Deputy Head

Skippers Hill Manor Preparatory School is seeking an inspiring and innovative individual to be our Deputy Head. 

Why Skippers?

Skippers Hill is a non-selective co-educational independent preparatory school for pupils aged two to thirteen, set in 22 acres of beautiful Wealden countryside in the village of Five Ashes, Mayfield in Sussex. An easy commute to busy towns such as Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, where a number of our staff are based.

Skippers is an incredibly happy school where our children are enthused to come into school every day. Our pastoral care is the bedrock for this. We take great pride in the fact that this is consistently observed and commented on by parents, visitors and, most importantly, our children. At Skippers we believe it is through effective pastoral care that pupils feel at ease, grow in confidence and give of their best.

Professional development is a key aspect of fulfilment at work that we at Skippers take very seriously, including opportunities to study for national professional qualifications. In addition to these opportunities Skippers is part of a wider group of schools through Bellevue Education, a world-class group of 21 schools providing the highest possible education to children and students aged from 1-19 years. Throughout the academic year there are focused CPD sessions available as well as possibilities of visiting and sharing best practice with other schools.

The Role

The Deputy Head role is a vital Senior Leadership Team (SLT) position, integral to the evolution of our school, a role where you can make a significant difference of the development of our wonderful pupils and dedicated staff.

You will be responsible for the day to day running of all aspects of our thriving prep school and will also be supported by an experienced and talented SLT, pastoral coordinators and staffing body.

As part of SLT you will work closely together with the rest of the team for the collective good of the School, discussing academic and pastoral issues, School policy and routines in an atmosphere of confidentiality and collective responsibility, contributing to School management and strategy, implementing developments and helping with the oversight of all aspects of School life.

We are looking for a leader who is a strategic thinker, passionate about pastoral care and committed to supporting all children, with excellent interpersonal skills and experience of managing whole-school initiatives.

This role is likely to suit a talented, motivated, hard-working individual who loves and embraces prep school life and who is looking for a hugely enjoyable, challenging and fulfilling role. For this position, all applications will be considered on the character of the individual applying and their fit to our school, rather than purely on the experience they have.

If you think you would thrive here at Skippers and have something special to contribute to the team whilst ensuring that the school continues to go from strength to strength, then we would love to hear from you.

We look forward to receiving your application.

How to apply

Please submit a covering letter (addressed to the Headmaster, Mr Phillip Makhouli) outlining your suitability for the role together with a completed application form. For further information please contact us via

office@skippershill.com or 01825 830234.

Applications should be received no later than midday on: Thursday 2nd March

Long list interviews will take place on: Tuesday 7th March

Short list interviews will take place on: Friday 10th March

All terms and conditions can be discussed at interview.

Our Headmaster is a member of IAPS.