Job Opening: Head of Pastoral at La Garenne International School
La Garenne International School is seeking to appoint a Head of Pastoral. This pivotal role is responsible for ensuring a coherent, safe, and high-quality student experience throughout the entire 24-hour school cycle. The Head of Pastoral will bridge the academic life, boarding, and co-curricular provision for students aged 4 to 18.
The Head of Pastoral operates at the same leadership level as the Head of Primary & Middle School and Head of Secondary, reporting directly to the School Principal. This position requires collaborative efforts to support the school’s mission through a consistent and integrated pastoral approach.
In this role, the candidate will provide strategic oversight rather than operational management, ensuring alignment between academic, boarding, and co-curricular teams. A focus on continuity of care across all facets of school life, including evenings and weekends, is essential.
Working Conditions
Due to the nature of this position, working hours will largely be concentrated in the evenings and weekends. While the post-holder is not required to live on campus, close proximity is necessary. Working hours will be defined in consultation with the School Principal to ensure effective Senior Leadership Team (SLT) coverage across the full 24-hour school cycle.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Collaboration
- Collaborate effectively with the General Director, School Principal, Head of Primary & Middle, and Head of Secondary to ensure alignment across academic, pastoral, and boarding provisions.
- Lead the strategic development and implementation of whole-school pastoral systems, ensuring consistency across Primary, Middle, and High School.
- Act as one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) during key times, ensuring 24/7 coverage and compliance with Swiss and international safeguarding standards.
- Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among academic staff, boarding teams, and co-curricular/activity coordinators.
- Guide the development of systems for effective information sharing about students across all contexts (academic, boarding, and co-curricular).
- Provide strategic oversight of all boarding houses to ensure a high-quality and consistent student experience.
- Work closely with Heads of Section to align boarding and academic provisions, including behavior, routines, and student support.
- Support Heads of Section in managing complex pastoral and safeguarding cases, ensuring a coordinated whole-school approach.
- Develop and implement evening, weekend, and co-curricular provisions in alignment with students' wellbeing and development aims.
- Lead staff training in safeguarding, pastoral care, and boarding practices.
- Support staff wellbeing alongside the General Director and School Principal.
- Foster strong relationships with students, parents, and boarding families, ensuring clear communication regarding student wellbeing.
- Contribute to the whole-school strategy and development as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Organisation & Administration
- Oversee pastoral systems within school platforms (e.g., iSAMS), ensuring accurate and up-to-date records related to safeguarding, behavior, and student wellbeing.
- Develop and monitor systems for tracking student wellbeing, behavior, and engagement across academic, boarding, and co-curricular contexts.
- Establish effective structures for daily and weekly communication between boarding and academic teams.
- Contribute to the planning and coordination of the school calendar, particularly regarding boarding, activities, and student wellbeing initiatives.
- Support admissions processes requiring pastoral insight.
- Contribute to accreditation and inspection processes related to safeguarding, boarding, and student welfare.
- Monitor the quality and consistency of boarding and co-curricular provisions and identify areas for development.
General Duties
- Uphold and promote the school’s mission statement and International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy.
- Maintain a visible and active leadership presence across the school, including evenings, weekends, and school events.
- Support conflict resolution and mediation involving students and staff.
- Contribute to assemblies, student events, and wider school life.
- Collaborate with the SLT to support continuous school improvement.
- Make recommendations to enhance the overall student experience across academic, boarding, and co-curricular provisions.
Please note that while the key responsibilities are outlined in this job description, the role may encompass other activities based on the school’s needs, as directed by the School Principal.
To apply, please apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.