Head of Pastoral (Senior School)

Malvern College Chengdu (MCC), a fast developing all through school in China, is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and experienced Head of Pastoral within the Senior School. The Head of Pastoral plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our pupils by leading a passionate team of pastoral care and management, and fostering a culture of pastoral excellence. This role also enhances the MCC Pastoral management system across the whole school by collaborating with Pastoral Teams in Prep School.

• Contract Type: Full time, Two Years
• Start Date: August 2025
• Location: Chengdu, Sichuan, China
• Staff Benefits: competitive salary package, housing allowance or free apartment, flight reimbursement, medical insurance, academic holidayst, contract completion bonus, tuition-free seats to staff children, staff Professional Development Programme, holiday gifts, staff activities and more.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

 Pastoral Leadership

•  Lead on all pastoral matters across the Senior School, ensuring the School is an exemplar of best practice in relation to pastoral care, equality and inclusion;
• Develop the strategic vision and direction for pastoral care in the Senior School with the Headmaster;
•  Work with Headmaster to ensure the smooth organisation of the boarding system, overseeing the boarding daily work;
• Oversee the pastoral work of the Key Stage Coordinators, Tutors and boarding teams;
• Support tutors to maintain standards and excellence in tutoring;
• Ensure appropriate systems for monitoring pastoral matters, and sharing information as required with staff (with due regard to confidentiality) ;
• Work with the Counsellors on the implementation of strategies in the Senior School which promote positive mental health, resilience and diversity; 
• Analyse pastoral data including punctuality, attendance and wellbeing to look for trends and emerging issues and to ensure that all students are well cared for; 
• Develop proactive pastoral care strategies that help mitigate emerging threats and mitigate areas identified by analysis of trends ;
• Develop, monitor and review policy related to disciplinary, reward and support procedures in the Senior School to develop best practice and provide appropriate support as necessary;
• Monitor the interventions taken by the pastoral teams on larger pastoral issues; 
• Act as the focal point for serious pastoral issues and devise appropriate strategies for these, meeting parents as necessary;
• Be responsible for the oversight and development of high quality Senior School PSHE and LifeSkills programmes, ensure they address emerging and relevant pastoral issues and reflect UK and international best practice; 
• Establish positive and effective relationships with the wider pastoral team, including Pastoral Coordinator, Boarding, Tutors and Counselling team.

Safeguarding responsibilities

• Work with Head of Pastoral (Prep School) to act as the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead promoting a school-wide culture of safeguarding; 
• Work with Head of Pastoral (Prep School) to lead on the training for Safeguarding of all staff who work in MCC;
• Ensure that any external providers are compliant and meet MCC safeguarding standards;
• Monitor students of concerns in the Senior School and work with all Pastoral teams to support these students; 
• Attend whole school and individual case conference safeguarding meetings as required;
• Contribute to the development of the School’s safeguarding policy and practices; 
• Adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School become apparent, they must be reported to the Headmaster immediately;
• Work with the Human Resource team to ensure that Safer Recruitment policies and practices are being adhered to

Pupil Standards, Welfare and Discipline

• Have general oversight of school discipline, ensuring that good behaviour is promoted and rewarded, and that any issues are dealt with promptly and fairly, in accordance with School policies; 
• Oversee the implementation of Senior School behaviour expectations on a day-to-day basis, and recommend any changes as required;
• Oversee the use of rewards and sanctions, including management of detentions; 
• Monitor the use of rewards and sanctions, in liaison with the Headmaster to ensure that they are being used consistently and fairly across all pupils and groups of pupils; 
• Ensure that pupils take pride in their appearance and being members of the School (particularly at formal events), and take the lead in ensuring the uniform standards are upheld;
• In conjunction with the Senior Management Team, take charge of any issues which might involve the Head’s decision to suspend, rusticate or expel.

Organisational responsibilities

• Provide relevant contributions for the School’s strategic plan, and inspection documentation supporting the School’s vision and objectives; 
• Organise Pastoral surveys and use data collection to inform Pastoral practice;
• Effectively organise and chair Pastoral Meetings; 
• Work with Prep School colleagues over the development of the pastoral system in the Prep School;
• Ensure that a suitable induction programme is in place for pastoral teams and tutoring system; 
• Ensure the smooth organisation of Senior School Tutors, allocating tutors as appropriate;
• Work with boarding management team to oversee the development of the efficient and inclusive organisation of House events; 
• Work with the pastoral team to ensure the smooth running of the Senior School’s Reporting systems; 
• Work with the whole school SMT members to manage the School calendar to ensure that events, including House events, are organised and spaced effectively
• Support with the recruitment of new staff as directed by the Headmaster.

Leadership and Management of Pastoral Staff

• Oversee and support the work of all the Pastoral Teams;
• Liaise with the Headmaster in leading the work of the house tutors;
• Support the professional growth of colleagues and oversee the professional appraisal of secondary colleagues;
• Oversee the Pastoral Appraisal Process;
• Plan and carry out induction of new pastoral staff.

Parental Communications

• Liaison with parents as necessary;
• Oversee the induction of new pupils and support for new parents;
• Work with the parent community to ensure that they are well informed with regard to the pastoral care of the school, and they are involved as partners in the school;

Requirements

• Minimum bachelor’s degree;
• A recognized teaching qualification (e.g. PGCE);
• Minimum 10 years’ teaching experience;
• Outstanding Pastoral Experience;
• Previous experience of working in an international school;
• Prior experience of a school capturing the British independent school ethos, or experience in an international school in China is preferred.