Role Introduction

We are seeking an inspiring Roman Catholic Chaplain who will provide strong pastoral and spiritual support for our Catholic pupils, along with the wider Eton College community.
The successful candidate must be an ordained Catholic priest and a carer of all souls. The appointment will be made taking into account the views of Rt Revd David Oakley, Bishop of Northampton - Eton being within the Diocese of Northampton.

Main Duties

CHAPLAINCY DUTIES

• Celebrate Mass on Sundays, Wednesday mornings and as required;
• Celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Holy Communion if requested by members of the Catholic community of Eton College;
• Prepare candidates for the annual celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation by the Bishop of Northampton;
• Have oversight of the use, buildings and contents of Our Lady of Sorrows in Eton in liaison with the local parish priest at St Augustine’s Datchet;
• Work with the council of the Saint Nicholas Society of Catholic Parents of Eton in fostering the Catholic faith;
• Work together with the Anglican chaplaincy team under the guidance of the Conduct, the Revd. Stephen Gray;
• Preside on a rota basis at the ecumenical morning services in College Chapel and Lower Chapel and as requested;
• Liaise with Diocesan agencies, groups and individuals, where appropriate;
• Develop suitable activities to mark and celebrate the major feasts and seasons of the Church;
• Help with the provision of suitable resources for the prayer life and worship of the school.

ACADEMIC

• Work and teach within an academic department. The department you will belong to will depend on your individual skills and experience. Details of this will be discussed at interview

CO-CURRICULAR

• Contribute to the co-curricular life of the school as agreed with your Head of Department;
• Accompany students on visits away from the School, subject to risk assessment;
• Actively contribute to the staff duty rota, such as supervising meal times and exam invigilating;
• Contribute to the wider school social programme, including workshops, seminars, chapel services, competitions, trips, open days, and so on;

PASTORAL 

• Have pastoral care for the Catholic community of Eton College – pupils, staff and their families;
• Have pastoral responsibility of some of the boarding houses;
• Be committed to the safeguarding of all young people;
• Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a positive and safe learning environment;
• Treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position;
• Tutor up to twelve pupils, (typically in groups of six) taking an interest in their academic progress and well-being;

The Ideal Candidate

• Be an ordained Catholic priest and a carer of all souls;
• Experience of chaplaincy work within the education sector;
• A solid understanding of the distinctive nature of Roman Catholicism within the school environment and the school’s role in the parish and diocese;
• Demonstrable evidence of leading worship, church traditions, practices and rituals;
• Understanding of the role of chaplain in the spiritual development of pupils and staff;
• Previous experience as a teacher and the ability to teach an academic subject would be desirable;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Highly motivated and can work independently as well as within wider teams;
• Demonstrable interest in the welfare and pastoral well-being of young people;
• A solid understanding of, and commitment to working within the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships and collaborate with a wide range of people;
• Good ICT competence and willingness to use new technologies;
• A positive attitude, an optimistic approach to change and development, a balanced sense of perspective and a good sense of humour.

Benefits

Our staff are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer an excellent remuneration and benefits package which includes free accommodation, a generous Pension Scheme, free eyecare vouchers, a cycle to work scheme, subsidised lunches during term time, free access to the College’s sport and leisure facilities which are currently being extensively upgraded and discount at local retailers and businesses.

About the College

LIVING IN ETON

All members of our community are encouraged to participate fully in the life of the school and to enjoy the beautiful grounds and facilities. Windsor is just across the river, with a tangle of pretty lanes, chic shopping streets, green spaces, an ancient castle and picturesque tea shops. There is plenty to see and do. Windsor hosts the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world as well as one of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious repertory theatres. 20 miles of beautiful and historic waterways meanders through the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, leaving historic villages and iconic attractions waiting to be discovered, such as the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham, Windsor Guildhall, Maidenhead Heritage Centre and LEGOLAND Windsor. Central London is also easily accessible by rail or motorway.

THE ETON COMMUNITY

There is enormous collegiality at the school. As one new teacher said: “This is my fourth school and I’ve never been made to feel so welcome”. Colleagues are also genuinely interested in the scholarship of their subject and enjoy a level of autonomy in their teaching that allows them to develop their own effective style.

We are an equal opportunities employer and are seeking applications from suitable candidates from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an environment that values individuality and difference and celebrates the diversity of both staff and pupils by fostering perseverance, tolerance and integrity. We believe in equal opportunity for everyone, irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

DISCLOSURE CHECKS

Eton College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application Form.  Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or Code of Practice published by the DBS. The College is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would normally be considered as “spent” under the Act) must be declared, subject to the DBS filtering rules. It is a criminal offence for any person who is barred from working with children to attempt to apply for a position at the College.

If you have any queries about the application process or any problem with submitting your application online, the Recruitment Team will be happy to help. Should you require any reasonable adjustments to be made or facilities provided to enable you to apply online, please do not hesitate to contact us on recruitment@etoncollege.org.uk so we can make adjustments accordingly. 

Eton College