Head of Year / Pastoral Lead

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The position of Head of Year / Pastoral Lead is based in a large secondary school in the Lancaster area, taking responsibility for pastoral care, welfare, and academic progress of a specific year group. You will work with tutors, teachers and the leadership team to safeguard pupils, improve attendance and drive behaviour improvements.

We seek an experienced educator with strong communication and organisational skills, capable of leading a team of form tutors and coordinating year-group

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a secondary school pastoral role or equivalent.
• Desirable qualification in youth or social work.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Solid knowledge of safeguarding and SEND practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day welfare, attendance, punctuality and behaviour within the year group.
• Be the first point of contact for student, parent and staff concerns and arrange interventions.
• Track progress using academic, attendance and behaviour data and plan targeted support.
• Act as a safeguarding key-holder and liaise with DSL and external services.
• Lead Form Tutors, run year-group assemblies and coordinate events.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Communication

Behaviour management

Attendance tracking

Education

Relevant professional youth/social work qualification

Job description

Head of Year / Pastoral Lead

• Location: Lancaster area, Lancashire

• School Type: Secondary School

• Contract Type: Temporary / Fixed-Term (ASAP to Christmas 2026)

• Salary: 120 - 155 per day

• Start Date: As soon as possible (September/October 2026)

About the Role

Are you an ambitious, resilient, and compassionate educator with a passion for student welfare and academic success?

A large, thriving secondary school in the Lancaster area is seeking an experienced Head of Year / Pastoral Lead to join their dedicated inclusion and pastoral team on a temporary basis, starting immediately and running until the end of the Autumn term (Christmas).

In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for leading the pastoral care, behaviour management, and academic progress of a specific student cohort. You will work closely with form tutors, subject teachers, senior leadership, and external agencies to ensure students are safe, happy, and equipped to achieve their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Pastoral Leadership: Oversee the day-to-day welfare, attendance, punctuality, and behavior of students within the year group.

• Student Support: Act as the first point of call for student, parent, and staff concerns, managing interventions and providing guidance.

• Progress Tracking: Monitor academic data alongside attendance and behaviour metrics to identify underachievement and implement targeted support strategies.

• Safeguarding: Act as a key-holder for safeguarding concerns, liaising effectively with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and external support services.

• Team Management: Lead and motivate a team of Form Tutors, delivering briefings and coordinating year-group assemblies and events.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: Proven experience working in a secondary school pastoral or middle-leadership capacity (e.g., Head of Year, Assistant Head of Year, or Senior Pastoral Manager).

• Qualifications: A relevant professional youth/social work qualification is highly desirable.

• Skills: Exceptional communication, conflict resolution, and organisational skills, with a calm and authoritative presence.

• Knowledge: A strong working knowledge of secondary safeguarding frameworks, behaviour management strategies, and SEND support.

• Availability: Able to start immediately or at short notice through to December 2026.