Head of Learning Birmingham, England
Job description
The Cathedral Church of Saint Phil ip
Recruitment pack
Head of Learning
Closing date for applications:
Wednesday 7 June 2023
Interviews to be held on Friday 23 June 2023
About us
Birmingham Cathedral is the oldest building in the city centre still used for its original purpose. We are home to some remarkable treasures, as well as the largest green space in central Birmingham. Our cathedral is free to visit, and and attracts over 100,00 people a year.
Our visitors come to us for many different reasons - including to attend services, pray, reflect, light candles, learn about our heritage, take part in key civic events, and to enjoy a range of concerts and events held in our building or Cathedral Square throughout the year.
We are a Christian Church of the Anglican Communion and seat of the Bishop of
Birmingham. We offer corporate worship of The Church of England, enriched by the
Anglican choral tradition. Christian worship is at the heart of the cathedral’s life as we offer to God our praises and prayers. Everyone is welcome to attend any of our public services, as we rejoice in the diversity of the communities we serve and promote inclusion as widely as possible.
Birmingham Cathedral Chapter place the safeguarding of all who worship at and visit us as their highest priority. This particularly includes children and at risk adults.
As a Church of England Parish Church Cathedral we work closely with our Diocesan
Safeguarding colleagues to ensure our practices and policies are providing a safe environment for all. The Cathedral has a Safeguarding Team, made up of both staff and volunteers, who meet quarterly to review best practice, policy and to ensure that safeguarding remains at the forefront of all our work and mission.
We are looking for a confident, dynamic, and experienced individual to take on the exciting role of Head of Learning.
In this role you will seek to harness all the opportunities presented by working in Europe’s youngest city, to engage with children, their families, and all those in education, both within the Cathedral and Cathedral Square, and in their own schools and communities.
You will work with colleagues to develop the work of the cathedral in learning and in the education of children and young people, aligning this with the cathedral’s Pray,
Serve, Grow Strategic Plan.
Divine Beauty Project
We are honoured to have four dazzling examples of some of the finest stained-glass work of Pre-Raphaelite artists Edward
Burne-Jones and William Morris in our cathedral. The windows are some of the most exceptional stained-glass in the world and among the best examples of Birmingham artistry in the city.
Birmingham is the birthplace of Burne-Jones and he was baptised in St Philip’s in January 1834. The windows were designed at the height of his influence as an artist, inspired by Medieval artworks, but sing simplified forms and shapes, which were enhanced by the use of bold colours.
The windows were installed over a twelve year period between
1885 and 1897, when St Philips was still a parish church.
The Ascension (1885), was the first window to be installed, depicting Jesus parting with his followers and ascending into heaven forty days after Easter. Burne-Jones was so struck with its beauty that he was inspired to design two more. The
Nativity and The Crucifixion were the next two windows to be installed in 1887. The Last Judgement (1897), is widely recognised as the finest example of Burne-Jones’ work, depicting the return of Christ and his judgement on humanity.
Initial funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund enabled a detailed investigation of the condition of the windows to take place. Unfortunately, this work found that the windows were significantly damaged in a number of places and portions of glazing were missing or cracked. We have secured a further
£641,200 in National Lottery Heritage funding to go towards this vital conservation. Work will take place to remove a substantial build up of debris and to repair areas of cracking, failed leading and paint loss.
Visitors will be able to see this work as it happens from an accessible platform, as well as engage in a range of activities throughout 2023 to learn more about these unique treasures.
Follow our project updates via @DivineBeautyBhm on Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram, or via our website.
Job role Head of Learning
Responsible to: CEO
Hours: 24 hours (flexibility essential to include daytime, evening & weekend working) We envisage this as a 3 day a week post.
Salary: £26,923 FTE (£17,463 Actual).
Pension: 8% Employer’s Contributory Pension subject to meeting auto enrolment criteria.
Annual leave: 23.5 days (including public and statutory holidays) based on a 3-day working week.
This role is subject to a 3-month probationary period.
The Head of Learning will build upon and strengthen the cathedral’s existing work with children and young people, particularly in facilitating visits to the cathedral by schools.
The Head of Learning will seek to build relationships with schools, colleges, and other educational organisations in the diocese and the city region to deliver excellent and innovative examples of partnership working.
The cathedral has a holistic view of education and learning. You will work closely with the Canon Missioner, supporting the expansion of work in adult education in the congregation and beyond to the needs of children, young people and families.
It is a working requirement of this role that you are a baptised Christian and a member of a Church in communion with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
Main responsibilities
- Responsible for building on and expanding the work of our existing team of
Education Guides who provide excellent opportunities for children of all faiths and none to visit Birmingham Cathedral, and experience engaging and memorable teaching of the principles of Christianity and Christian worship. The new Head ofLearning will work with the Visitor Experience Co-ordinator to recruit, manage, train and resource the team of voluntary guides.
- Work creatively to design, develop, promote and deliver a variety of age-appropriate learning opportunities for children and families visiting the cathedral and Cathedral
Square. This will involve working with other members of the cathedral team to deliver creatively against our strategic aims.
- Create opportunities for children within the congregation to experience a holistic
Christian education. Engage with the Cathedral’s boy and girl choristers (and their families) to encourage their Christian education and spiritual growth.
- Build and support a team of volunteers to grow and resource our existing Children’s
Church. This will involve relaunching Children’s Church which paused during the pandemic.
- Collaborate with the cathedral’s Music Department in their outreach programme.
- Engage with educational establishments and their staff in the diocese and city region to deliver excellent educational opportunities and innovative examples of partnership working. This will include: responding pro-actively and creatively to the needs of each school or college and the requirements of its particular curriculum; the preparation of materials and schemes of work for use by schools and colleges including web-based resources, and the need to organise timetables, activities, and guides for school visits to meet the learning objectives of children and young people and to take a leading role in teaching.
- Work with the wider Cathedral team (staff, volunteers, and congregation) to ensure the fulfilment of Chapter’s strategy and vision and to undertake any other reasonable duties and responsibilities as may be required by Chapter.
Person specification
We are looking for a person with vision and ambition to lead our work with schools, children, and young people. The person appointed will be able to demonstrate they meet the following criteria:
- A baptised Christian and a member of a church in communion with CTBI with a strong sense of empathy with the mission and vision of the cathedral, including its faith and spiritual values.
- Good educational background, including a minimum first degree, ideally in a relevant discipline.
- Teaching qualification at Primary, Senior or Further Education level or equivalent qualification
- Ability to work flexibly (including evenings with choirs / Sunday worship / Christian holidays); to be agreed by your line manager.
- An excellent team leader, motivating and guiding staff, committed to collaborative working and able to develop the potential of team members.
- An excellent team player across a range of disciplines.
- A robust understanding of safeguarding and evidence of leading a culture that prioritizes safeguarding.
- Capable of working strategically and collaboratively.
- Ability to inspire and teach children and adults within an educational context and be able to demonstrate good subject/curriculum knowledge.
- Administrative competency and ability to demonstrate sound organisational skills and use of IT.
The application process
To apply, please complete an application form online at
birminghamcathedral.com/vacancies
Forms can also be downloaded from this section of our website and returned to
[email protected].
Forms can also be returned by post to:
Recruitment,
Birmingham Cathedral St Philips,
Colmore Row,
Birmingham,
B3 2QB
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 7 June 2023.
Interviews will be held on: Friday 23 June 2023
For further information please contact Anna Pitt, CEO, on 0121 2621847
The Cathedral Church of Saint Philip
@BhamCathedral @DivineBeautyBhm
birminghamcathedral.com
Job Type: Part-time
Part-time hours: 24 per week
Salary: £17,463.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 07/06/2023
