Head of Pre-Prep School

About the School

Founded in 1932, St. Julian’s is a highly successful British international school for children aged 3 to 18. It is a unique and special place in character, history and location. Known for academic excellence, there are 1,250 students from more than 60 nationalities across four school sections: Pre-Prep (ages 3 to 5), Prep (5 to 11), Secondary (11 to 18) and Bilingual (5 to 15). The Pre-Prep School has a three-form entry with 15 pupils per class in Nursery and up to 18 in Reception.

Each class in the Pre-Prep has a teacher and teaching assistant.  There is also a Phase Leader who is responsible for the academic care of the children in the Pre-Prep and who also supports the Head of Pre-Prep. The children have lessons from specialist teachers for music, PE, outdoor education and Portuguese. Across the Pre-Prep and Prep Schools, there are also teachers for Learning Support, EAL and a full-time Psychologist. Entry into the School is competitive, and the IB results consistently exceed the global average. Complementing academics, the school focuses on personal skills development through our 6Cs: compassion, curiosity, communication, courage, collaboration and citizenship.

Google Apps for Education is used and all teaching and teaching support staff are given their own MacBook Air.

St. Julian's has just been recognised for the third consecutive year as one of the top 15 private schools in Europe in the Schools Index published by Carfax Education, and for the second year running as one of the top 10 by Spear's.

We follow the National Curriculum for England leading to IGCSEs and the IB Diploma and Careers-related Programme. We are accredited by CIS, COBIS and HMC. 

Situated between Lisbon and Cascais, St. Julian’s enjoys an idyllic location framed by beaches and pinewoods.  The extensive campus boasts exceptional sports facilities and offers a diverse range of after-school clubs, from Nature Club, to ballet, to basketball and rugby.  The School is about to embark on a €40 million building project over 5 years that will see significant enhancements to the existing site.

New families often highlight our close-knit community as instrumental in easing transitions, making St. Julian’s a welcoming home for expatriates and locals alike.

The role of Head of Pre-Prep

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to be the Head of the Pre-Prep School under the direction of the Head. This role is critical in shaping the foundational years of our children’s education, nurturing their development and inspiring a love of learning from the start. The Head of Pre-Prep will lead a dedicated team of teachers and teaching assistants, ensuring the highest standards of care and educational excellence.

The Head of Pre-Prep will be a member of the Whole-school Leadership Team (WLT) that consists of the Head, Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning) & Secondary Principal, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Head of Prep School, Bursar, Bilingual Section Principal, Director of Professional Learning and Director of Technology.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Pre-Prep School, managing all aspects of its day-to-day operations and strategic direction.
• Foster a nurturing and engaging learning environment aligned with Reason to Believe that includes our 6Cs, promoting both academic and personal growth for every child.
• Ensure the effective delivery of high-quality teaching and pastoral care and that the children make strong progress.
• Ensure that the teaching and learning strategies undergo regular review to ensure that all students can access the curriculum and have opportunities for success in learning relative to their starting points.
• Promote a culture of learning that promotes excellence and improvement in all aspects of teaching and learning.
• Work closely with the Head of Prep and the Principal of the Bilingual Section to ensure a seamless transition for the pupils moving through the stages of their educational journey.
• Engage with parents, maintaining open communication and fostering a strong partnership between home and school.
• Work with the Head of Admissions and the Marketing Officer, to regularly review and develop admissions procedures for the Pre-Prep to ensure these continue to support the school’s objectives.
• Foster a supportive environment that values, challenges, and develops staff to achieve strategic goals and promote collaboration across Pre-Prep.

The ideal candidate

• A passionate and inspiring educator with leadership experience in early years or primary education, within an international school setting would be an advantage.
• Holds a relevant teaching qualification and has a deep understanding of early years pedagogy.
• A strategic thinker with a collaborative approach, skilled in team management and development.
• Excellent communicator, capable of building strong relationships with pupils, parents, and staff.
• Demonstrates adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment.
• Completion of Master's level education or leadership training at a senior leader level will be a significant advantage.

Benefits

We will provide:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Two-year contract, renewal by mutual agreement.
• A relocation and housing allowance for expatriate staff, including flights (start and end of contract).
• Free school places for up to two children for new international hires. 
• Medical and life insurance.
• Lunch allowance.
• A professionally stimulating and collaborative working environment.

Application process

Applications should be completed through the TES Portal. The supporting statement, addressed to the Head, Paul Morgan, should clearly identify how your skills and competencies align with the key aspects of the job description. The closing date for applications is Thursday 7 November. You must provide two references, one must be from the head/principal of your current/most recent school. The first round of interviews will be online and the final interviews will take place at the School during the week commencing 2 December. 

Safeguarding

St. Julian’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The offer of the role will be made subject to receipt of satisfactory references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification checks and criminal record screening including overseas. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

St. Julian’s School is committed to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity is a core value at St. Julian’s. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students and staff. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design and deliver solutions.