- Job title: Deputy Principal Pastoral of the Junior School
- Job Type: Full time, permanent
- Salary: Competitive
- Department: Junior School
- Reporting to: Principal of the Junior School
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: September 2025 with some flexibility for the right candidate
- Closing Date: 28 April 2025 at 8:00 am
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Following the promotion of the Deputy Principal Pastoral of the Junior School to the Principal of the Pre-Prep the school is looking to recruit an inspiring, energetic and versatile professional to take on the role of Deputy Principal Pastoral of the Junior School from September 2025.
The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for pastoral care in the Junior School and be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from ambitious candidates looking to develop the skills needed to move onto a headship within 3 to 5 years. Applications are welcome from teachers with experience of senior leadership within primary, independent and senior schools. For the right candidate we can offer some flexibility with the start date.
The Junior SchoolHighgate Junior School is one of the largest Key Stage 2 Independent Junior Schools in the country with 445 pupils from Years 3 to 6 in five classes per year group.
We pride ourselves on providing an innovative curriculum which challenges our pupils to be curious, creative and brave in their learning. Our timetable is designed to incorporate both an intellectually rigorous approach to studies alongside skills-based learning. We aim for our pupils to develop a genuine love of learning whilst acquiring a knowledge of how they learn, how to take responsibility for their learning and how to apply their skills and knowledge in a variety of different contexts. The curriculum is broad and varied with teaching emphasising enjoyment, reasoning and deeper understanding rather than acceleration.
We have a team of staff dedicated to nurturing our pupils' wellbeing. To develop a sense of community and belonging from day one at Highgate, our pupils all belong to a form group and one of our four houses. There are over 60 clubs for pupils to choose from in the Junior School, and time is set aside for each pupil to take part in a co-curricular activity of their choice.
We want to nurture in our pupils how to be a reflective and proactive member of the community with a sense of social responsibility and a deep understanding and appreciation of the wide range of heritages, cultures and backgrounds in our diverse society.
The Junior School is located on Bishopswood Road, Highgate, in an outstanding purpose-built teaching environment. The deliberate playfulness of the architecture and the openness to our sports fields is the physical expression of our belief in nurturing childhood playfulness and curiosity.
From the moment you step foot inside our bright and well-resourced building, you will feel the buzz of excitement from our pupils ringing through the corridors. At the heart of our school is a nurturing environment where pupils feel happy, safe and secure so that they can fulfil their potential academically, socially and emotionally and be their very best selves.
- Philippa Studd, Principal
Job Specification
The Deputy Principal Pastoral is a member of the Senior Leadership Team of the Junior School which consists of the Principal, the Director of Studies and three Assistant Principals. They will be answerable to Principal for the oversight of key strategic matters outlined below and be expected to deputise for the Principal in absentia as directed by the Principal. The Deputy Principal Pastoral is responsible for:- Providing vision, direction and leadership for the Junior School as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, including teaching as required and setting an example of excellent teaching.
- Overall responsibility for Safeguarding in the Junior School.
- Oversight, management and vision for Pupils' Personal Development (including of colleagues with roles and responsibilities related to this area)
- Oversight, management and vision for Pupils' Pastoral Care (including the line management of the JS Counsellor/Well-being practitioners and any colleagues with Pastoral responsibilities)
- Overall responsibility for pastoral liaison with the Pre-Prep and Senior School senior managers. Ensuring that there are appropriate and effective transition arrangements.
- Managing, developing and reviewing rewards and sanctions systems
- Managing key operational aspects of Junior School life, as directed by the Principal
Specific Duties- The Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Junior School and ensuring that all policies, procedures and processes are in line with all KCSIE policy and updates
- Leading, managing, developing and initiating the programmes and systems of the school that aid pupil's personal development and pastoral care
- Responsibility for Pupil Wellbeing in the Junior School, liaising with colleagues across the school with wellbeing responsibilities and ensuring the wellbeing needs (including attendance) of Junior School Pupils are being met effectively
- Management of parent presentations and workshops across the Junior School that relate to all pastoral matters
- Line Managing the Assistant Principal (Pastoral)
- Liaising with other members of SLT in their areas of responsibility
- Managing the pupil personal planners and ensuring that they are effectively used and fit for purpose
- Taking responsibility for staff appraisals, accountability partnerships and professional development as directed by the Principal and Director of Studies
- Operational aspects of Junior School life, as directed by the Principal
- Keeping up to date with use of SIMS and CPOMs, taking sufficient training in order to be able to use key digital data in order to inform and instruct school improvement in pastoral care and pupil personal development.
- Being the SLT member responsible for the operational aspects of the Admissions process; sitting on the Admissions Panel, conducting parent tours and pupils' assessments and liaising with other local schools throughout the process as required
Beyond these core responsibilities, the Deputy Principal's flexible portfolio will include some key operational duties which are shared across the Senior Team. A 25% teaching timetable of any subject taught in the Junior School is envisaged.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes- High levels of emotional intelligence
- Tact, discretion and diplomacy
- Self-confidence, including in unfamiliar settings
- Interpersonal skills, including an ability to relate to and to work with adults from a wide range of professional backgrounds
- Stamina, flexibility and versatility
- Independence where needed, team worker where required
- Good humour
- The ability to be reflective in approach, being open to challenge and growth
Ability / skills- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Organised with an ability to self-plan and prioritise own and others' workloads and schedules
- Credibility to work with and advise senior members of staff
- Ability to get quickly to the nub of complex and conflicting issues, and the confidence to propose solutions
- Ability and confidence to innovate
- Attention to detail
- Ability to move seamlessly from one part of the role to another
- Resilience and imagination to cope when things change at the last minute, necessitating rapid alterations to plans
Essential Professional Criteria
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- A good honours degree
- Original degree certificate(s).
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Two panel interviews
- A taught lesson
- Experience of working successfully in a school at senior leadership level of responsibility
- Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated.
- Questions that referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request.
- Experience of leading on pastoral care within a school
- Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated
- Questions which referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request
- Experience of managing and developing a team
- Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated.
- Questions that referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request.
- Experience of developing and working towards strategic priorities, while managing the day to day
- Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated.
- Questions that referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request.
- Thorough knowledge of child protection and safeguarding and welfare of children
- Questions at interview to test attitudes towards, and knowledge of, children's safeguarding and welfare.
- Questions that referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request.
- The ability to use ICT appropriately
- Opportunities to recount experience and expertise at interview.
- The ability to establish good relations with colleagues, pupils and parents
- Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated.
- Questions that referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request.
- Sympathy with and knowledge of fundamental British values
- Question at interview to test this.
- A knowledge of restorative approaches to behaviour management
- Opportunities at interview to recount
Desirable Professional Criteria
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- A teaching qualification (eg PGCE, GTP)
- Willingness and ability to teach in all year groups of Key Stage 2
- Opportunities at interview to recount
- Experience of teaching successfully in an academically selective school
- Opportunities at interview to recount experiences
- Experience of teaching able pupils and an understanding of effective assessment
- A taught lesson
- Questions at interview
- A confidential reference request
- Verification of a candidate's employment history
- Experience of Admissions within a selective school setting
- Opportunities at interview to recount experience
- A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the school
- Opportunities at interview to recount experience of running or participating in such activities or to give ideas for these.
BenefitsSupport | Teachers at Highgate enjoy a welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment and are provided with significant assistance from a range of support staff.
Pension | The School pays the employer's contribution to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.
Professional development | Comprehensive induction. Focus on continued learning and development for all employees.
Holidays | Terms are shorter than in the maintained sector.
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and new swimming pool. Staff can borrow from 1,700 books held in the Sir Martin Gilbert Library.
Lunch | Free tea and coffee A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Working at HighgateA culture of community, kindness and belonging Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that "Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions."
Staff wellbeing Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Work with us Aims + Ethos
A fun, collaborative and forward-thinking environment with a real sense of community
- Philippa Studd, Junior School Principal
Charitable work and sustainabilityAs an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible - through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham - an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure- Closing Date: 28th April 2025
- Video interviews: Thursday 1 May 2025
- In person interviews: Thursday 8 or Friday 9 May 2025
Contact: Martine Iland is happy to answer any questions about this post.
Apply here
Inclusion We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate's Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice .
Please read before you apply Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.
Please note that this role is 'exempt' from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not 'protected' (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.