Assistant Head (Boarding & Pastoral)

Fairview International School; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunsuria seeks an experienced educational leader to oversee boarding welfare and pastoral life across the school. You will model ethos and Aims, be a positive public figure, and work with the Senior Leadership Team to develop boarding practices and staff systems.

The role includes safeguarding responsibility, liaising with parents, and ensuring high standards of welfare and student well‑being in a dynamic, international setting.

Qualifications

• Strong academic background and a recognised teaching qualification.
• Proven experience in educational, boarding and pastoral management.
• Track record of developing systems leading to institutional improvement.
• Experience in high-standards schools with safeguarding focus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee welfare and development of students in boarding facilities.
• Create, run and develop pastoral and boarding practices with SLT.
• Coordinate pastoral and resident staff duties for high standards.
• Lead professional review and performance management for boarding staff.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, safeguarding policies, NMS.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and liaise with stakeholders.
• Maintain contact with parents regarding pastoral welfare issues.
• Chair the Student Council and supervise boarding operations.

Skills

Teaching

Pastoral care

Boarding management

Policy development

Education

Degree from a globally prestigious university

Teaching qualification (PGCE)

Job description

• To ensure that the School’s Ethos and Boarding Principles and Aims are modelled by the post holder and delivered with energy, enthusiasm and conviction to staff, students and to their parents.
• To be a positive and public figure around the school.
• To ensure a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment, where pastoral and boarding life is fulfilling and appropriate for students of different ages, while also fostering a culture of discipline, personal growth, and community living.
• Working in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team, to create, run and develop pastoral and boarding practices within the school.
• To be responsible for the overall management, welfare, and development of students residing in the school’s boarding facilities.
• To co-ordinate pastoral and resident staff duties to ensure that the provision of welfare and pastoral care of all students is of the highest standard.
• To run a system of Professional Review (performance management) for boarding and pastoral staff.
• To run a system to ensure that cover is in place for absent staff as required.
• To ensure that regulations and school policies are followed in a contextually appropriate manner. These will include Health & Safety standards, the UK’s National Minimum Standards for Boarding (NMS) and safeguarding policies. It is the AHP’s role to ensure that such policies are understood, followed and evidenced.
• To act as the School's Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• To make students, staff and parents aware of School policies relating to Welfare and Safeguarding.
• To communicate with key stakeholders in all matters relating to welfare and pastoral care.
• To ensure that physical and mental health awareness is a key part of the life of the School.
• To be a member of the Senior Leadership Team and to take an interest in whole school matters, and to deputise for other SLT members as required.
• To report to the Executive Principal and the Board as required.
• To teach a reduced timetable of classes effectively.

Management Responsibilities

• To monitor individual students’ well-being and to coordinate appropriate action if a teacher, tutor or parent expresses concern about their welfare.
• To oversee the proper supervision of the boarding and social locations for all students.
• To liaise closely with the Assistant Head (Academic), and boarding / pastoral staff where academic and pastoral concerns overlap.
• To stay in regular contact with parents regarding pastoral welfare issues.
• To lead and run visits outside school, particularly longer trips that enrich students’ global perspectives.
• To review and regularly update policies and procedures relating to pastoral/boarding issues.
• To liaise with outside bodies as appropriate.
• To devise, administer and respond to student and parental surveys.
• To co-ordinate preparation for pastoral/boarding inspections.
• To manage and direct all boarding and pastoral staff and ensure that appropriate training is provided and updated as necessary.
• To co-ordinate exeats and holiday arrangements for all boarding students.
• To ensure that boarding life is busy and full, especially during the weekends and during any holiday periods when students are present.
• To chair the Student Council.
• To act as line manager for the pastoral team and liaise between the various stakeholders as appropriate.
• To log, monitor and respond to complaints, incidents of bullying and any safeguarding concerns
• To ensure that appropriate human and digital systems are in place to record attendance, safeguarding, medical and mental health concerns.
• To monitor and follow-up on poor attendance issues as appropriate.

School Routines

• To contribute generously to the pastoral and boarding life of the school.
• To lead assemblies and other student gatherings as appropriate.
• To be a ‘residential’ member of staff and take responsibility for all boarding issues, including student welfare and discipline.
• To take a role in the senior staff evening and weekend duty rota, including tests and prep.
• To play a key role and organise the logistics of the start and end of each term to ensure that students settle into the school well and that boarders leave their rooms in good order.
• To communicate effectively with the SLT and the Executive Principal.

Job Requirements:

• Have a strong academic background in their own right (for instance a degree from a globally prestigious university) and a teaching qualification (such as a PGCE)
• Have a strong track record as a teacher and educator
• Have proven experience in effective educational, boarding and/or pastoral management
• Have experience in the development of systems that have led to institutional improvement.
• Have worked in a school or schools in which the highest standards have been achieved.

Sunsuria is a dynamic, publicly listed company engaged in diverse sectors, recognised both internationally and locally. Our goal is to become a progressive corporation, committed to embracing change, promoting sustainability, and fostering inclusivity. Join us if you are passionate about creating exceptional experiences and want to be part of a team dedicated to excellence.