Junior School Head of Boarders

Gordonstoun has been leading the way in character education for more than 80 years.  Our uniquely broad curriculum provides challenge in the classroom, on the sea and on the mountain, on the stage and on the sports field and enables students to discover the truth in our motto – Plus Est En Vous – there is more in you.  Situated on the stunning Moray Firth with its sunny microclimate, the school offers a superb quality of life for staff and their families  

The Junior School at Gordonstoun is set in the beautiful rural surroundings of the Gordonstoun Campus, with the fantastic outdoor opportunities of Morayshire on its doorstep.  The Junior School has its own designated playing fields, woods and tennis courts as well as the excellent resources and facilities of the senior school to draw upon, including the George Welsh Sports centre swimming pool, music department, various academic departments and the school’s Ogstoun Theatre.  

The Junior School itself is a modern purpose built building comprising of a large assembly hall, 9 classrooms, a science lab and 10 dormitories and is both a home and school to children aged 6 to 13.  It is also home to the Head of Junior School and his family, the Head of Boarding and our two Junior School Assistants.  There are 110 children in the school with approximately a fifth of the children from overseas.  There are almost 40 boarders and there are around a dozen flexi boarders who board on various nights during the week.  The boarding house is co-educational, with separate ends for girls and boys.  

The dedicated staff offer a wide range of run and challenging activities to broaden the children’s experiences; inspire the children to learn and pursue their passions; show empathy towards others and demonstrate moral courage and responsibility. The children are well supported with an excellent pastoral team of Form Teachers, Matrons, Junior School Assistants, Head of Boarding and the Head of Junior School and his wife. The boarding house is a vibrant ‘home from home’ where a positive and supportive ethos prevails.  We are seeking to appoint a Head of Boarders (Maternity cover).  The successful candidate will have an interest in, and experience of, pastoral care and an understanding of the school’s ethos.  

We are looking for a dynamic, committed and inspirational individual.  You will be responsible for creating a nurturing and safe environment for our junior boarders and ensuring that our boarding provision is compliant with current inspection legislation and meets the needs of 21st century boarders.  The successful candidate will be an experienced teacher with a minimum of three years experience in a pastoral role preferably as a Housemaster/Housemistress or equivalent post and a thorough knowledge of safeguarding requirements.  An excellent communicator with highly developed influencing skills, you must have the ability to inspire and motivate others.  Empathy, enthusiasm and a positive, can-do attitude are all essential characteristics.