HEBRON SCHOOL

LUSHINGTON HALL, OOTACAMUND, NILGIRIS, TN643 001 INDIA

Summary information for potential STAFF members

Thank you for your interest in Hebron School. What follows below is a summary of our ‘terms and conditions’ for Staff. Please note that this paper is merely designed to give you a fuller understand of what it would be like to serve at Hebron – this summary should not be taken as a legally binding document! For further information about the School please consult the following:

v      Hebron School official website: www.hebronooty.org

v      Alastair Reid, the Principal:

o        Email: principal@hebronooty.org

o        Phone: (+91) 423 2442372 or 2442587 or 2450770

o        Fax: (+91) 423 2441295

v      Hebron link persons: please see the website ‘contacts’ page for names

Professional Staff – essential criteria:

Ø      Committed evangelical Christian (but Hebron is non-denominational and not run by any single Church or Mission organisation)

Ø      Relevant degree and teaching qualification (and, preferably, some teaching experience but we will consider newly qualified teachers)

Ø      Fluent in English

Ø      Evidence of competence with the English National Curriculum (or understanding of it and a willingness to learn)

Ø      Good references / police check

Ø      Adaptable, reliable, a servant heart

Ø      Willing to enter fully into the life of a demanding, busy and fulfilling residential school: staff are expected to be additionally involved in pastoral care and / or extra-curricular activities such as sport, outward bounds, clubs, drama, music. If you are interested in Dorm Parenting then please understand that we also expect some involvement in other areas of Hebron life. Couples are jointly expected to involve themselves unless there are very young children. Hebron is a family school and so families find themselves drawn into our vibrant and purposeful life. 

Information for potential nurses working at Hebron

Professional staff – conditions of service:

            Staff usually come with a sense of call, if not to Hebron then to Christian service overseas. Hebron continues to play a vital role in supporting parents involved in some area of Christian service in many different countries. We have around 350 students (aged 5 to 19 years), 90% of whom board, from 20+ nationalities who live in as many countries. Our staff are both Indian nationals and expatriates, the latter currently coming from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, the USA and Sweden. Around 60% of our students come from Christian service families; the rest are from ‘business’ families, some from Christian homes and some not. We welcome everyone irrespective of faith, creed, caste and race.

Staff serve for ‘sacrificial salaries’ which is exactly the same for all no matter what position is held in the school (including the Principal, Dorm Parents, Heads of Department, Classroom Teachers). This means that the monthly salary, paid in Indian rupees, is the equivalent of a local teacher’s wage and equates to around 80 pounds sterling (per month) and around 70 pounds for a ‘spouse allowance’, where appropriate. This amount is perfectly adequate for normal living expenses especially when it is considered that full board and furnished lodging is provided all year round. However, most staff come with a measure of home support from friends, family, a church and, in some cases, partnership with a Christian organisation (such as Interserve). This support is necessary for holiday times. The School does not pay for the initial flight out to India but will pay the return flight at the end of the contract period and then back out to India again if the contract is renewed. The School has a comprehensive medical scheme which is perfectly adequate for most medical conditions and emergencies but, if necessary, the School will repatriate someone. There is no pension scheme and expatriate staff are encouraged to continue with a home pension, where possible, and payments into National Insurance (or the equivalent). There is free schooling for two children and vastly reduced fees for others – classes are small and standards are high. Clearly there are some constraints where ‘western’ living standards are concerned but the compensations are immeasurable!

Staff application procedure:     

            Prospective staff are asked to fill in the ‘preliminary staff application form’ which can be found on the school website (or direct from Hebron) and return this as soon as possible to the Principal. If this seems suitable then the Principal will ask you to fill in the full forms, take up references and ask you to an interview in your own country. This is conducted by our Hebron Link representatives with the assistance of former staff members (and the Principal whenever possible). The final decision to appoint lies with the Hebron Schools’ Council which receives a report from the interview panel along with all the other relevant paperwork. Please note that this process can take from 6 to 8 weeks. It may try your patience and sense of humour – but these are other essential characteristics for Hebron staff! We normally expect a three-year contract in the first instance with it becoming renewable at two-year intervals thereafter. Occasionally shorter periods can be negotiated.

After appointment:

            We will arrange wherever possible for you to have a long weekend of orientation in your home country with our Link representatives and other staff members and families. This is usually a couple of weeks before leaving for India. In this time you will be helped to apply for a visa (another process which is guaranteed to strengthen your patience!) and given advice about what to bring, how to freight goods, etc. You will be asked to arrive in India about 2 weeks before the term begins (early August or late January – we have a two-term year) so that you can have a week of Hebron orientation, join the Staff Retreat and then prepare for the arrival of the students. Term then runs through from around August 12^th to December 18^th (with a nine-day break in October) and then February 8^th to June 18^th (with a nine-day break in April). The short breaks are ideal for beach holidays, walks in the hills, shopping in Bangalore or simply relaxing at Hebron. The longer holidays give plenty of time to tour India (or other parts of Asia) and even to visit some of the places where our parents are serving. The Hebron year is busy but immensely fulfilling and challenging!

Length of service:    

            Hebron values long-term commitment (some staff members have served here for 20 years or more) but recognises that this is not always possible. On ‘average’ staff come for around 3-5 years, a few for one year and a number for 5-10 years. It is a super place for a family to grow up.

We commend Hebron to you most warmly.

Alastair and Rosalyn Reid