Chaplain

Appointment of:
Chaplain
Information for Candidates

The School

Queen Mary’s School is a Christian community that values, nurtures and respects every individual. It is a place
where all are challenged to do their best, serve others, show compassion and act with integrity.

At Queen Mary’s School, we:

Strive for excellence in every endeavour
Love life and enjoy learning

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•  Nurture spirituality and personal growth
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•  Make strong and lasting friendships

Respect individuality and embrace diversity
Enhance character and build resilience
Create independent young people

Queen Mary’s School is an all girls’ independent boarding and day school situated in beautiful countryside, between
Ripon and Thirsk. Baldersby Park, the school’s current home, is a Grade 1 listed building surrounded by 40 acres of
landscaped grounds, sports fields and paddocks.

Queen Mary’s has a reputation for high academic achievement to add to a long-standing tradition of building all-
round confidence in pupils, through a very wide range of educational and co-curricular opportunities.

Headmistress, Mrs Fe Beadnell, firmly believes in happily empowering girls from the earliest years, nurturing
leadership skills and a strong sense of self so that every pupil is equipped to become who – and what – they aspire
to be. Our school is a dynamic and supportive environment where academic excellence, creativity, adventure, and
personal growth go hand in hand.

The School is on a very strong footing financially, with a healthy endowment and recent investment in major
facilities. The Board has an exciting long-term programme of investment to sustain Queen Mary’s into the future.

The School’s Nursery and Pre-Prep department is co-educational, while the Prep and Senior School is for girls only
and spans the age range 7 to 16. The School has a strong boarding tradition with a healthy mix of full, weekly and
flexi-boarding. The boarding life of the School is a central part of the Queen Mary’s culture for both day girls and
boarders.

Queen Mary’s is part of the Woodard Corporation, a group of 43 independent and maintained schools. Woodard
Schools operate  as stand-alone entities, with professional support from the centre where required. The Woodard
ethos promotes Christian education and high academic and pastoral standards within all its schools.

The Role:

Reporting to:

The Chaplain has a dual line of accountability:

−  The Headmistress of Queen Mary’s School and the Senior Provost of the
Woodard Corporation (represented locally by the Regional Provost)

−  The Archbishop of York and The Bishop of Whitby, in whose area of the Diocese

of York the School is located

Job Purpose:

The Chaplain is a key pastoral figure in the School in promoting Christian values and
leading the spiritual development of pupils and staff in line with the Queen Mary’s
and Woodard ethos.

The Chaplain forms part of the pastoral team and works alongside it to provide the
best care possible for our young people.

Key Criteria:

The Chaplain needs:

−  To be a Priest of the Church of England or of a Church in full communion with it
−  To hold (or be eligible to hold) the Archbishop of York’s licence or Permission to

Officiate, and to continue to do so as a condition of employment

Opportunities to combine this role with other teaching specialisms may be considered for suitable
candidates.

Start Date:

September 2026

Hours of Work:

Full time and part time hours will be considered

Overview of Responsibilities

The following is provided as an overview of the main responsibilities; candidates are expected to:

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Ensure that provision is made for regular worship, at least weekly, and that Holy Communion is celebrated at such
time and in such manner as to ensure that all pupils and staff are able to attend.
Lead by example, providing inspiration and motivation for the pupils, staff, governors, parents and the wider
community.
Teach and practise the Christian faith as the Church of England has received it, as both a system of belief and as a way
of life and witness in line with the Queen Mary’s and Woodard ethos.

−  Guide the School community into an awareness of the spiritual dimension of human experience and understanding

and encourage exploration of such.
−  Pray for the people and life of the School.

Policy, Strategic Direction and Development

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Contribute to, and, promote the ideals of Christian Service across the whole School and keep this under
regular review, taking account of the School’s changing needs and the full range of pupils’ needs.
Ensure that whole-school policies and strategies are embedded in planning throughout the phases.

Teaching and Learning

If appropriate, teach Religious Studies or another subject.

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−  Plan and teach ‘Confirmation classes’ (looking at various aspects of the gospel, the Christian faith and the Bible in

the preparation of the girls’ Confirmation Service) for Year 6 and above.

−  Provide co-curricular activities that enrich the timetabled curriculum experiences.
−  Communicate in Chapel and in day-to-day school life the gospel and the Bible’s teaching, including the moral

components necessary for a wholesome life.

Pastoral care and safeguarding

−  Monitor, evaluate and assess the pastoral care of pupils, ensuring continuous and consistent focus on pupils’

achievement and development: moral, spiritual, physical, cultural and social.

−  Contribute to the pastoral needs of pupils throughout the School.
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Support and fully participate in the pastoral care of the School community (being available to staff, pupils and parents)
in conjunction with the Headmistress, the Deputy Head, the School Nurse, the Assistant Head: Safeguarding and
Wellbeing and the School Counsellor.

−  Attend the weekly Pastoral Meeting.

Professional Development

−  Regularly review your own practice, set personal targets and take responsibility for your own development.
−  Complete an Annual Appraisal.

Training & development of self and others

−  Build effective partnerships with parents to ensure:

o  a shared understanding between School and home about pupil progression, and how parents can

support their child.

o  an excellent local reputation for the School through the promotion, profile and success of  the pupils.

−  Promote the ideals of Christian service (especially, though not exclusively, through the Archbishop of York’s Youth

Leaders Award).
Lead a Parent Prayer Group and a Staff Prayer group WHERE APPROPRIATE.

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−  Attend conferences for School Chaplains.
−  Be a friend and spiritual support to the Headmistress.
−  Maintain links with the local Christian community and invite speakers for Prayers or Chapel Services from time to time.

Services

−  Plan Chapel services, and Eucharists, in consultation with the Director of Music and the Headmistress.
−  Prepare, once a year, candidates for Confirmation through weekly classes and a Confirmation Retreat as well as

planning the Confirmation Service in consultation with the diocesan authorities.

−  Plan and lead a Harvest Service and a Christingle Service and a Remembrance Service to which parents and families

are invited.

−  Plan and lead a Service on both Ash Wednesday and Ascension Day, when they fall in term time.
−  Plan and lead the annual Carol Service at Ripon Cathedral in consultation with the Director of Music and the Cathedral

authorities.

Person Specification

Attributes

Essential Criteria

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications

The Chaplain needs:
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To be a Priest of the Church of England or of a
Church in full communion with it
To hold (or be eligible to hold) the Archbishop of
York’s licence or Permission to Officiate, and to
continue to do so as a condition of employment

−  A Postgraduate qualification in
education or a related field

Knowledge

−  Demonstrable classroom management experience

Skills and
abilities

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Strong communication and inter-personal skills
−  Ability to be discreet and uphold confidentiality
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Excellent time management and organisational
skills

−  Understanding MIS systems (iSAMS

and CPOMS)

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Experience of working in an all-age,
independent, boarding school
environment

−  Ability to teach or support an

additional subject or specialism

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To be prepared to undertake daily operational tasks
as required
Experience and ability to use data effectively

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−  Ability to cope with multiple demands shifting

priorities and rapid change

−  A selfless, empowering and collaborative approach

to management and continual professional
development

−  Awareness of the importance of child protection
and keeping young people safe from harm
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Excellent written English and attention to detail
−  Ability to show initiative and respond to a changing

environment

−  Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
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Strong IT skills (MS Word, Excel, CMS)
Energy, drive, enthusiasm and a positive manner

Personal
circumstances

−  All candidates must hold the Right to Work in the

UK

−  Current driving licence
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Safeguarding qualifications

−  A willingness to engage with and articulate the
School’s Christian values, ethos and heritage
−  Clear sympathy with the advantages of single sex

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education
To be willing to play an active part in the life of the
School community
To be willing to work out of hours as and when
School functions occur

The Archbishop or suffragan bishop will apply to your bishop for a Clergy Current Status Letter as a preliminary to
considering the grant of a licence or Permission to Officiate, in addition to the requirement for a satisfactory
enhanced DBS Disclosure and the Diocese of York’s Safer Recruitment procedure.

Terms and Conditions of
Employment

The following particulars do not form any part of an offer of employment. They provide guidance, without prejudice, on the
likely main provisions.  Terms and conditions, which will incorporate the Staff Handbook and Contract of Employment, will
be issued in due course to the successful candidate.

General Notes

−  A competitive remuneration package is available, with a salary commensurate with the responsibility of the post

and the experience of the successful candidate.

−  All staff are required to attend INSET, Open Mornings, Sports Day and Speech Day.
−  Additional benefits will include a significant fee discount for children to be educated at Queen Mary’s School

(subject to places being available and all relevant admissions criteria being met).
Lunch will be provided free of charge during term time hours of work.

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−  The School operates an employer stakeholder contributory pension scheme.
−  The appointee will be required to participate in an annual appraisal.
−  Accommodation is not provided.
−  The appointee is required to give the School one term’s notice of their intention to leave this post.
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Shortlisted candidates will be asked to undertake identity and qualification checks which conform to the School’s
Safer Recruitment Policy. They must also agree to references being taken up at that stage and checks made with
past employers. The successful applicant will be required to complete a medical form before any appointment is
confirmed to show there are no medical reasons why the applicant may not be able to take up the post.

The Application Process

An application form can be downloaded from the school website, and this should be submitted accompanied with
a covering letter addressed to the Headmistress, Mrs Fe Beadnell, explaining the motivation for applying for this
post and the experience, skills and qualities you would bring to the role.

In your application form, please supply the names of two referees.

−  One should relate specifically to your ministry and should normally be from a person such as your bishop,

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archdeacon or cathedral dean.
The other should be from a lay person, and may relate to your work in education if you come from that
setting.

Please send your completed application form to the Headmistress's PA: head@queenmarys.org.
Please be aware that we do not accept curriculum vitaes. Only completed application forms will be submitted to the
shortlisting panel.

Safeguarding and Recruitment Checks

Queen Mary’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All
shortlisted candidates will be required to complete identity and qualification checks in line with our Safer
Recruitment Policy, and references will be taken up at this stage. The successful applicant must also complete a
medical questionnaire before an appointment is confirmed.

As part of our safeguarding commitment, candidates will undergo child protection screening appropriate to the
role, including checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. All staff share responsibility
for safeguarding and must adhere to the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

No Agencies Please

Baldersby Park
Topcliffe
Thirsk
North Yorkshire
YO7 3BZ

01845 575000
admin@queenmarys.org
www.queenmarys.org