PSHE Lead and Head of House

Claremont is seeking a PSHE Subject Lead & Head of House to join our teaching staff.

Role as Head of PSHE

The role of Head of PSHE is hugely important in a School. PSHE is a key opportunity to give students the skills and knowledge they need to thrive today and in the future.

PSHE is taught to all students in years 9-12 in discrete timetabled weekly sessions. Previously it had been taught by the students’ tutor, as the one person most involved in each individual’s personal development. However, in September 2023, the school moved to a vertical system of tutoring necessitating the need for a specific PSHE teacher. The feedback from students has been fantastic, the value the students place on their lessons, and the impact on their learning has been significant. 

The PSHE department regularly welcomes outside speakers into the school to further enrich students’ experiences, including the School of Sexuality Education, Beyond Equality, Show Racism the Red Card, and individual specialists on Drugs and Online Safety. We are lucky to also have an onsite medical team, led by a qualified nurse who leads workshops on key health and wellbeing matters, including first aid.

The PSHE curriculum was designed with input from students, and parents, and continually evolves to reflect an ever-changing context, and the emerging needs of the student body. The school uses Unifrog to support both the PSHE and Careers provision.

The PSHE Lead will work closely with key members of the school community, including the DSL, School nurse and pastoral teams.

Role as Head of House:

The role of Head of House is a profoundly important one. As well as presenting the opportunity to lead a team of staff, it also presents significant organisational and pastoral tests. The most challenging feature of this role is to identify and meet the needs of each, and of all, students and seek to provide a context where they can best progress. These needs may be complex, profound and compounded by learning difficulties, language and cultural differences, and the intensity of balancing both home and school life. The challenge is to then work within a team to deliver an outstanding provision which is consistent, ambitious and professional.

Heads of House are at the very centre of student and school life and, for that reason, they are expected to role model extremely high standards of personal behaviour; all are visible role models for our students. They play a fundamental role in their total welfare and wellbeing, helping them develop into self-confident and purposeful young adults, passing through key stages of their physical and emotional development and preparing to enter the wider world beyond school. Heads of House are often pivotal in ensuring that students look back on their school experience as a happy and fulfilled time in their lives. It also presents an opportunity to be part of the middle management of the school and participate in the delivery of high quality pastoral care.

A house will typically comprise 85-90 mixed sex students aged 13-18 from a variety of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds who need to be cared for, supported and nurtured during term time. Claremont Senior School has approximately 300 students, aged 13-18 years, of whom approximately 100 are multinational students. The students are managed through four houses: Bodiam, Scotney, Pevensey and Camber.

●       Location: Senior School

●       Line Manager: Deputy Principal

●       Time allowance:  30%

●       Responsibility Allowance: RA3 - £5000

Experience, Training and Qualifications:

●      QTS (subject not relevant)

●      Articulate, communicative, and strong attention to detail

●      Works well as part of a team

●      Organisation skills: well organised and able to prioritise tasks

Benefits:

·        A varied role within a fast-paced environment

·        A close-knit friendly team

·        Competitive salary scale

·        Remission of fees in line with the School fees discount policy

·        30 days annual leave

·        Free dining and refreshments during term time

·        Free on-site parking

·        A walk away from Bodiam Castle

·        Employee Assistance Programme – a 24-hour individual assistance programme

·        Company Pension

·        Access to iSP Learning Hub – an online professional development platform with hundreds of courses to widen your knowledge and support career growth

How to apply:

Please send your completed application form to Chloe Mumford, HR Manager at:

hr@claremontschool.co.uk

Please note: Claremont reserves the right to appoint prior to the closing date.

This School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years employment history.