease with Sir James'successors on realistic terms.With this capital and the royalties which continued toflow until after the Great War, the Governorsembarked on a programme of expansion whicheventually produced much of the fabric as it standstoday and changed the character from an old daygrammar school to a mainly boarding school. Thefirst step was the expansion in 1840 of the originalbuilding into what is now the greater part ofFoundation House. There followed over the next 70years the building of School House, the purchase ofGrindal House (originally the Station Hotel), theoriginal science laboratories (now the Art studios),The Librarythe library, chapel, gymnasium, swimming bath (oneof the first covered pools in the country), an extra wing on Foundation, the fives courts, pavilion and first properplaying fields. The inter-war period was overshadowed by the economic depression, which hit West Cumberlandearlier and more severely than many parts of the country and the school was particularly affected by the closure ofthe coal mines in 1931. The only significant additions were more playing fields, the hard tennis courts and theconstruction of the golf course by the boys, under the guidance and inspiration of Mr. J. S. Boulter (later Canon).Although the academic and sporting record continued to be a source of pride, numbers fell, retrenchment was theorder of the day and in 1938 the threat of closure was averted only by the prompt and generous response of the OldSt Beghians' Club, which raised sufficient funds to guarantee continuance for seven years. The numbers began torise almost immediately, but little could be achieved during the war years and the surplus accommodation andsome of the facilities were shared with Mill Hill School, whose pupils were evacuated to St Bees.In the years since 1945 the extremely generous support of Old St Beghians, Parents and Friends together with royaltiesfrom the anhydrite mined by Marchon Ltd at Kells, have made possible a steady expansion of the academic andsporting facilities and the modernisation of the residential accommodation. First came the Memorial Hall, built inremembrance to the Old St Beghians who lost their lives in the War, and this was followed by the science andclassroom block. The School became co-educational in 1976.The last thirty years have seen the building of a purpose built Sports Hall (1988); the opening of the WhitelawBuilding (1992) as an I.T. Centre, language laboratory and conference suite; the creation of an International Centre(1997) as the School increased its numbers of overseas pupils; and the opening of the Fox Music School in BaronyHouse (2000). In recent years, projects have included the refurbishment of a first floor wing in Foundation Buildingto provide a Sixth Form Centre, the modernisation of the School swimming pool and adjacent changing rooms, theestablishment of a Golf Academy that includes an indoor golf studio with video analysis and modern computertechnology and the development of a specialist Chipping and Putting green.
Teacher of MathematicsWe seek to appoint an inspired, and inspiring, graduate teacher of Mathematics who has a true passion for thesubject, and the ability to challenge and stimulate our pupils. This is an exciting, and challenging post as theMathematics Department is seen as a real strength within the School.Mathematics is taught in a small team of three full-time and one part-time members of staff, and is located in a suiteof classrooms in the main Foundation Buildings of the School. All classrooms are equipped with projection facilities.Pupils in the First to Third Form (Years 7 to 9) are allocated five lessons of Mathematics per week. All pupils are thenprepared for the Edexcel Mathematics Examinations at GCSE, which is assessed by examination at the end of thetwo year course. The aim is for all pupils to take the higher level papers, but occasionally a few pupils have beenentered for the foundation level papers where this has been more appropriate to their needs. Many pupils in the topmathematics set also take the Edexcel higher level GCSE Statistics examination. Assessment for this GCSE is by acombination of controlled assessment and examination. We have a large number of Sixth Form pupils who choose tostudy the AS/A2 Mathematics examination where we currently follow the Edexcel syllabus. In addition, we alsooffer Further Mathematics as a separate subject at both AS and A2 level. St Bees School has a tradition of pupilsgoing to University, and beyond, to study Mathematics, Engineering and other Mathematics related courses.Working closely with the English and Mathematics Department, we have a highly successful Learning Support Unitwhere pupils with a variety of needs are assisted by a small team of dedicated staff. A specialist Mathematician isemployed to assist any pupils who need extra support with their Mathematics work.The department has enjoyed considerable success at both GCSE and A Level and constantly strives to produce thehighest standards of pupil work stemming from outstanding classroom practice.Pupils are entered for the UK Maths Challenge at all levels each year, and we have enjoyed considerable success inthis competition. We also provide the opportunity to take part in the Cipher Challenge and World Maths Day. Werun a series of dedicated support sessions for pupils during lunchtimes and are working to develop the range ofextra-curricular mathematics opportunities available to pupils.The School has a well equipped library, which is housed in a separate building, and has a wide collection of readingmaterials as well as access to computer facilities and space for private study.A willingness to ‘go the extra mile’ is essential for all members of staff at St Bees School. Staff are actively involvedoutside the classroom in a huge range of extra-curricular activities and trips. We are a boarding School and staff areencouraged to get involved with the boarding pupils and assist the residential staff during the evenings andweekends.We are seeking an individual who would relish the challenge of helping to take the teaching of Mathematics at theSchool to an even higher level, and continue to promote the enthusiasm for the subject that is already present. Thefinal job description for the new Teacher of Mathematics will depend, to some extent, on the individual talents andinterests of the successful candidate.St Bees School has flourished because staff have given generously, and willingly, of their time and energy to theacademic and personal development of the pupils, in the many forms that this may take. It is the abiding hope of theHeadmaster that all staff will approach their employment by the school in that same spirit.The list of professional duties below is applicable to all teachers at St Bees School with specific references to the postof Teacher of Mathematics. It is not an exhaustive list; in addition all staff will be expected to carry out any otherduties that the Headmaster may, from time to time, reasonably request.
Page 6 and 7: Job Description for Teacher of Math
Page 8 and 9: Person Specification—Teacher of M

St Bees School

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