CCF Contingent Commander

Job title: CCF Contingent Commander
Job Type: Part-time (0.4 + camps)
Salary: £13,500
Department: CCF
Reporting to: Assistant Head (Pupil Engagement)
Location: Bishopswood Road Site: various locations
Start: September 2023
Closing Date: 10 March 2023 at 12:00 pm

Would you like to put your military experience to good use, working for an award-winning educational charity?

Are you someone who loves the outdoors and is excited by the prospect of co-ordinating a challenging cadet programme at a school where the Combined Cadet Force has been a mainstay for over 100 years?

We are looking to employ a dynamic, highly-organised and enthusiastic leader to develop the CCF programme even further: working on strategies for pupil-recruitment; planning inspiring camps and trips; co-ordinating closely with the CCF London Division and managing a highly skilled and experienced adult volunteer team.

Highgate is committed to the wellbeing and development of everyone who works and studies here, and we strive for continual learning and improvement; the right candidate would be supported to undertake all the relevant training in order to fulfil the requirements of the role.

The Department

CCF is one of Highgate’s longest running co-curricular provisions; the CCF Army Contingent meets weekly to participate in a huge range of exciting and adventurous military themed activities. This long tradition at Highgate began as the ‘Volunteer Cadet Corps’ in 1892, being renamed in 1906 to the ‘Officers’ Training Corps’ and evolving again in 1948 to become the Combined Cadet Force we know today. Cadets follow a syllabus called the Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) which gets more challenging after passing each star level. APC is designed to be more practical, rather than classroom based, with a range of skills training within the areas of Fieldcraft, Drill, First Aid and Community activities.

Members of CCF in Sixth Form can enrol on BTEC Public Services Level 2 National Diploma, equivalent to 4 GCSEs. The team is made up of teaching staff with long involvement in the CCF – some previously in the Contingent Commander (CCO) roles – and the newly-appointed CCO will also be supported by a School Staff Instructor (SSI). The cohort of pupils is currently around 50, with ambitions to grow; activities take place on Tuesday evenings and camps during some weekends and holidays.

Job Description

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

To be in charge of the Combined Cadet Force at Highgate School.
To produce and update a yearly programme for cadets, NCO’s and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and ensure that all pupils are actively engaged according to School and MoD policy.
To plan and oversee delivery of weekly training of cadets.
To work closely with and line manage the School’s SSI.
To be the Delivery Duty Holder (DDH) for the Contingent
To plan and oversee arrangements for all exercises, camps and training days and to oversee the arrangement of transport and catering as necessary.
To recruit, train and manage suitable CFAVs to support the contingent.
To oversee cadet recruitment and retention and present the CCF to students, outlining the opportunities and benefits.
To oversee discipline and fitness of school staff and cadets whilst undertaking CCF training.
To ensure that the contingent complies with the appropriate MOD and school safeguarding policies.
To publicise the activities of the Contingent, internally, and externally to the wider School and parents, including reporting on CCF events for School publications and website.
To ensure that accurate registers are maintained and missed attendance is followed up and appropriate action is taken.
To monitor all budgets for CCF, including preparation of accounts for audit by HQ LONDIST annually.
To oversee CCF nominations for National Courses and training.
To liaise with the MoD and ensure compliance with MoD regulations
To oversee the organisation of the annual regimental dinner and the guests invited.
To co‐ordinate Continuing Professional Development of staff involved in CCF.
To contribute to the appraisal of all staff involved in the CCF.
To ensure that all suitable safety and control measures are in place covering legal compliance, in areas such as: health & safety; data security; weapons and ammunition; fire risk assessments; testing of staff and ensuring qualifications held are in date and current.
To oversee the (6 monthly) weapon handling testing of all personnel.
To ensure that the Army database (WESTMINSTER) is kept up to date with current records.
To ensure cadets with aspirations for a military career are supported in their applications
To ensure the school is represented at all meetings, functions and ceremonial events appropriate to the positive promotion of the contingent.

Person Specification

Criteria
How will these be tested or verified?
Essential
- Military and/or CCF/ACF experience
- Ability to manage a team
- Capacity to inspire, motivate and energise the cadets
- Highly organised
- Able to navigate requisite IT (training provided)
Desirable
- Knowledge of ‘Westminster’ computer system
- Ex-regular service experience
- Full driving licence
- Military qualifications (e.g. skill at arms, range-qualified etc.)

Benefits

Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.

Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered with a generous 21% employer contribution.

Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).

Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.

Lunch | A complimentary lunch.

Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.

Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.

Working at Highgate

A culture of community, kindness and belonging

Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.

Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.

In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”

Staff wellbeing

Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.

The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.

We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.

More details about working at Highgate can be found here:

Work with us Aims + Ethos

Charitable work and sustainability

As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.

Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.

As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 10th March 2023
Timing of interviews: w/b 13 March 2023

Contact: Jenny McLoughlin, Assistant Head (Pupil Engagement) is happy to answer any questions about this post.

Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.

Apply here

Inclusion

We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.

Safeguarding

As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.

Please read before you apply

Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.

Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.

In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.

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