Further Particulars - Hornbill School Website

HORNBILL SCHOOL
British Forces Brunei, BFPO 11
Tel (00 673) 3224101 ext 3214
‘Flying High’
Working Together to
Build a Successful
Future for All
Fax (00 673) 3222133
Foundation Site Tel/Fax: 3333225
Email: office.hornbill@sceschools.com
www.hornbillschool.com
Headteacher: Mrs Kathy Wood MBE MEd
Information for
Applicants
Service Children’s Education is an Agency of the Ministry of Defence
Chief Executive Mrs Lynda Fisher M.Sc. M.Ed. Hons

APPOINTMENT DETAILS
These are permanent posts with Service Children’s Education (SCE). After a minimum period
of 2 years at Hornbill School (with a probationary period of 12 months), if it is in the
management interest, there is a possibility to extend for a further period, which many of our staff
members have done. Alternatively, you may be given Preferential Posting Status, allowing you
priority for vacancies at the same grade in other SCE schools. SCE currently maintains 25
other first or primary schools in Germany, Cyprus and certain other locations e.g. Falklands.
The number of SCE schools is reducing as British Forces withdraw from Germany, with full
withdrawal planned for 2020. Opportunities for transfer to other SCE schools will reduce with
the gradual closure of SCE schools in Germany. Transfer to another SCE school cannot
therefore be guaranteed. Teachers leaving SCE within three years of employment may be
required to repay a proportion of the removal costs.
SALARY
Staff are provided with a highly competitive and attractive package.
Salary mirrors UK pay scales, and includes continued membership of the teachers’ pension
scheme. In addition, teachers receive a Difficult Post Allowance (DPA) (currently £6,334 pa)
and a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). DPA and COLA are variable but both allowances are
tax free. COLA depends on various factors including family size.
Given below are two examples of the type of package you might expect, subject to your
personal circumstances, current pay scale, and any adjustments to COLA or DPA.
UPS3 teacher, married accompanied with two children
UPS 3 salary £36,755
Difficult Post Allowance £6,334 (tax free)
Cost of Living Allowance £12,512 (tax free)
Overseas Transfer Grant £2,258 (tax free, initial payment only)
M6 teacher, single
M6 salary £31,552
Difficult Post Allowance £6,334 (tax free)
Cost of Living Allowance £8,156 (tax free)
Overseas Transfer Grant £1,373 (tax free, initial payment only)
FREE ACCOMMODATION AND UTILITIES, PLUS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Further benefits include:
• free accommodation and utilities for the first five years,
• a free return flight to the UK from the second year onwards,
• shipping of own vehicle from UK (subject to conditions, including that the car must be
right hand drive, less than 3 years old and cannot have tinted windows/privacy glass),
• an initial, tax free Overseas Transfer Grant of £1,373 (single) or £2,258 (married
accompanied).
FREE SHIPPING AND STORAGE
Teaching staff are provided with free shipping of unaccompanied baggage to/from the UK at the
start and end of their contract at Hornbill, in line with the following:
Single/Unaccompanied - 14m³
Married accompanied - 15.5m³
Married accompanied plus 1-3 children - 20m³
Each additional child - 1.5m³

Free storage is available for postings to Brunei.
FREE SCHOOLING – UNLIMITED PLACES
Teachers are also entitled to free primary education at Hornbill School and secondary education
at Jerudong International School (JIS) (in Brunei) or International School Brunei (ISB), for all
their own children. Class sizes remain small and outstanding facilities and resources are
characteristics of all these schools. Fees for placement at JIS/ISB are met by Seria Garrison,
although a modest “Home Savings Contribution” is payable by parents (approximately £360 per
annum). This is a considerable benefit, when considering that fees for the secondary schools
are in the region of £20,000 for tuition fees per annum, in addition to approximately £23,000 in
further costs for weekly boarding. This allowance is available for all children in your family
accompanying you to Brunei.
Please note that JIS/ISB may be unable to meet the full range of special needs, and that the
school does require an admissions test. Further information can be obtained from the school
website: www.jis.edu.bn and www.isb.edu.bn . Children over the age of 18 (unless the child is in
full time education) do not qualify for dependant status.
FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL TREATMENT
Teaching staff and any spouses or children who accompany them have access to the medical
facilities provided by the Garrison and are entitled to free medical and dental treatment.
UP TO DATE AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CPD PROVISION
Hornbill staff maintain an exceptionally strong professional portfolio with many individuals
continuing outstanding classroom based roles or securing leadership posts worldwide. The
school offers extensive opportunities for professional development covering the full tange of
areas relevant to leadership and curriculum. Professional development at Hornbill has been
described by HMI as a considerable strength of the school.
All Hornbill teachers will be provided with training in teaching English as an Additional
Language, and an introduction to the Nepali language and the operation of the Brigade of
Gurkhas.

PARTICULAR ISSUES TO BE BORNE IN MIND BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
TRANSPORT: As accommodation provided may be up to 20 minutes drive from the school and
public transport is very be limited, it is essential that applicants have access to their own daily
transport.
UNMARRIED PARTNERS: Under no circumstances may a Service or Civilian single personnel
and single lone parents co-habit with a partner (who is not their legal spouse) in Single Living
Accommodation or Service Families Accommodation.
SPECIAL NEEDS: The majority of special needs can be met. However, there are some needs
which cannot be met. It is therefore important that you notify us in advance, if you or any
member of your accompanying family have special needs, and obtain further advice before
confirming acceptance of a post with SCE.
SAME SEX PARTNERSHIPS: As Brunei is a Muslim state, same sex partnerships are not
recognized or permitted under Brunei Law.
EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE AND SMALL COMMUNITY: Working and living in such a small
community demands emotional resilience at an individual level as well as the ability to form and
maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries at all levels.
The status of all MOD personnel and their dependants in Brunei is in accordance with the
Memorandum of Understanding agreed by HM The Sultan and HM Government. The fact
that we must comply with Brunei law is set out in this document, as are the waivers.
However, it must be understood that non Service / UKBC MOD personnel, such as Nepali
teachers, do not fall into this category and they must comply with all aspect of Brunei Labour
and Immigration laws.
THE BRUNEI POOL SYSTEM
The BRUNEI Pool provides mainscale teachers for the FS, KS1 and KS2 vacancies. At
interview further information is provided as to what posts are available and for when. We have a
large school and posts usually become available every year.
The Selection Process
The Brunei Pool is advertised nationally in the TES, on the SCE website, and to all SCE
schools. Applications are invited from high quality teachers who have completed a satisfactory
induction year in a mainstream / maintained or SCE School at the time of application.
Once Appointed to the Pool
Any offer of appointment is conditional upon clearances (Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced
Disclosure and Ministry of Defence checks and references). Appointees are advised not to
resign from their current position until all clearances are completed and an offer of appointment
is made.
Timescale in the Pool
Successful appointees may remain eligible in the Brunei Pool for up to two years, so if you are
thinking about moving on during the next academic year, it would be acceptable to apply now.

THE WIDER CONTEXT
Hornbill School is located in Brunei Darussalam, on the North West coast of the tropical island
of Borneo. Brunei is a warm and friendly Islamic country, ruled by the Sultan of Brunei.
The school is both outstanding and unique. It occupies well-resourced new buildings within
Seria Garrison, in the vicinity of the towns of Seria and Kuala Belait, close to the border with
Malaysia. Travelling in the other direction, Seria is approximately two hours’ drive from the
capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
Individuals who are posted to Brunei need to be resourceful and independent, confident of living
in a Muslim state with a tropical climate, and at ease working within a military environment. Life
in Brunei is very pleasant, but not as sophisticated or cosmopolitan as in Europe.
Married teachers with primary school age children are likely to live in the British Officers’
Married Quarters or hirings. Single teachers are likely to be housed in recently renovated 3
bedroom flats. As accommodation provided may be up to 20 minutes drive from the school and
public transport is very be limited, it is essential that applicants have access to their own daily
transport.
Job opportunities for dependants are very limited beyond the School and any opportunities that
may come up at the HQ Brunei Garrison. Schools employ supply teachers and, from time to
time, full time teachers. HQ Brunei Garrison provides a further, if limited, opportunity for
employment, usually for those with secretarial or office experience.
As Brunei is a Muslim country, western restaurants and entertainment options are very limited
and there are no bars. However, Asian cuisine is readily available and reasonably priced. All
teachers appointed to Brunei automatically become eligible to join the British Officers’ Mess,
which runs social functions and events throughout the year, and BBQs and dinner parties are
two other main elements of socialising in Brunei.
Most teachers also take the opportunity to join the Shell Panaga Club, which is essentially a
sports and leisure club. Sport has a very high profile in Brunei and there are numerous sports
offered at Panaga including (amongst others) golf, football, squash, rugby, diving, sailing,
tennis, bowls, weight lifting, yoga, running, pilates, and swimming. There are also a diverse
range of clubs and societies available through Panaga to suit almost any need, including
amateur dramatics, bridge, photography, natural history and quilting to name but a few..
The location of Brunei provides wonderful opportunities for exploring the jungles, mountains and
coastline of north Borneo. School holidays provide the opportunity to explore other exotic
destinations within South East Asia, and Brunei is also a gateway to other ‘trip of a lifetime’
destinations, such as Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
If you are adaptable, resilient, and have a sense of adventure, this is a wonderful opportunity.
Working with the Gurkha community and children of the British Forces is challenging but
extremely rewarding, and there are incredible professional and personal experiences to be had
in Brunei for the right person.