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Head of Prep School

Head of Prep School

Bedales School

Hampshire

  • New
Salary:
Competitive
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
September 2025 or earlier
Apply by:
18 October 2024

Job overview

An outstanding individual is sought to lead Bedales Prep School, one of the UK’s most distinctive and innovative independent schools. The new Head of Prep will be building on the very successful seven-year tenure of Colin Baty, who leaves in April 2025.

When it was founded in 1893, Bedales offered a compassionate, nurturing, liberal alternative to more authoritarian single-sex boarding schools. Now, on its beautiful 120-acre estate in the village of Steep, Hampshire, Bedales continues to produce independent thinkers in a warm, highly creative and stimulating holistic environment. Pre-prep (91 pupils), Prep (214) and Senior School (472) are thriving.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for learning and pedagogy, a collaborative whole-school mindset (the position comes with Whole-School Leadership Team status) and a willingness to embrace change. The Head of Prep will report to the Head of Bedales and line manage the successful Head of Pre-prep. Transition between sections should be seamless, and an open, collaborative approach is essential. A willingness to partake fully in boarding life is equally important.

The successful candidate will believe in Bedales with heart as well as head: authenticity and self-awareness are essential in a progressive learning environment which is also academically ambitious. The role will suit a seasoned educator who could come from a senior or junior background. For a candidate who authentically embraces this unique and inspiring environment, it could provide the opportunity of a lifetime.

For a preliminary, confidential conversation about the role, please email Angela Short, Head of Search, at angelashort@rsacademics.com.

Further information about the role and details of how to apply can be found at www.rsacademics.com.

Closing date: 10.00am (UK) on Friday 18 October 2024.

Bedales is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the role are indicated in the candidate information brochure.

RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.

About Bedales School

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  • Bedales School
  • Church Road, Steep, Petersfield
  • Hampshire
  • GU32 2DG
  • United Kingdom
+44 1730 300100

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Bedales School is an independent, co-educational, selective, day and boarding school for children aged 3-18. It is situated in Petersfield in Hampshire and there are 460 pupils on its roll. There are admission fees and scholarships and bursaries are available.

Bedales is a charitable trust and was founded in 1893 by J H Badley as a humane alternative to the authoritarian regimes of the late-Victorian public schools. Its founding ethos was, and still is, “Head, Hand and Heart.”

Headteacher

Will Goldsmith

Values and vision

The school prides itself on having a strong sense of belonging and it has five core aims for its pupils; to develop inquisitive thinkers with a love learning, to help develop talents through doing and making, to foster each individual and encourage initiative, creativity and appreciation of beauty, to ensure students, alumni, parents and staff take pride in the communities distinctiveness and to feel valued and nourished, and to foster interest beyond the school, with the community and to develop national and international awareness

ISI
“The School is extremely successful in achieving its aims. It is a mutual learning society, determined to maintain its momentum for continuous development. At all stages, students are well educated, and the quality of their achievement and learning is excellent. Students with SEND or EAL achieve well and make rapid progress through the excellent support they receive as their needs are carefully met. More able students and those with particular gifts or talents achieve suitably high standards in a variety of activities.”

View Bedales School’s ISI report

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