Badminton School is a high performing independent day and boarding school for girls aged three to 18 years. Its location in Westbury-on-Trym, on the leafy outskirts of the university city of Bristol, provides all the amenities and opportunities of a diverse city, mixed with the green open space of the surrounding areas. The School itself has an enviable sense of community, which is felt the moment you step through the gates to the enclosed campus of beautiful buildings and landscaped gardens. 

In the Junior School there are approximately 130 girls, most of whom are day pupils; in the Senior School there are over 400 pupils of whom approximately half are boarders.

The School consistently achieves impressive academic results, which enables the pupils to access a wealth of world-class universities, music conservatoires and art colleges. Badminton has a holistic approach to learning and girls are encouraged to develop as individuals, pursue their own interests and expand and explore their ambitions, both in their academic work and co-curricular activities. The aim at Badminton is to encourage the pupils to become curious, confident and enthusiastic learners within a community that is supportive, friendly and fun. In the recently published and highly influential Sunday Times “Parent Power” report, Badminton was once again in the top 20 Independent Schools for girls in the country and was ranked eighth best Independent School of any type in the South West. 

The happiness and welfare of pupils is paramount to everyone at Badminton. The School's small community and class sizes mean that there is a focus on the pupils as individuals, leaving no opportunity for anyone to be anonymous. Awareness of responsibility is cultivated and the community code of conduct makes pupils aware that other people matter. The pupils’ mutual respect and support for not only their peers, but also for the whole community, goes right to the heart of the School’s ethos.

With an experienced new Head, Jessica Miles, joining Badminton in the Summer, this is an exciting time for the School. Jessica has a wealth of experience in leading girls' boarding and day schools and is well positioned to successfully steer Badminton into its next chapter. 

Badminton School is looking for Governors who will help evolve the School's strategy, monitor its implementation and ensure that the School meets its compliance, legal and financial requirements. The Board has responsibility for the stewardship of the School’s extensive resources, ensuring these are used in the best way possible in the provision of outstanding education for girls. As the Board is responsible and liable for the governance and functioning of the School, it is accountable in varying degrees to a variety of stakeholders, including parents, pupils, the Charity Commission and Companies House.

Collectively with other members of the Governing Body, a Governor must:

• Determine the overall direction and development of the School through good governance and clear strategic planning
• Ensure that the School and its representatives function within the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and in line with the School’s governing document, continually striving for best practice in governance
• Uphold the fiduciary duty invested in the position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in the School
• Promote well-being, safeguarding and child protection issues at the highest level within the School and encourage other members of the Governing Body to develop their understanding of the Governing Body’s responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and child protection and support them in the performance of these duties
• Recognise the School’s responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and related legislation to provide for the health, safety and welfare of its employees, students, members of the public, and any others who may be affected by the activities of the School
• Understand his or her duties as a Company Director and as a charity trustee. The duties of company directors are described in sections 170 to 181 of the Companies Act 2006. The role and duties of charity trustees are described by the Charity Commission in their guidance “CC3: the essential trustee: what you need to know”

All governors are expected to be a member of or chair one or more subcommittees at the invitation of the Chair of Governors, taking into account interests, skills, experience and capacity. The Board currently delegates much of its work to the following subcommittees: Education and Welfare Committee; Risk, Regulatory and Compliance Committee; Premises Committee; Development Committee; and Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GP).

Badminton School is looking to make a number of appointments to its Board. While there are a number of specific skillsets the Board is interested in attracting, the most important requirement of Governors is that they identify strongly with the vision, mission and values of the School. This may come from first hand experience with independent, boarding, or single-sex education, or from knowing the local community. Applicants must also have the collegiate and collaborative approach which is central to the Badminton ethos and permeates the School at all levels.

The essential qualities required for Governor roles at Badminton School are as follows:

• Demonstrable experience in a senior leadership role
• A track record of success at a Board level - as either an executive or a non-executive
• A commitment to understanding Badminton School and be in support of its vision, values and strategic aims
• The ability to think strategically, deliver change and improvements and develop a long-term organisational vision
• The ability to build collaborative relationships and command the confidence of statutory regulators, fellow Governors, the senior management team, staff, parents, girls and other stakeholders.

Extensive experience of one or more of the following areas is particularly sought: finance, law, property or facilities management, strategic initiatives (including international expertise), health and safety, fundraising, safeguarding, education, IT, and physical and mental wellbeing. 

Other specific areas expertise which would be of interest to the Board are: boarding education; equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI); and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

First-time non-executives are strongly encouraged to apply, provided they demonstrate an understanding of governance.

A full list of current Board members can be found here.

The Board of Governors meets three times per academic year - once per term. Meetings happen in-person at the School between 4-6pm on Fridays, usually followed by a dinner. Additionally, Governors are expected to join at least one sub-committee, which also meet three times per year. Sub-committee meetings generally take place during the working week at 8:30am. Governors are also asked to attend one or two events per year, such as concerts and open days. Other requirements might include an occasional health and safety walkabout or lesson observation. The role is unremunerated, however reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed.

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

To read the Badminton School Safeguarding Children Policy, please click here where you can download the policy. Badminton is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

It is anticipated that Governors will regularly visit School and be part of the school community. It is important for the Governors to meet staff wherever possible, and groups of pupils, when the opportunities are offered. This may involve unsupervised contact with pupils. Accordingly, the School will require all Governors to have a satisfactory enhanced DBS and children’s barred list check, and a satisfactory overseas check where necessary.

Governors should live close enough to Bristol that they are able to make a regular contribution to the life of the School. 

Badminton School is an equal opportunities employer with a firm commitment to diversity and inclusion. As such, it welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from under-represented backgrounds can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.