PART I: ABOUT THE DUNCAN LOUIS STEWART FELLOW IN NATURAL HISTORY
Founded in 1870, the Natural History Society (NHS) is among the very oldest of Winchester College’s societies. The arrival of Duncan Stewart, in 2003, saw the NHS acquire a new lease of life, after somewhat lean times, and become the best-supported society in the School. A full programme of termly trips was instigated, the library was restocked and equipment updated. Duncan’s enthusiasm and determination set a template for others to follow.
Duncan Stewart (G, 2003-08) was just eighteen when he was tragically killed in a road traffic accident. He had been working as a marine biologist during his gap year in Argyll. Growing up in Scotland, Duncan had a passion for the outdoors and particularly enjoyed scuba diving, tennis, snorkelling, bird-watching, and climbing. He was able to pursue his love of fishing at Winchester with many summer days and evenings spent on the River Itchen. Duncan kept meticulous journals and notebooks of his observations in nature and worked on organising the Winchester College Natural History collections, helping to organise, index, collate and make extensive drawings of the specimens.
The school’s connection to Sir David Attenborough has been established over many years. This started when Duncan invited Sir David to speak to the NHS. As a result of this, Sir David subsequently became the society's Honorary President and remains an Honorary Patron to this day. Duncan wrote in his invitation letter to Sir David:
‘The Winchester College NHS aims to educate the boys about the extraordinary biodiversity of Hampshire, southern England and the world.’
David and Kim Stewart have worked extensively with the school to build a legacy for Duncan's passion for the natural world. In 2009, the College established the annual Duncan Louis Stewart Natural History Lecture. In 2015, the Stewart family and other generous donors endowed Winchester with a fund to support the Duncan Louis Stewart Natural History Fellowship in his memory. The aim of the fellowship is to make the natural world relevant to all pupils, in all areas of study. It encourages Wykehamists to observe, study, comprehend and care about the natural world around them, to attract and encourage polymathic thinking and discussion about our shared natural world. The Duncan Louis Stewart Natural History Fellow will work alongside all departments.
Key aim of the Duncan Louis Stewart Fellowship in Natural History:
To engender the largest possible number of pupils a deeper knowledge, love and respect for, ecology, the environment and the natural world around them.
PART II: ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DUNCAN LOUIS STEWART FELLOW
The key role and responsibility of the fellow will be to inspire and facilitate the pupils, and the school, as we grow and increase our contribution to, and general awareness of the natural world around us. Winchester College aims to contribute to caring for and protecting our natural world and planet well beyond our own boundaries.
Responsible to: The Director of Studies through the Heads of Biology and Geography.
They will achieve the above key aim through:
a) Planning and organising a range of activities on a weekly basis including:
b) Leading a weekly natural history activity for pupils focused on project work in the immediate surroundings of the College. This will involve publicising and keeping accurate records of findings. Activities may include but not be limited to:
c) Building and maintaining links via the activities listed above with local wildlife organisations and the wider community.
d) Attending a number of field trips, both residential and non-residential, either as a helper who can significantly boost pupil engagement with natural history or as the principal organiser of inspiring nature focused trips. These will include:
Nature based trips such as:
Attending fieldwork associated with the teaching of Geography, such as:
Attending fieldwork associated with the teaching of Biology, such as:
Engaging with teaching staff in order to:
PART III: PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
The successful candidate will be/have:
Key Qualities
PART IV: BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND APPLICATION
Start Date
The College is looking to make an appointment to start in January 2022.
Salary
The salary will be in circa £30,000 per annum. Salary levels are reviewed annually on 1 September and this salary will next be reviewed in September 2022.
Hours of Work
This is a full-time role during term time, 32 weeks of the year, with an element of work during the holiday period not exceeding 4 weeks per academic programme. Normal working hours will be 37.5 hours per week spread over Monday to Saturday. The School is open for approximately 26 Saturdays during the year, with occasional Sunday and evening working depending on the availability of pupils.
Length of Contract
This position is in the first instance for a two-year term due to the aims of the role on its inception to offer different perspectives and skills on a two-year cycle.
Probation, Notice Periods
The first four months of employment will be a probationary period. During this time, conduct and performance will be reviewed. The College may extend the probationary period if it is deemed to be required. During the probationary period the notice required to terminate employment will be one week (by either the employee or employer). The notice will increase upon the successful completion of the probationary period.
Induction and Continuous Training and Development
The school is fully committed to the induction, training and development of all our staff, with staff supported to grow and reach their full potential.
We deliver a range of training, run by both our own staff and external providers, varying from highly practical First Aid courses to seminars and learning lunches on many aspects of teaching and learning.
There is an annual cycle of appraisal offering the opportunity to reflect on professional practice and development opportunities.
Pension and Life Cover
On employment, employees will be auto-enrolled into the College’s pension scheme according to legislative thresholds. Those who are not eligible for auto-enrolment may still elect to join the College’s pension scheme. Initially, when joining the College’s pension scheme, employees will become a member of the College’s Group Personal Pension Plan (GPP). For this Plan, known as Tier 1, currently the employee contributes 4% and the employer 3%.
After nine months’ membership of the Tier 1 plan employees may opt to join Tier 2, which is also a Group Personal Pension Plan but contribution rates are 5% from the employee and 9% from the College. Employees in Tier 1 automatically qualify for a Life Cover of 2 times salary. On entry to Tier 2 Life Cover changes to 4 times salary.
Annual Leave
The College leave year runs from 1 September to 31 August. All leave must be taken by prior arrangement and must be taken outside of the school’s term times.
Subject to the discretion of the school’s Bursar, a gift may also be given of extra time off during the Christmas period.
Sports Facilities
The school offers all staff free access to its sports facilities, including a gym, tennis courts and early in 2023, a new 25m swimming pool will be available. Exercise classes, including spinning and circuits are also offered.
Wider Benefits
Winchester College is situated in the heart of beautiful, historic Winchester. Staff are offered a free tour of the College, with discounted rates available for booking venues within the school’s grounds for hospitality events.
Disclosure Check
As Winchester College is an educational establishment, a condition of employment will be that the successful candidate must consent to the school obtaining an Enhanced Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service. This will reveal all spent and unspent convictions, warnings, cautions and bind-overs. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on the school’s website.
Safeguarding is one of the prime responsibilities of this role. The jobholder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact with, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times. The Duncan Louis Stewart Fellow should be conversant with the responsibilities and procedures detailed in this policy and with the Department for Education’s Keeping Children Safe in Education. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the Duncan Louis Stewart Fellow becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, they must report any concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or in their absence the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
References and Other Pre-employment Checks
The appointment will be dependent on the receipt of a successful medical check and satisfactory references. The College will usually seek references from shortlisted candidates before interview and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications. At least one referee must be the current or most recent employer. Where applicants are not currently working with children but have done so in the past, one referee must be the person by whom they were most recently employed when working with children.