Deputy Head Pastoral & Designated Safeguarding Lead

This is an exciting and rare opportunity to join Wimbledon High, and help to lead our school into its next chapter.

As Deputy Head (Pastoral & Designated Safeguarding Lead) you would already be an exceptional and ambitious leader, looking to become a member of an energetic, close-knit and visionary Senior Leadership and Management Team who find themselves fortunate enough to work with some of the most committed educators in the country and a student body of engaged, scholarly and grounded girls and young women. 

As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic leadership in all matters relating to pastoral care, safeguarding, and student wellbeing, ensuring that Wimbledon High School remains at the forefront of pastoral innovation. 

You will assume overall responsibility for the pastoral system and structure, striving to make sure it is proactive, student-centred, and effectively supports wellbeing. To achieve this, you will:

• Develop and implement the school’s strategic vision for pastoral care
• Maintain and refine the school’s policies related to behaviour, discipline, attendance, and safeguarding
• Chair our Safeguarding Core Team, implementing safeguarding policies whilst maintaining full compliance with statutory requirements and GDST expectations 
• Oversee our GROW (PSHE) curriculum, ensuring it remains relevant, impactful, and engaging

To succeed in this role, you will be a strong and visionary leader with a proven track record in pastoral care and safeguarding. You will possess extensive experience within a pastoral leadership role (ideally at a senior level) and will demonstrate a deep understanding of safeguarding legislation, child protection procedures, and best practices. Additional experience of managing complex pastoral cases and working with external agencies, as well as experience of leading whole-school cultural change in pastoral care is essential.

This is an exciting opportunity to further your teaching career within a rewarding senior leadership role, equipping our students with the confidence and skills to navigate an increasingly complex world.

About the School

Wimbledon High School GDST is a highly academic school for girls aged 4 to 18, located in the heart of Wimbledon, less than 20 minutes from central London. 

Since 1880, Wimbledon High School has been educating girls to go out into the world and make a difference, and we continue to do so with pride, with energy and with imagination.

Benefits

As part of the Girls' Day School Trust, the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools, we can offer a variety of benefits, such as:

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• GDST Flexible Pension Plan (Details from: https://workplace.aviva.co.uk/gdst/)
• Training grants for qualifications
• Free life assurance benefit
• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
• Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
• A Cycle to Work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment

For further details and an application form please click the apply button.

The closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 10th February 2025.

First round interviews will take place on Monday 24th February 2025.

Final round interviews will take place on Monday 3rd March 2025.

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening including online searches will apply to this post.