Employment opportunity – Head of Boarding

Location: Watford, Herts

Start date: September

Closing date: Friday, 7th August 2026

Are you an outstanding pastoral leader with a passion for safeguarding, student wellbeing, and creating exceptional boarding experiences? We are seeking an inspirational and highly motivated Head of Boarding to lead and further develop our boarding provision. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced boarding professional to shape a vibrant, nurturing and inclusive boarding community where every student can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the strategic leadership, management and day-to-day operation of boarding, ensuring the highest standards of care, safeguarding, welfare and personal development for all boarders. They will work closely with senior leaders, parents, guardians and boarding staff to deliver an outstanding boarding experience that reflects the school’s values and fully complies with the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has substantial experience of working within a boarding environment.
• Demonstrates exceptional safeguarding knowledge and practice.
• Is a highly effective leader with experience of managing teams.
• Can create a positive, inclusive and supportive boarding culture.
• Has excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Is committed to promoting student wellbeing, personal development and achievement.

We offer:

• A supportive and ambitious school community.
• High-quality accommodation (where applicable).
• A rewarding opportunity to make a significant impact on young people’s lives.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

We encourage and value candidates who have varied lived experiences and inclusive mindsets, either due to their engagements in the world or due to their protected characteristics (as set out in the Equalities Act 2010). We are committed to continued development of a community that is representative of the environment in which we work and in nurturing an equitable society.

Main Functions:

• To provide strategic and operational leadership for the boarding provision, ensuring outstanding standards of care, welfare, safeguarding and personal development for boarders in accordance with the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and relevant statutory guidance.
• Responsible For Boarding House Staff, Resident Tutors, Boarding Assistants, Night Staff and other boarding personnel.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership
   • Lead the development and implementation of the boarding vision and strategy.
   • Promote a boarding ethos that reflects the school’s values and boarding principles.
   • Contribute to whole-school strategic planning and improvement.
   • Monitor and evaluate boarding provision and implement improvement plans where required.
   • Ensure boarding policies and procedures remain compliant and effective.
2. Safeguarding and Child Protection
   • Ensure safeguarding is central to all boarding practice.
   • Maintain a safe, secure and protective environment for all boarders.
   • Ensure all concerns are reported and managed in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
   • Work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and external agencies where appropriate.
   • Ensure boarders understand how to access support, advocacy and help.
   • Promote a culture where students feel safe, listened to and respected.
3. Boarder Welfare and Wellbeing
   • Oversee the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of boarders.
   • Ensure effective systems are in place to support students experiencing difficulties.
   • Develop positive relationships with boarders and maintain visibility throughout the boarding community.
   • Ensure boarders receive appropriate guidance, supervision and support.
   • Promote healthy lifestyles, resilience, independence and personal growth.
   • Monitor the wellbeing and progress of individual students.
4. Boarding Operations
   • Lead the day-to-day management of the boarding house.
   • Ensure boarding accommodation is safe, welcoming, suitable and well maintained.
   • Manage room allocations and occupancy arrangements.
   • Ensure appropriate risk assessments, records and documentation are maintained.
   • Oversee health and safety compliance within boarding facilities.
   • Ensure students have access to suitable recreational and enrichment opportunities.
5. Behaviour, Relationships and Inclusion
   • Promote positive behaviour, mutual respect and strong relationships.
   • Foster a culture of kindness, inclusion and diversity.
   • Implement effective anti-bullying strategies.
   • Ensure fair, consistent and restorative approaches to behaviour management.
   • Support students from diverse backgrounds and cultures and promote equality of opportunity.
6. Staffing and Supervision
   • Recruit, induct, support and manage boarding staff in line with safer recruitment requirements.
   • Organise staffing rotas to ensure appropriate supervision and staffing levels at all times.
   • Conduct performance management and professional development reviews.
   • Ensure all staff receive regular safeguarding and boarding training.
   • Promote a culture of accountability, professionalism and continuous improvement.
7. Parent and Guardian Partnerships
   • Develop effective partnerships with parents, carers and educational guardians.
   • Communicate regularly with families regarding welfare, progress and boarding matters.
   • Ensure concerns and complaints are managed promptly and professionally.
   • Maintain accurate records of communication and key decisions.
8. Compliance and Inspection Readiness
   • Ensure compliance with National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools and relevant legislation.
   • Lead preparations for boarding inspections.
   • Maintain all required policies, records and evidence.
   • Produce reports for senior leaders and governors.
   • Implement actions arising from inspection findings and audits.
   • Ensure mechanisms exist for boarders to contribute their views and influence boarding provision.
   • Support boarding councils, surveys and consultation processes.
   • Act upon boarder feedback to improve provision.
9. Additional Duties
   • Participate in residential duties, emergency on-call arrangements and school events as required.
   • Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Qualifications:

• Degree level qualification or equivalent.
• Appropriate safeguarding training or willingness to undertake training.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Significant experience working in a boarding school or residential educational setting.
• Experience of managing staff and leading teams.
• Experience of safeguarding children and young people.
• Experience of pastoral care and student wellbeing support.
• Experience of working with parents and external agencies.
• Experience of policy implementation and compliance monitoring.
• Current safeguarding legislation and guidance.
• National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools.
• Child development and adolescent wellbeing.
• Health and safety requirements within residential settings.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion principles.
• Safer recruitment practices.
• Outstanding leadership and management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Ability to manage complex situations calmly and effectively.
• Strong record-keeping and report-writing skills.
• Ability to inspire confidence in students, staff and parents.

Personal Qualities:

• High levels of integrity and professionalism.
• Warm, approachable and empathetic.
• Resilient and adaptable.
• Committed to student welfare and achievement.
• Visible and proactive leader.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and inclusion.
• Boarding management qualification or equivalent.
• Experience of inspection preparation and leadership.
• Residential experience in an independent or state boarding school.
• Mental health or wellbeing qualification/training.

The postholder will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, maintaining professional boundaries and adhering at all times to school policies, statutory guidance and the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references, identity checks, prohibition checks and other safer recruitment procedure. Stanborough Secondary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safer recruitment practices; the successful candidate will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance and all necessary pre-employment checks. In line with KCSIE (Keeping children Safe in Education) we will complete online searches as part of our due diligence on all shortlisted candidates. If anything is identified as part of these checks, they will be discussed with you at interview. If any safeguarding concerns are identified, we reserve the right to withdraw your application. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Stanborough Secondary School requires all applicants to be eligible to work in the UK with no restrictions as we are unable to offer sponsorship/work visas. You will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK, evidence of your qualifications and suitable references.