Director of Finance and Operations
-
School:
Royal Grammar School -
Location:
Newcastle -
Salary:
The annual salary is commensurate with such a senior role in a school of this size. -
Hours:
See job information pack -
Contractual Status:
Permanent -
Closing Date:
8th Nov 2024
Director of Finance and Operations
The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) to join (from April 2025) the leadership of a renowned educational institution and have a genuine impact on its future. The successful applicant will be a strategic thinker and strong communicator with a proven record of successful strategic financial and operational management.
The Board of Governors of the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle (RGS) warmly welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and with varying experience. Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates with strong financial literacy (including VAT legislation) and experience in the preparation and implementation of budgets and financial information, as well as understanding of employment issues and IT expertise. Candidates should have a good understanding of, or willingness to learn about, the educational priorities of a school in its entirety and the responsibilities of a registered charity.
The DFO will be accountable for the strategic financial management of the school and leadership of the internal operational services. They are responsible to the Head, working closely with both the Head and the Senior Deputy Head to set the overall direction of the school. They are also a member of the wider Senior Leadership Team which includes the Head, Senior Deputy Head, Deputy Head (Academic), Deputy Head (Pastoral), Deputy Head (Co-Curricular), Director of External Relations, Director of Partnerships, Head of Sixth Form and Head of Junior School. The DFO will oversee the operational functions of the finance team, HR team, Information and Digital Technology (IDT) team, facilities and estates department and catering. They will lead and support the professional managers responsible for these areas to ensure they deliver towards the strategic plan for their part of school life. The DFO will also work in close cooperation with the Board of Governors, and Trustees of the RGS Educational Trust.
The RGS is a leading, co-educational independent day school for students aged 7 to 18 years. Located in Jesmond in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, the school benefits from excellent transport links with students travelling to the RGS from all over the region. As an academically selective day school, the RGS is a thriving place, with over 1,300 students, including more than 250 in the Junior School, which shares the same site as the Senior School. The Sixth Form at the RGS is one of the largest in the independent sector with more than 340 students.
The RGS is a special place, known and respected throughout the whole country as well as the North East and in 2023 it was judged the UK’s Independent School of the Year, as well as consistently topping the North East region’s academic league tables. It is a place where aspirations are high, results are outstanding, and opportunities are endless. Students typically go on to study highly selective courses at the most sought-after universities, but also leave the school realising that life outside the classroom has been equally beneficial. The social impact of the RGS is a key priority, which is delivered by keeping school fees as accessible as possible to maintain a broad social spectrum of pupils, the provision of transformational bursaries to bright young people from some of the most deprived parts of the region, and partnerships with State schools across the North East. The school is preparing to celebrate its Quincentenary in 2025, but despite being the oldest learning institution in the City, the RGS is ambitious about retaining it’s place as a leader of innovative teaching and learning in Newcastle.
Further information on the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle can be found at https://www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/.
A candidate brief is available from www.odgers.com/92446.
CVs, covering letters and completed application forms should be sent to Odgers Berndtson by the closing date, 09:00 GMT on Friday 8 November 2024.
The RGS is committed to the safeguarding of children and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and those working in school to share this commitment. The school applies the Government’s Keeping Children Safe in Education Safer Recruitment procedures to all candidates including appropriate pre-interview checks on shortlisted candidates and pre-employment checks pending any offer. More information regarding the checks can be found in our Information for Applicants here, and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September 2024).
Royal Grammar School
Thomas Horsley, the original settlor of the Royal Grammar School Newcastle (RGS) pledged his legacy to the School in 1525. Almost 500 years later, RGS continues to flourish as the premier independent school in the North East of England and as one of the country’s leading schools. In 2023 RGS was named overall ‘Independent School of the Year’ in The Telegraph Group’s national awards. RGS also consistently tops the region’s academic league tables and in 2024 RGS was awarded the Sunday Times’ North East’s Top Independent Secondary School, both the overall winner and for Academic Performance. While we pride ourselves on academic excellence, we are as well known for our high level of pastoral support, involvement in a wide range of sports and other co-curricular activities, and our commitment to bursaries and partnerships.
Today RGS is fully co-educational with over 1,300 students aged 7-18 years (Years 3 to 13) and our academically selective places are highly coveted. We have more than 250 students in the Junior School, which shares the same outstanding site as the Senior School. Our Sixth Form is one of the largest in the independent sector with more than 340 students.
The school is based in the heart of the City, immediately opposite Jesmond Metro station. The school occupies over 30 acres of land and has state-of-the-art facilities, including five brand new art studios, a new library, a new Sixth Form Centre, a 25m swimming pool, two Sports Halls, a Performing Arts Centre, outdoor football/rugby pitches at Mooracres, an artificial turf pitch for hockey and the former County Cricket Ground.
RGS is a special place, known and respected throughout the whole country as well as the North East. It’s a place where aspirations are high, results are outstanding, and opportunities are endless. Our students go on to study highly selective courses at the most sought-after universities, but also leave the school realising that life outside the classroom has been equally beneficial.
Academically, the school is highly selective. Students are assessed for entry at the key entry points (Y3, Y5, Y7, and a handful at Y9, plus Sixth Form). The biggest entry points are Y3 (60 students), Y7 (c.75 students) and Y12 (c.45 students). Beyond the academics, in Junior School (Y3-6) entry is assessed through activity days whilst at Y7 students are assessed through online tests and an interaction day. Sixth Form entry is through interview only.
Students sit baseline tests in Y7, Y10, and Y12 – the average GLA CAT score for both the current Y7 and Y12 is 117. We have several students who have the assistance of our dedicated Learning Support Team, which works across Junior and Senior School.
Academic selection and excellent teaching mean that the school’s results are exceptional. The published figures for 2024 are on the school’s website. For A-Level, 37.1% of A-Level grades were at A*; 71% A*- A; and 91.1% A* – B. For GCSE, the proportion of grade 9s was 44.7%; 9 – 8 was 70.1%; and 9 – 7 was 85.6%. In 2023, our results placed the RGS 51st nationally in The Sunday Times Parent Power league tables, up from 73rd place in 2022. Additionally, Top School Guide ranked the RGS 16th nationally for co-educational schools; and overall, 37th for A-Levels and 48th for GCSEs. Furthermore, School Sports Magazine recently ranked the RGS as the 27th best sports school (independent and state) in the UK.
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