Head Of Pastoral

Joining Careers Education; Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Joining Careers Education in Manchester seeks a Head of Pastoral to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of pastoral systems across our group of independent schools. You will lead safeguarding culture, attendance, behaviour and student wellbeing, ensuring high-quality pastoral provision across all settings.

Reporting to the Director of Education, you will develop and monitor group-wide practices, collaborate with Headteachers and senior teams, analyse data to drive improvement,

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in education or safeguarding settings.
• Extensive knowledge of safeguarding legislation and KCSIE.
• Proven ability to develop attendance and behaviour strategies across multiple sites.
• Experience managing pastoral or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of SEMH, SEND and trauma-informed practice.
• Experience with school improvement and quality assurance processes.
• Ability to analyse data and use it to drive improvement.
• Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• Experience working with external safeguarding partners and agencies.
• Ability to manage high-risk and complex safeguarding matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of all pastoral systems and teams across the group.
• Lead safeguarding culture, attendance, behaviour and student wellbeing across settings.
• Collaborate with Executive Headteachers and Senior Leadership Teams to maintain high safeguarding standards.
• Drive consistency, accountability, compliance and continuous improvement across pastoral functions.

Skills

Leadership

Safeguarding

Attendance strategies

Behaviour management

Pastoral leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Organisational skills

Multi-disciplinary teams

Strategic vision

Job description

We are a growing and ambitious group of independent schools committed to transforming outcomes for children and young people through exceptional education, therapeutic support and relational practice.

Our schools provide highly supportive, inclusive and aspirational learning environments for pupils with a range of additional needs, including SEMH, SEND and complex vulnerabilities.

As the group continues to expand, we are committed to establishing sector-leading standards in safeguarding, behaviour, attendance and pastoral care across all settings. We are seeking an exceptional, experienced and values-driven leader to join the organisation as Head of Pastoral, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for all pastoral systems and teams across the group. This role presents an exciting opportunity to shape and lead pastoral provision across a growing organisation dedicated to improving life chances for children and young people.

Role Overview

The Head of Pastoral is a senior operational leadership position within the Group, responsible for the strategic leadership, development and operational oversight of all pastoral systems and teams across the group's independent schools.

Reporting directly to the Director of Education, the postholder will lead on the implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of group-wide systems relating to:

• Safeguarding and child protection
• Attendance and pupil engagement
• Behaviour and inclusion
• Pastoral care and student wellbeing
• Compliance and statutory practice

The role requires an experienced and highly effective leader capable of operating strategically across multiple school settings while maintaining strong operational oversight of pastoral practice, safeguarding culture and student support systems.

The successful candidate will work closely with Executive Headteachers, Headteachers and Senior Leadership Teams to ensure consistent standards, robust safeguarding practice and high-quality pastoral provision across the organisation as the group continues to grow.

Core Purpose of the Role

To strategically lead and operationally oversee all aspects of pastoral provision across the Group, ensuring outstanding safeguarding culture, effective behaviour systems, high attendance expectations and exceptional standards of care and support for pupils. The role will drive consistency, accountability, compliance and continuous improvement across all pastoral functions within the organisation.

REQUIRED

• Significant leadership experience within education, safeguarding or pastoral leadership
• Experience leading safeguarding across large sites or multiple settings
• Extensive knowledge of KCSIE and safeguarding legislation
• Proven experience developing attendance and behaviour strategies
• Experience managing pastoral or multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong understanding of SEMH, SEND and trauma-informed practice
• Experience of school improvement and quality assurance processes
• Ability to analyse data and use it strategically to drive improvement
• Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills
• Experience working with external agencies and safeguarding partners
• Ability to manage high-risk and complex safeguarding matters