Deputy Head (Pastoral) in Leven

Reports to: Head

Responsible for: HsMs, Heads of Year, medical centre staff, Wellbeing Hub, Island Leaders

Salary - Competitive

Hours of work - 1FTE, temporary sick cover until at least the Spring Term of 2027 with potential of extension. Start Date: 10 August 2026 - applicants must be available to commence employment on this date.

Role overview

The Deputy Head (Pastoral) is a key member of the Executive and Senior Management Team, responsible for leading the pastoral care, wellbeing, and personal development of pupils across the school, including overall responsibility for the leadership and strategic development of boarding. Given the critical nature of this position in ensuring continuity of safeguarding and pastoral leadership, the successful candidate will be expected to take up post on 10 August 2026 in preparation for the start of the academic year.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic leadership
• Lead the School’s pastoral vision and values, ensuring a culture of care, respect, and high expectations.
• Oversee and develop the School’s pastoral systems, policies, and procedures, ensuring they are effective and fit for purpose.
• Drive the strategic development of boarding, maintaining the highest standards of pastoral care and pupil welfare.
• Promote an inclusive and supportive school environment that prioritises pupil wellbeing and personal growth.
• Pastoral and wellbeing leadership
• Provide leadership and oversight of safeguarding, ensuring rigorous enforcement of child protection policies and liaising with external authorities as necessary.
• Support the personal and social development of pupils through a robust tutorial and wellbeing programme (Ad Vitam).
• Oversee the behaviour, attendance, and discipline policies to ensure consistency across the school.
• Develop and implement initiatives to enhance pupil resilience, mental health, and wellbeing.
• Work with the medical centre, Wellbeing Hub and pastoral staff to provide high-quality health and emotional support.
• Boarding leadership
• Provide strategic oversight of all aspects of boarding, ensuring the highest standards of care.
• Line manage and support Hsms, ensuring best practice in boarding provision.
• Oversee compliance with national boarding standards (CARE), ensuring all statutory requirements are met and documented through regular inspections and reviews.
• Foster a warm and supportive boarding community, integrating boarding life within the wider school.
• Oversee the House development plans for each boarding house.
• Publish and review the School’s Boarding Handbook on an annual basis.
• Staff leadership and development
• Lead and manage all pastoral and boarding staff, ensuring the promotion of professional development opportunities.
• Provide training and guidance for Hsms, Heads of Year, Assistant Child Protection Leads and pastoral staff.
• Support and develop a culture of professional dialogue, high expectations, and accountability.
• Pupil experience and parental engagement
• Serve as the key point of contact for pastoral concerns, working closely with pupils, staff and parents.
• Ensure effective communication between School and home regarding relevant pastoral matters.
• Develop initiatives that strengthen the partnership between School, parents, and external agencies.
• Oversee the induction, transition, and integration of new pupils into the School Community.
• Develop well-established channels of communication for pupil voice across the School.
• Operational and compliance responsibilities
• Be the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Lead.
• Ensure all safeguarding and child protection policies are strictly adhered to, conducting regular training and audits to maintain high compliance standards.
• Work closely with external inspectors (CARE) and regulatory bodies (HMIE) to maintain the highest compliance standards.
• Contribute to the strategic development of School policies and whole-School decision-making.

Person specification

• Essential
• Extensive experience in pastoral leadership within a boarding or independent school setting.
• A strong commitment to pupil welfare, safeguarding, and wellbeing.
• Outstanding leadership and people management skills.
• Ability to inspire and engage staff, pupils, and parents.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to develop and implement pastoral strategies that enhance pupil experience.
• Desirable
• Experience as a HSM or in a similar leadership role within a boarding environment.
• Experience in leading large-scale pastoral initiatives or wellbeing programmes.
• Strong understanding of national boarding standards and compliance requirements.

Additional Information

The role includes evening and weekend commitments, including regular visits to boarding houses, attendance at School events, and active engagement in the boarding community. The post-holder will be expected to contribute fully to the wider life of the school.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

St Leonards is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, where all members of the community - colleagues, pupils and families - are seen and valued. This culture ensures that St Leonards delivers an outstanding global education in a multi-cultural living, learning and working environment. Applications should be made via our website and should include the completed application form. Closing time and date for applications is 12:00 noon on Friday 26 June 2026. Early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to appoint before the closing date. Any questions may be directed to . All successful applicants will be required to hold or be accepted for membership of the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

About St Leonards

St Leonards is a friendly and forward-looking independent, coeducational, boarding and day school situated on an historic campus at the heart of the university town of St Andrews. The school enjoys an unrivalled location - there are sandy beaches, world-class Links golf courses, and historic sites on its doorstep. St Leonards delivers the inspiring, globally-recognised International Baccalaureate curriculum for pupils aged five to 18, and was the first school to be accredited as an all-through IB school in Scotland. It is one of just two schools in the UK to actively offer all four IB programmes, ensuring a seamless learner journey. The youngest pupils follow the Primary Years Programme, which goes hand-in-hand with the vibrant Outdoor Learning programme at St Leonards. This is followed by the Middle Years Programme and (I)GCSEs. In the Sixth Form, pupils choose between the Career-related Programme and the Diploma Programme. St Leonards enjoys a rich sporting heritage, and continues to boast a strong record of achievement with pupils representing the school nationally in golf, rugby, lacrosse, hockey, horse riding, and small-bore rifle shooting. The leading five-tier Golf Programme continues to go from strength to strength, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is the fastest growing of all Scottish independent schools, and an exciting calendar of trips and activities ensures pupils leave St Leonards equipped with the skills required to succeed in today’s ever-changing world. Truly an education ‘Ad Vitam’ (for life).