Deputy Principal Pastoral of the Junior School for September 2025 (some flexibility with start date for the right candidate)

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 School 

Highgate 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.  

Deputy Principal Pastoral 

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 

For further details please see:

https://www.highgateschool.org.uk/vacancies/deputy-principal-pastoral-of-the-junior-school/