The Head of Boarding will also have oversight of the residential environment and boarding premises, ensuring that issues are identified, prioritized, communicated, and followed through appropriately.

This Will Include:

• Maintaining a good understanding of the condition and day-to-day requirements of the boarding accommodation.
• Carrying out or coordinating appropriate checks of residential areas.
• Identifying maintenance, security, or health and safety concerns.
• Working closely with the Facilities team to ensure issues are resolved appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Monitoring standards across bedrooms, communal areas, and the wider residential environment.
• Ensuring appropriate records, actions, and follow-up are maintained where required.

The Head of Boarding will ensure appropriate cover is maintained when House Parents are unavailable due to sickness, off-site duties, or other operational circumstances. This includes providing contingency cover for the boarding duty phone personally when required, which may occasionally extend overnight.

The postholder should continually look for ways to make boarding systems simpler, safer, more efficient, and more student-focused.

Communicate and Contribute Across the School

For many of our families, their child may be living thousands of miles from home. Clear, sensitive, and proactive communication is therefore an important part of the role.

The Head Of Boarding Will:

• Maintain strong communication with parents and families regarding significant residential and pastoral matters.
• Ensure boarding colleagues communicate professionally and consistently with families.
• Act as the main boarding contact for more complex or escalated concerns.
• Work closely with Pathway Managers, academic colleagues, and other pastoral staff.
• Work collaboratively with Admissions and Enrolment teams to support prospective and incoming students.
• Contribute to campus visits, Welcome Days, Open Days, and other School events.
• Maintain effective relationships with Facilities, Catering, and other operational teams.
• Contribute boarding, pastoral, and operational expertise to relevant School projects and improvement priorities.

As part of a small school community, the Head of Boarding will have opportunities to contribute to areas beyond the immediate boarding remit and broaden their leadership experience.

Compliance, Health & Safety, and Quality

The Head Of Boarding Will:

• Ensure boarding operates in accordance with relevant safeguarding, health, and safety, residential, and School requirements.
• Maintain a good working understanding of the regulatory requirements that apply to boarding and residential provision.
• Contribute actively to the School's wider health and safety arrangements as they relate to boarding and residential accommodation.
• Ensure appropriate risk assessments are in place, current, and acted upon.
• Maintain and review relevant boarding policies, procedures, and records, working with appropriate colleagues across the School.
• Contribute to the review and implementation of safeguarding, health and safety, and operational policies where these relate to boarding.
• Ensure boarding staff understand and consistently follow School policies and procedures.
• Maintain effective arrangements for student whereabouts, security, emergencies, and overnight supervision.
• Contribute confidently to inspection preparation, compliance reviews, and evidence gathering.
• Ensure that identified compliance or safety actions are followed through to completion.
• Monitor incidents and patterns to identify emerging concerns or areas for improvement.
• Maintain consistently high standards across the boarding provision.

Essential

Qualifications

We Are Looking For Someone Who Can Demonstrate:

• Strong experience in boarding, pastoral care, residential education, or a closely related environment.
• Successful experience of leading and developing people.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and a clear commitment to the welfare of young people.
• A genuine enjoyment of working with students aged 16–19.
• Warmth, empathy, and the ability to build strong relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries.
• Good judgement and the ability to remain calm and make appropriate decisions in challenging situations.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work confidently with international students and families from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
• A proactive approach to solving problems and improving provision.
• An understanding of the importance of health and safety, compliance, and effective premises management within a residential environment.
• The ability to work collaboratively across academic, pastoral, and operational teams.
• High expectations of themselves, colleagues, and students.
• Professional curiosity and an interest in continuing to develop as a leader.
• A willingness to work evenings, weekends, and provide additional boarding cover when required.

Desirable

It Would Be Particularly Advantageous To Have:

• Experience within an international or boarding school.
• Previous experience as a Head or Deputy Head of Boarding, Senior House Parent, Housemaster/Housemistress, or pastoral leader.
• DDSL or DSL experience.
• Experience of inspection, regulatory compliance, or quality assurance.
• Experience overseeing residential premises, facilities, or estates-related matters, including identifying issues and working with facilities or maintenance teams to ensure resolution.
• Experience contributing to health and safety management, risk assessment, or operational safety within a school, residential, or comparable setting.
• Experience reviewing, developing, or implementing safeguarding, health and safety, or operational policies.
• Experience leading improvement projects or contributing to a School Development Plan.
• Broader operational leadership experience within a school or comparable organization.
• Experience working with international students and families.
• Relevant boarding, pastoral, safeguarding, health and safety, education, or leadership qualifications.
• An interest, skill, or hobby that could contribute positively to student and boarding life.