Assistant Head - Pastoral

GDST (The Girls' Day School Trust); Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pay progression

Professional development

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Job summary

South Hampstead High School - GDST seeks an outstanding pastoral leader to join our senior team as Assistant Head - Pastoral. You will shape the pastoral care strategy for pupils in Years 7–11, working with the Senior Deputy Head - Pastoral to ensure an exceptional daily experience.

You will oversee Heads/Assistant Heads of Year, lead safeguarding, and use data to inform pastoral strategy, contributing to whole-school development and safeguarding commitments.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in pastoral care within a secondary school.
• Experience with safeguarding and deputy DSL responsibilities.
• Ability to use pupil data to inform strategy.
• Teaching timetable with suitable remission.

Responsibilities

• Lead pastoral strategy in Years 7–11 and oversee Heads/Assistant Heads of Year.
• Act as Deputy DSL on safeguarding matters and escalation pathways.
• Use pupil data and pupil voice to inform pastoral decisions and curriculum.
• Support transition, co-curricular life and school community initiatives.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Strategic planning

Staff mentoring

Safeguarding expertise

Education

Teaching qualification

Job description

Employer South Hampstead High School - GDST Location London, Greater London Contract Type Permanent Hours Full Time Salary Competitive

Posted 17th September 2026 Start Date To Be Confirmed Expires 1st October 2026 09:00 AM Contract Type Permanent Start Date To Be Confirmed Job ID 1574627

Start Date To Be Confirmed

• Contract Type :Permanent
• Job ID: 1574627

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Assistant Head - Pastoral

Full-time

Permanent contract

Salary: Competitive plus benefits

Start date: Negotiable

Take the next step in your leadership career at one of the UK’s leading girls’ schools.

South Hampstead High School is seeking an outstanding pastoral leader to join our senior team as Assistant Head - Pastoral. Working closely with the Senior Deputy Head - Pastoral, you will help shape the strategic direction of pastoral care while ensuring an exceptional day-to-day experience for pupils in Years 7–11. It is a significant leadership opportunity, offering genuine scope to influence whole‑school development and particularly suited to someone with ambitions towards Deputy Headship and potentially Headship in the future.

At the heart of the role will be ensuring that every pupil feels supported, understood and able to flourish. You will oversee and support Heads and Assistant Heads of Year, take a lead on complex pastoral and safeguarding matters as a Deputy DSL, use pupil data and voice to inform pastoral strategy, and help ensure the pastoral curriculum is intellectually challenging.

You will also play an important role in pupil transition, co-curricular life and wider initiatives that strengthen the sense of community across the school.

We are looking for an accomplished leader and pastoral practitioner who can combine strategic thinking with a warm, visible and practical approach to leadership. You will be confident supporting colleagues and pupils through sensitive or complex situations, able to build strong relationships with pupils, parents and staff, and excited by the opportunity to contribute more broadly to senior leadership.

The successful candidate will have a teaching timetable, including a time remission which is commensurate with the role.

About The School

Working at South Hampstead is stimulating, challenging and fun. Located in leafy Hampstead, with the buzz of central London’s cultural life close at hand, the school is very well served by public transport and there are excellent local amenities nearby.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• Training grants for qualifications
• Generous pension schemes
• Free life assurance benefit
• Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
• A Cycle to Work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment
• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools

The closing date for applications is Thursday 1 October 2026 at 9am.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and suitable candidates may be invited to interview before the published interview date, so early applications are encouraged.

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening will apply to this post.

Attachments

Assistant Head Pastoral - Candidate Information Pack - Sept 26

Safeguarding Statement

The Girls’ Day School Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection checks appropriate to the post, including online searches and checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.