Bristol Steiner School is seeking an enthusiastic new Chair to provide overall strategic leadership to the School and Governing Body, as well as an experienced finance professional with a passion for education to become the Chair of its Finance Committee. (Deadline: 27 February)
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Bristol Steiner School (BSS) is an independent day school - currently for children aged three to eleven - but with ambitious plans to grow. Grounded in the Steiner Waldorf educational philosophy, the School seeks to nurture academically successful, confident, happy, healthy, resilient and socially-conscious children who are equipped to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world. With around 95 children on roll, this is a proudly 'human scale' school, resonant of a village school environment, which is able to provide highly attentive, individual care to its pupils. The School is housed in a characterful Edwardian building in the Redland Hill area of north Bristol.
Rudolph Steiner was an Austrian academic and philosopher who applied his ideas to agriculture, medicine, architecture and social reform, as well as to education. The first Steiner School opened in the early 20th century, and today the movement extends worldwide. The priority of the Steiner ethos is to provide an unhurried and creative learning environment where children can find the joy in learning, and experience the richness of childhood rather than early specialisation or academic 'hot-housing'. The curriculum itself is a flexible set of pedagogical guidelines, founded on Steiner principles that take account of the whole child. It is designed to work in harmony with the different phases of the child's development. At Bristol Steiner School, there is an authentic and tangible sense of community and culture that not only cultivates excellence, but creates a safe environment in which the children can be curious. Opportunities to explore are embedded throughout the curriculum and discretely encourage skills of independence, resilience and respect. Reciprocity is deliberately promoted between children, staff and the interactions that exist between each other.
As it looks to the future, BSS is focused on maintaining and improving its current 'Good' Ofsted rating (2019), while continuing to secure its financial position. It will be Bristol's contemporary Steiner School, offering a quality, affordable education to families seeking an alternative to mainstream schooling. It will be recognised nationally as a beacon of balanced, whole-child education. The future for BSS is very bright. In the immediate future, the School is excited to be opening a pre-nursery section in the spring, and a Middle School for ages 11-14 in September 2023.
Chair
Bristol Steiner School seeks a new Chair to lead the Governing Body and guide the overall strategic direction of the School. The Chair will also act as an ambassador, representing the School to external stakeholders, including Ofsted and the Local Authority.
The Chair will lead the Board in its execution of the following three core strategic functions:
With a pre-nursery section opening in the spring and a Middle School opening in September 2023, the new Chair will oversee a period of growth and consolidation for Bristol Steiner School as it seeks to secure its position as Bristol's contemporary Steiner School.
Chair of Finance Committee
Bristol Steiner School seeks a new Trustee who will also Chair the Board's Finance Committee.
As Chair, this Trustee will lead the Finance Committee in reviewing and recommending the School's short, medium and long-term financial plan and annual budget.
The Board has the following three core strategic functions:
With a pre-nursery section opening in the spring and a Middle School opening in September 2023, the new Chair of the Finance Committee will play a key role during a period of growth and consolidation for Bristol Steiner School as it seeks to secure its position as Bristol's contemporary Steiner School.
Chair
Later this year, James Wetz will be stepping away from Bristol Steiner School following a successful term as Chair of the Governing Body. The Governing Body is therefore seeking an enthusiastic, committed leader to succeed him.
The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking, progressive and inclusive leader. Applicants from any background and sector are welcome to apply, provided they have operated at a senior, strategic level. Though they need not be an educator themselves, the Chair will bring an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the education sector, and the independent schools sector in particular. They should recognise that in order to best serve its families, the School must operate successfully as a business.
Above all, applicants must be sympathetic towards the unique educational values of the School, and commit to embodying those values as an ambassador for the School. First-time non-executives and Chairs are encouraged to apply.
As the Chair will need to spend time at the School, it is preferred that they live within 90 minutes travel of north Bristol, and ideally will know the area.
Chair of Finance Committee
Bristol Steiner School is seeking an experienced finance professional to join its Governing Body and Chair the Finance Committee.
Successful applicants will possess strategic-level experience in financial management. They may be working within the finance function of a successful organisation, or they may be a consultant in a professional services environment. Candidates will ideally be qualified accountants, however this is not essential provided they are a practicing finance professional. Candidates should recognise that in order to best serve BSS families, the School must operate successfully as a business. The successful candidate will bring an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the education sector, and the independent schools sector in particular.
Above all, candidates must be sympathetic towards the unique educational values of Bristol Steiner School, and commit to embodying those values as an ambassador for the School.
First-time non-executives and Committee Chairs are encouraged to apply.
The Chair of the Finance Committee will need to spend time at the School. As such it is preferred that they live within 90 minutes travel of north Bristol, and ideally will know the area.
A full list of current Trustees can be found here.
There are four main Board meetings per year - one per quarter - which are immediately preceded by Finance Committee meetings. The Chair will also be expected to sit on one of the two Committees: Standards, which meets six times per year; or Finance, which meets four times per year. Meetings take place in person at the School, but are usually hybrid in format and Trustees are welcome to dial in when necessary. Additionally, there is an Annual General Meeting, which lasts the whole day and takes place in person, plus ad hoc engagements and visits to the School.
Both Chair and Chair of Finance Committee appointments are for an initial three year term which can be renewed up to three times at the discretion of the Board. These roles are unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed.
Candidates need not be based in Bristol, however they should live within a reasonable commuting distance of the School in order to attend occasional meetings and visit the School.
The deadline for consideration is 27 February 2023.
If you would like to register your interest in this role, please fill in the form below. A member of the Nurole team will be in touch ahead of the deadline to let you know whether it would be worth submitting an application and to discuss the process further.