Assistant Headteacher Personal Development

About the School: The British School of Barcelona (BSB) is a distinguished institution situated in an excellent area. As an HMC school, we recently achieved an outstanding evaluation across all criteria in a British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection, which assessed education quality, safeguarding, student welfare, and academic accomplishments.

BSB is a substantial and well-respected school that serves students aged 3 to 18. Our curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum and offers a wide range of GCSEs, A levels, BTEC, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), along with a comprehensive enrichment program.

Presently, we have around 2350 students from over 74 nationalities, supported by a team of more than 335 staff members. Our campuses are distributed across three locations: two just outside Barcelona in Castelldefels, which include facilities for Primary, Secondary, and Pre-University education, and a Primary campus in the lively town of Sitges. In the heart of Barcelona, we operate two city center campuses: the Foundation campus, BSB Esperanza, catering to Early Years and Year 1 (opened in September 2021), and our newly opened main campus, BSB Luca, which provides Primary, Secondary, and Pre-University education and commenced operations in September 2023.

In September 2026, we will launch an additional campus in the Maresme area, initially focused on EYFS and Primary students.

Our school’s growth has been accompanied by significant investments in recent years, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art Pre-University Centre (Nexus), a full-sized 4G rugby and football pitch, specialized STEAM facilities, and the new BSB City and Maresme campuses.

Barcelona is a wonderful city to live in, featuring a vibrant urban environment alongside beautiful beaches and mountains. The city offers an excellent quality of life, marked by a mild climate and ample sunshine year-round.

We are currently looking for an experienced Assistant Headteacher for Personal Development to become part of our dedicated team.

About Cognita:
Cognita is a leading global organization in independent education. Founded in 2004, our community includes 90 schools across 21 countries—encompassing Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East—serving over 100,000 students. While each school is unique, we share a unified mission: to cultivate an environment where everyone can "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world."

At Cognita, we embrace the individuality of each student, fostering their distinct traits and strengths. We offer extensive support—academic, social, and emotional—regardless of circumstances or starting point. Each of our schools is strategically positioned to empower students, teachers, and staff to excel and thrive.

About the Role: We are seeking an Assistant Head for Personal Development, who will also fulfill the role of a Secondary Teacher and undertake the following key responsibilities:

• Act as a deputy for the Headteacher as needed.
• Lead the development and implementation of specific elements of the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
• Actively contribute to the daily operational effectiveness of the school.
• Support the strategic growth of the school, ensuring it aligns with its vision and goals.
• Play a role in the broader leadership of BSB by aiding in the achievement of whole-school strategic objectives.
• Undertake reasonable tasks as assigned by the Headteacher and Principal.
• Oversee personal development and behavior management for all secondary students.
• Line manage Heads of Year, PSHE Lead, and House Champion, ensuring their efforts align with school goals.
• Lead quality assurance initiatives for personal development programs (including PSHE, attendance, rewards, sanctions, and student voice).
• Develop and advocate for initiatives designed to enhance student support and well-being.
• Represent the school in meetings with Cognita and contribute to collaboration across schools.
• Conduct staff evaluations, addressing any underperformance within the personal development team.
• Maintain effective communication with parents and students regarding personal development matters.
• Collaborate with academic and personal development leaders to ensure cohesive academic mentoring and intervention.
• Provide support during significant student transitions, addressing both emotional and academic needs.
• Utilize data (behavior, attendance, well-being surveys) to assess and improve personal development programs.

Please note: A university degree with QTS or an equivalent international qualification is mandatory, along with relevant experience teaching English in a Secondary school across all three key stages. This position is not suitable for newly qualified teachers.

Who We Are Looking For:
We are looking for a full-time, permanent Assistant Head for Personal Development (Pastoral) for our BSB Castelldefels campus, starting in September 2026.

This crucial role involves the care and well-being of approximately 950 students in Years 7-13. The personal development team includes Heads of Year, a Head of Student Support, and an Assistant Head for Nexus (Sixth Form).

What We Can Offer You:
• A fantastic team of staff who are committed, supportive, and collaborative.
• The broader support of BSB, including access to high-level CPD and future career advancement opportunities.
• The backing of the Cognita network, including learning partnerships across schools.

Benefits at Cognita:
All positions come with attractive packages, including competitive salaries, placements for children at BSB, and additional local perks. Comprehensive induction and support for settling in Barcelona will be provided.

How to Apply:
Deadline for applications: 9am (Spanish time) 13th April 2026, though we encourage early submissions.

Long-list online interviews will take place during the week of 13th April 2026, with some potentially occurring the week prior for early applicants.
Shortlist interviews will be conducted at the School on Wednesday 22nd April 2026.

Cognita Schools are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff, volunteers, and third parties to uphold this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be conducted prior to confirming any appointment.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect, regardless of their background.