Head

Appointment of Head at Knighton House School, Dorset.

Knighton House is at an exciting and pivotal moment in its development. 

In October 2020 Knighton entered into a new and deeper cooperation with our neighbouring senior school Bryanston. At the same time we became fully coeducational for the first time in our history. We have also recently moved away from the narrow strictures of Common Entrance and are continuing to develop our bespoke KED (Knowledge Education Discovery) curriculum, which is aiming to be a model for teaching children at these ages. 

Taken together, these major strategic developments will be transformative for Knighton. The governors of Knighton House are now seeking to appoint a new Head with exceptional qualities of leadership, vision and energy to drive this change, inspiring pupils and parents, leading our common room and working with both the Knighton governors and with Bryanston’s senior leadership team. 

The aim is to create a true centre of excellence, a 21st century vision of a country prep school education. 

The successful applicant will be a graduate with experience of leadership and teaching this age group, probably in a coeducational setting. She or he is likely to have held a position of seniority and responsibility in a prep or senior school, to have experience of school management and to have strong leadership skills.

The head is the school’s chief executive and is responsible to the board of governors for the development of the school and its smooth running, both in the daily routine and during special events. The head is
responsible for the recruitment, care, safeguarding and nurture of the pupils and for maintaining the highest standards – both academic and pastoral. The head is expected to guide, inspire and encourage all staff and pupils to fulfil their potential.

Knighton is a charity but it is also a business: our new head will lead the school’s admissions and pupil recruitment team using their profile and reputation to attract and retain both day pupils and boarders and so build the school roll driving commercial performance. The head is responsible for planning and overseeing the implementation of the curriculum, timetable and organisation of the school day and reviewing these as appropriate. The head oversees the regular monitoring and recording of pupils’ progress and ensures that parents are provided with regular reports.

There is a need to keep abreast of current educational thinking, the requirements of senior schools at entrance and scholarship levels and the National Curriculum while helping shape our distinctive programme. An important part of the head’s role is proactive maintenance of good relations with senior schools and advising parents on suitable choices for their children.

The head will be responsible for ensuring that there is an appropriate balance between all areas of school life such as art music, drama and sport – and for ensuring sure there is enough downtime for play, fun and community involvement. The head should also maintain good relationships with the local community and schools, with professional bodies and former pupils.

The head is responsible for overseeing the boarding provision and maintaining the highest possible standards of pastoral care. There is a need to ensure that appropriate systems of care are in operation in accordance with the statutory regulatory requirements.

For more information, please download our job description or visit our website. http://www.knightonhouse.co.uk/welcome-about-us/vacancies/

To apply for this position please complete and return an application form  to: sbm@knightonhouse.co.uk

Closing date for applications is Sunday 21st February 2021.

Please note, we are unable to accept a CV in lieu of a school application.

Applicants will be considered as they are received; the school reserves the right to appoint at any stage of the recruitment process so early applications are strongly encouraged.

Knighton House School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.