Birmingham Cathedral are seeking of Head of Learning to harness all the opportunities presented by working in Europe’s youngest city, to engage with children, their families, and all those in education, both within the Cathedral and Cathedral Square, and in their own schools
and communities.

Birmingham Cathedral is the oldest building in the city centre still used for its
original purpose. We are home to some remarkable treasures, as well as the
largest green space in central Birmingham. Our cathedral is free to visit, and and
attracts over 100,00 people a year.

Our visitors come to us for many different reasons - including to attend services, pray,
reflect, light candles, learn about our heritage, take part in key civic events, and to enjoy
a range of concerts and events held in our building or Cathedral Square throughout the
year.

We are a Christian Church of the Anglican Communion and seat of the Bishop of
Birmingham. We offer corporate worship of The Church of England, enriched by the
Anglican choral tradition. Christian worship is at the heart of the cathedral’s life as we
offer to God our praises and prayers. Everyone is welcome to attend any of our public
services, as we rejoice in the diversity of the communities we serve and promote
inclusion as widely as possible.

Birmingham Cathedral Chapter place the safeguarding of all who worship at and
visit us as their highest priority. This particularly includes children and at risk adults.
As a Church of England Parish Church Cathedral we work closely with our Diocesan
Safeguarding colleagues to ensure our practices and policies are providing a safe
environment for all. The Cathedral has a Safeguarding Team, made up of both staff
and volunteers, who meet quarterly to review best practice, policy and to ensure that
safeguarding remains at the forefront of all our work and mission.

We are looking for a confident, dynamic, and experienced individual to take on the
exciting role of Head of Learning.

In this role you will seek to harness all the opportunities presented by working
in Europe’s youngest city, to engage with children, their families, and all those in
education, both within the Cathedral and Cathedral Square, and in their own schools
and communities.

You will work with colleagues to develop the work of the cathedral in learning and in
the education of children and young people, aligning this with the cathedral’s Pray,
Serve, Grow Strategic Plan.

• Responsible for building on and expanding the work of our existing team of
Education Guides who provide excellent opportunities for children of all faiths and
none to visit Birmingham Cathedral, and experience engaging and memorable
teaching of the principles of Christianity and Christian worship. The new Head of
Learning will work with the Visitor Experience Co-ordinator to recruit, manage, train
and resource the team of voluntary guides.

• Work creatively to design, develop, promote and deliver a variety of age-appropriate
learning opportunities for children and families visiting the cathedral and Cathedral
Square. This will involve working with other members of the cathedral team to
deliver creatively against our strategic aims.

• Create opportunities for children within the congregation to experience a holistic
Christian education. Engage with the Cathedral’s boy and girl choristers (and their
families) to encourage their Christian education and spiritual growth.

• Build and support a team of volunteers to grow and resource our existing Children’s
Church. This will involve relaunching Children’s Church which paused during the
pandemic.

• Collaborate with the cathedral’s Music Department in their outreach programme.

• Engage with educational establishments and their staff in the diocese and city
region to deliver excellent educational opportunities and innovative examples of
partnership working. This will include: responding pro-actively and creatively to the
needs of each school or college and the requirements of its particular curriculum;
the preparation of materials and schemes of work for use by schools and colleges
including web-based resources, and the need to organise timetables, activities, and
guides for school visits to meet the learning objectives of children and young people
and to take a leading role in teaching.

• Work with the wider Cathedral team (staff, volunteers, and congregation) to
ensure the fulfilment of Chapter’s strategy and vision and to undertake any other
reasonable duties and responsibilities as may be required by Chapter.

We are looking for a person with vision and ambition to lead our work with schools,
children, and young people. The person appointed will be able to demonstrate they
meet the following criteria:
• A baptised Christian and a member of a church in communion with CTBI with a
strong sense of empathy with the mission and vision of the cathedral, including its
faith and spiritual values.
• Good educational background, including a minimum first degree, ideally in a
relevant discipline.
• Teaching qualification at Primary, Senior or Further Education level or equivalent
qualification
• Ability to work flexibly (including evenings with choirs / Sunday worship / Christian
holidays); to be agreed by your line manager.
• An excellent team leader, motivating and guiding staff, committed to collaborative
working and able to develop the potential of team members.
• An excellent team player across a range of disciplines.
• A robust understanding of safeguarding and evidence of leading a culture that
prioritizes safeguarding.
• Capable of working strategically and collaboratively.
• Ability to inspire and teach children and adults within an educational context and be
able to demonstrate good subject/curriculum knowledge.
• Administrative competency and ability to demonstrate sound organisational skills
and use of IT.

Terms and Conditions

Responsible to: CEO
Hours: 24 hours (flexibility essential to include daytime, evening & weekend working) We envisage this as a 3 day a week post.
Salary: £26,923 FTE (£17,463 Actual).
Pension: 8% Employer’s Contributory Pension subject to meeting auto enrolment criteria.
Annual leave: 23.5 days (including public and statutory holidays) based on a 3-day working week.
This role is subject to a 3-month probationary period.

The Head of Learning will build upon and strengthen the cathedral’s existing work with
children and young people, particularly in facilitating visits to the cathedral by schools.
The Head of Learning will seek to build relationships with schools, colleges, and other
educational organisations in the diocese and the city region to deliver excellent and
innovative examples of partnership working.

The cathedral has a holistic view of education and learning. You will work closely
with the Canon Missioner, supporting the expansion of work in adult education in the
congregation and beyond to the needs of children, young people and families.

It is a working requirement of this role that you are a baptised Christian and a
member of a Church in communion with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

Deadline for Applications: 7th June 2023

Interviews: 23rd June 2023