City of London School and City of London School for Girls

City of London School and City of London School for Girls are separate, independent schools owned by the City of London Corporation. Each school has a long history and its own unique traditions. Both are strongly academic and with a focus on educating pupils from the breadth of London’s diverse population, emphasising education in the broadest sense.

As the schools seek to collaborate more closely on a range of new education opportunities together, the Boards and management of the two schools seek to make key appointments that span both schools. At the same time, the two schools are planning to open a new co-educational junior school, City Junior School, from September 2022, for children from ages 7-11.

While each of the three schools are separate, independently led and operated, and each with their own identity and strategic vision, all three have prioritised staff talent development and diversity as key requirements for their ongoing success. Recognising the importance of CLS and CLSG’s people to delivering their broader strategies, the Boards of the schools have decided for the first time to put the HR teams across the three schools under the direction of one senior leader, the Director of People.

The Director of People will be key in shaping and implementing a ’people strategy’ in the broadest sense across the three schools, in collaboration with their owners, the City of London Corporation, and aligned to the schools’ strategic visions. The role will report to the Heads on a day-to-day basis and work closely with the City of London Corporation’s Human Resources department on both operational and strategic matters, benefitting from the shared resources and knowledge that the larger organisation brings. Working closely with the School Heads, Bursars and Deputy Heads, the role-holder will lead a team that will provide support and advice on the full range of people and safeguarding issues at the schools.

Aligned with the schools’ and the City of London Corporation’s policy on diversity and inclusion, a key element of the role will be to design and roll-out school-specific policies to ensure that staff recruitment and retention benefits from the broad and diverse talent pool available in London and reflects the diverse pupil bodies in the schools.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic and communicative leader, capable of winning trust, and will bring significant HR experience at a senior level, including training and development, policies and procedures, performance management, recruitment and retention, employee relations, and legal and regulatory compliance. Experience of managing diversity and inclusion will also be desirable, as well as leadership and managerial experience.

The role is designed as a full-time position but applicants seeking part-time or more flexible working arrangements will be considered.

CLS and the CLSG are 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 the Disclosure and Barring Service.

CLS and the CLSG are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we aspire to attract staff that match the social and cultural diversity of our pupil intake.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to CLS and CLSG on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference GAIARB. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Friday, 2 July 2021.