Assistant Headteacher - Boarding

ABOUT GUILDHOUSE SCHOOL Guildhouse School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school serving international students aged 15+. It is located in Bloomsbury Square a few minutes from Holborn station at the heart of London and counts among its neighbours some of the world’s greatest centres of education, art, fashion and finance.

OVERVIEW OF THE JOB

You will lead a team that will ensure the school complies with the Independent Schools’ Standards Regulations (ISSRs), the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Boarding Schools and any other relevant legislation pertaining to students’ accommodation status. In particular, you will lead, develop and own the programme, welfare and safety of students in the school’s boarding facility (Premier House). You will be part of the school’s Safeguarding Team, and as such, will liaise closely with other SLT colleagues, the nurse, the pastoral and administrative teams to ensure that students’ needs and attended to. As a member of the Senor Leadership Team you are required to subscribe to the ideals of ‘Corporate/ Collective Responsibility’. From time to time you will deputise for the Headmaster.

You will be invested in the Head’s leadership and vision for the school, and use your own sense of agency within your remit to drive this forward. You will work to ensure all aspects of the school meet the requirements for ISI inspection, in particular adherence to the Independent Schools’ Standards Regulations and the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools.

REPORTS TO You report directly to the Head.

WHO YOU LINE MANAGE You will direct and hold to account:

• Premier House: House Leader, Senior House Parents, and through them the House Parents

• Graduate Resident Staff

• Boarding Concierge/Reception/Security staff

• Sports and Activities Officer

• Nurse (in partnership with the AH(PPPD))

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB The duties specified are not intended to represent an exhaustive list, and will vary where necessary to suit the skill set of the post holder and the needs of the school (which may be dynamic).

You will be expected to:

Big picture

• work with members of the SLT and, where appropriate, senior colleagues across the CGS Group, to develop, refine and implement the school’s policies and procedures (particularly those with a Boarding focus)

• lead on all Boarding areas of the School Development Plan, including its development and review

• be an excellent role model, in the House and beyond, by being accountable for promoting academic rigour, engagement and perseverance in the pursuit of academic excellence Boarding and Accommodation

• oversee the House Parent Duty Rota and oversee the ‘Rooming’ process (both owned by the House Leader)

• lead and manage the House Leader, Senior House Parents, support their role in managing the House Parent Team to ensure the successful implementation of procedures and rules in the boarding house, and proactively evaluate and improve standards of welfare support for students

• lead on the appointment of boarding staff and assist the Senior Leadership Team with interviewing applicants for more senior posts

• manage the training needs of the boarding staff from induction, CPD and INSET to diploma level

• oversee the application and approval process for Independent Accommodation, liaising with the AH(PPPD) as appropriate. This will include meeting with guardians before approving a request and, if appropriate, whilst the student is residing with them and particularly if attendance and behaviour are giving cause for concern

• take action as needed to support, care for and ensure the safety of students who are not resident in school accommodation

• manage any enquiries and / or requests for host family, fostering or other accommodation requests Safeguarding and Welfare

• be a part of the Safeguarding Team and keep the Assistant Heads, Headmaster and Designated Safeguarding Governor fully informed of any safeguarding concern/risk

• work closely with the LSCB to make sure staff are aware of training opportunities and the latest local policies on safeguarding

• lead in-house training sessions on safeguarding and welfare procedures, including staff safeguarding induction training

• work closely with the AH(PPPD), including through weekly meetings, where concerns of a pastoral and welfare nature cross over

• liaising as appropriate with welfare and pastoral staff, investigate complaints and concerns from students and report findings of all investigations to appropriate staff, recording the outcome accurately and comprehensively. Keep detailed, accurate, secure written records of concerns and referrals

• manage the deployment of the Nurse in the school’s boarding facilities

• assess, meet or refer students with welfare needs to the Nurse and / or external bodies as appropriate Other duties

• ensure that the school’s Sports and Activities Officer is supported by the House Parent Team to actively engage students in extra- and co-curricular activities

• support the Head and other SLT colleagues in the management of the student ‘wobbly’ process to help ensure that the school successfully resolves students’ issues and that he/she is retained

• produce staff and student handbooks consistent with school policy and procedure

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)

As a member of the SLT you are required to subscribe to the ideals of ‘Corporate/Collective Responsibility’. From time to time you will deputise for the Headmaster. You will be invested in the Head’s leadership and vision for the school, and use your own sense of agency within your remit to drive this forward. You will work to ensure all aspects of the school meet the requirements for ISI inspection, in particular adherence to the Independent Schools’ Standards Regulations and the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools.

ETHICS AND BEHAVIOUR You will maintain standards of ethics and behaviour in and out of school. In particular:

• Model high standards of personal hygiene/appearance/dress, attendance and punctuality

• Help to create and maintain a safe working environment for everyone

• Develop and maintain a full understanding of current safeguarding requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATION The job requires that you are:

• Well informed about the regulatory environment within which the school operates

• A skilled communicator and a relationship builder

• A proven manager, particularly when holding people to account

• Proactive, flexible, trustworthy, dependable and reliable

• Internationally aware and culturally sensitive

• An exceptional team player, but also able to work autonomously

• Willing to play a part in the wider life of the school community and to work unsociable hours, including at weekends, evenings and during school holidays

AND FINALLY

Employees of The School have a responsibility for, and must be committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and for ensuring that they are protected from harm. As such, appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of safer recruitment pre-employment checks in line with KCSIE guidelines. This will include satisfactory references, enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and, where applicable, any international equivalent being obtained​​​​​​​