Head of Boarding

Location

Sidmouth, Devon | United Kingdom

Job description

Job Description

Head of Boarding to lead our residential team and to liaise with our sister schools and agents around the world to promote Boarding whilst offering a caring, safe, and positive environment for Boarders between 11 and 16 years.

Reports to: Head of School

Hours: Full-time. Expected Commitment (can be negotiated): 4 to 5 nights per week and every other weekend. Set time off to be discussed with the Head of School. 

Salary: To be discussed at the interview. Likely to be in the region of £25-27.5k (non-teaching). 

The duties and responsibilities below are illustrative. The position holder will be expected to become involved in a range of work on occasions that may not be shown below:

The successful candidate will:

• Take overall responsibility for the creation of a homely, family atmosphere within the Boarding House that retains the St John’s ethos and expectations with regard to personal conduct, self-discipline and relations – leading by example.
• Be able to demonstrate awareness of all relevant legislation such as National Minimum Standards for Boarding (by regular updating of the school’s NMS checklist), KCSIE, Safeguarding, Health and Safety, along with safe practice within an outdoor environment or visit and in line with School policies, ensuring compliance at all times.
• Have overseas experience in Boarding and know the realities of children’s anxieties crossing national borders, being away from home, and being able to provide a caring, learning environment for them.
• Organise weekend activities (solely) and evening activities (in liaison with the boarding team) with due regard for associated risk assessments. 
• Show proven experience of working with young people, with an appropriate knowledge of strategies of TEFL / 2nd language learning. The ideal candidate would be able to demonstrate and explain examples of student work, assignments, as well as GCSE results.
• Help to promote Boarding, and find ways to provide excellence on site and in weekend activities, while clearly maintaining a strict budget.
• Have overall responsibility for the successful induction of all new boarders and new boarding staff. 
• Liaise with Admissions and Transport to organise pick ups and drop offs, with Safeguarding always at the top of the agenda.
• Send regular and targeted updates to parents via email. 
• Update the boarding mobile with student phone numbers on a termly basis; in order to easily liaise with students during excursions, Sidmouth/Exeter trips, etc…
• Maintain contact with overseas’ Admissions Officers and co-ordinators of international programmes.
• Have overall responsibility for the safety / security of the Boarding House, liaising with the Maintenance team / Head of School, where necessary.
• Devise and issue the staff duty rotas for each term (early evening, evening and weekend rotas).
• Promote a varied approach to the evening boarding activities, liaising with duty staff as necessary.
• Maintain on-going statistics of boarding that will allow analysis of take up, gender balance, the need for / success of different promotions etc.
• Lead a team of Graduate Resident Assistants, the Day Matron, the School Nurse and staff members taking evening duties, to lead by example and take responsibility for all aspects of Boarding supervision, safety and wellbeing. (You are not the line manager for the Day Matron or the School Nurse.)
• Be First Aid, OPUS and Safeguarding trained and, ideally, possess a Poolside First Aid Qualification, as well as Health and Safety awareness – or to be willing to undertake these courses paid for by the School.
• Promote excellent, pro-active communication between the Boarding team, Day Matron, School Nurse, Head of School, School staff and home.
• In liaison with the Day Matron and the School Nurse, observe each child and monitor their overall health – physical and emotional – development, general demeanour. This will include general cleanliness and a weekly check for head lice.
• Keep relevant records as requested by the Head of School, most notably the school’s NMS checklist. 
• Administer First Aid and medicines if the Day Matron is not on duty.
• Understand the School’s Fire and Evacuation Policy, with particular reference to night-time evacuation.
• Write formal end-of-term reports on the boarders.
• Have a great sense of humour and be hardworking, leading by example. 
• Have a positive, ‘can do’ attitude with staff and children, be an effective, flexible team player, valuing every aspect of the life of the School, with the realisation that at times of the year, Boarding can be a very time-intensive and pressurised environment, with essential weekend work.
• Be punctual and articulate when writing reports and pastoral referrals, but at the same time understand the need for simple, concise and often repeated instructions to Boarders learning English (for safety etc). 
• Play a full part in the life of the school, leading weekend Boarding excursions, and attend all Parents’ consultation and PTFA evenings with additional communication for Boarding families.
• Update (as necessary) and adhere very closely to the SJS Boarding Handbook. 
• Take on the role of DDSL (with specific reference to Boarding) and attend weekly safeguarding meetings. 
• Become a member of the Senior Management Team and attend weekly SMT meetings. 
• From time to time, be able to transport students to booked or emergency hospital or doctor appointments. 

Job tags

Salary

£25k - £27k per annum