Formed as Catholic educators
All new members, even those intending to stay for just a year, receive a basic training in the principles of Catholic educational theory and practise, leading to the award of a “Post-Graduate Certificate in Catholic Education” issued by the Chavagnes Studium. Other courses of professional development or further academic study (such as Latin and Greek) are agreed on a case by case basis. Instrumental music tuition is also available.
Qualified Teacher Status
It is also possible to obtain UK government QTS (qualified teacher status) for those who are with us for 2 years.
Excellent career prospects
In 2016 one of our members, who had been with us for four years, received a Masters of Education (sponsored by the community) and is now teaching in a French school; two others received PGCE degrees in 2016 from Buckingham University, one of them going on to employment as Assistant Head of Department in a leading HMC school. The other has stayed with us for another year and recently obtained a PGDip (Post-graduate Diploma in Classics) from the University of Wales.
In the past several former members have gone directly to employment in leading HMC schools back in the UK. All of them had their teaching training organised and sponsored by the College, in association with the University of Buckingham. One of our former members was appointed Deputy Head in another school within five years of leaving us; another has recently been appointed a Housemaster at a prestigious UK boarding school.
Discover the cutting edge of Christian life and find your vocation
It is so easy to separate one’s faith from one’s everyday life, but at Chavagnes one cannot do that. Every boy looks to you for example and inspiration and every day at Mass one is called to examine one’s conscience, to ask for grace, to strive for holiness. We call boys to be leaders; if they are going to be “officers and gentlemen” in the good fight, then we the teachers need to be their captains and generals. All the lessons of community living are part of everyday life in a boarding school: forgiveness, kindness, patience, hard work … they are all values and virtues that one has no choice but to develop. It is a school of virtue for everyone, boys and Masters alike. In such an environment, the call to Christian discipleship is heard loud and clear, and young men discover their vocations: our former members have gone on to seminary, to teaching, to marriage. Everyone’s path is different, but all have the same destination.