Head of Boarding

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and visionary Head of Boarding to further build the provision of boarding at Rye, ensuring that it is a fulfilling, rewarding and stimulating experience for all involved.  We are looking for a team leader to take a forward-thinking and strategic lead on boarding throughout the school.

In our 90th year of educating the individual at Rye, we are continuing to build a diverse, enthusiastic and highly supportive community of staff with a commitment to pastoral excellence. We are looking for staff who are fully committed to making a positive difference to children’s lives. We are fully committed to the professional development of all members of our school community.

This is an exciting role and there is scope to build boarding further in school.

The Head of Boarding is responsible to the Deputy Head Pastoral.

General Responsibilities

Pastoral and Safeguarding

• Acting as one of the school’s team of Deputy DSL and to undergo appropriate training for this role.
• With the Deputy Head Pastoral, supporting and guiding the residential team in their pastoral care of the boarders.
• Working with the Registrar to ensure that all overseas boarders have appropriate Guardian arrangements in place.
• Ensuring that pupils, parents and guardians are well informed about the School’s boarding policies and all aspects of the care and welfare of boarding pupils.

Boarding Life

• Working together with the Head, Senior Leadership Team, Registrar and Marketing departments to promote and market boarding at Rye.
• Overseeing the growth and development of boarding in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team and the Registrar.
• Ensuring a full and varied programme of activities and trips are available to boarders at the weekends and in the evenings.
• Leading the programme of socials for boarders throughout the school.
• Supporting girls by attending events eg: concerts/productions/socials/House events.
• Working with the Bursary to manage effectively occasional or flexi boarding arrangements.
• Touring some prospective families around the school, promoting at all times the best of boarding.
• Representing boarding at some prep/independent school shows and other marketing events.
• Assisting the Senior Leadership Team with the arrangements for Welcome Receptions at the start of the year.
• Overseeing the sharing of arrangements about events in boarding, including detailed reports in the weekly newsletters, on social media and at briefings.

ISI Inspection Preparation and Health and Safety

• Being aware of national developments in boarding provision, and working with Deputy Head Pastoral and Compliance Officer on development of strategy/policy as required.
• Being aware of regulation and compliance required by the National Minimum Standards for boarding, and working with the Deputy Head Pastoral and Bursar to ensure these standards are maintained/exceeded.
• Liaising with the Deputy Head Pastoral and Bursar in the preparation and running of the boarding elements of any ISI inspection.
• Reporting on Health and Safety matters related to boarding and ensuring relevant Risk Assessments for boarding areas are up to date.
• Organising the required fire drills in ‘boarding time/sleeping hours’
• Advising on matters relating to the security and safety of the residential community.

Staff

• Deploying, training, and developing all boarding staff to make the most effective use of their skills, expertise and experience, and ensuring that all boarding staff have a clear understanding of their roles, duties and responsibilities.
• Being a regular presence in boarding time in support of staff, monitoring procedure and engaging with boarders to assess their views of the boarding experience.
• Working alongside the Head and Deputy Head Pastoral in maintaining and developing further the existing programme of residential staff development and performance management.
• Ensuring that all residential staff duties are undertaken.
• Advising the Head on residential staffing needs and assisting in the appointment of new staff and their induction.
• Taking the lead in the recruitment, welcome, induction, and line management of Residential Graduates Assistants.
• Advising the Bursary of residential staff holiday arrangements.

Boarding & Residential Administration

• Managing the Residential team rotas (evening/meal duties/weekend rota)
• Leading, with the Deputy Head Pastoral, the annual audit of documentation to ensure consistent policy and procedure across the school, including meeting UKVI requirements.
• Working with the Deputy Head Pastoral on the review and updating of boarders and boarding staff handbooks.
• Working with the Senior Housemistress to ensure that boarders’ personal belongings are used appropriately and stored securely.
• Working with Boarding Team to ensure the tidiness and good order of boarding accommodation including common rooms.
• Assessing on-going required improvements to/redecoration of Boarding accommodation, and liaising with the Bursar for budget planning.
• Co-ordinating residential staff cover.
• Being responsible for organising hospital escorts for boarders.
• Making arrangements for the start/end of term.
• Joining with the Deputy Head Pastoral at meetings with Form Tutors or Catering/Housekeeping, as required.
• Ensuring accurate and timely transport arrangements for boarders.

Duties

• Preparing and overseeing a fair and appropriate rota to staff the boarding house in the evenings and weekends.
• Acting as senior staff on call on weekday evenings (on rota) and at weekends.
• Acting as senior staff on call on return/departure of Boarders at start/end of each term (on rota) and half term.
• Being on emergency back-up cover for Boarding.

It should be noted that the above list of duties is not an exhaustive statement of the responsibilities of the post.  It is intended to give an overall view of the position and should be taken as guidance only.  The post holder may be required to undertake any other reasonable task requested by the Head for a which falls within her capabilities and which are in accordance with the usual practice of a independent boarding and day school.

Please see the full job description for further details, including the person specification.

How to apply

Applications (application form, accompanying letter and full curriculum vitae with contact details for two referees) should be addressed to the Head, Miss Joanne Croft, and sent by email to the Human Resources Manager, Ms Ellen Phelips (ephelips@ryestantony.co.uk; 01865 229227).

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 21 April 2021 and interviews will be held on  Thursday 29 April 2021.

Applications will be accepted only from candidates who have completed the application form in full.

Safeguarding

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.