Head of Pastoral & Extra-Curricular Activities

Role Description:

La Garenne International School is seeking to appoint a Head of Pastoral. This position is pivotal in ensuring a cohesive, safe, and enriching student experience throughout the entire 24-hour school cycle, integrating academic, boarding, and co-curricular activities for students aged 4–18.

Operating at the same leadership tier as the Head of Primary & Middle School and Head of Secondary, the Head of Pastoral will report directly to the School Principal. This role emphasizes collaboration to uphold the school’s mission through a unified and comprehensive pastoral framework.

The Head of Pastoral is responsible for providing strategic guidance rather than merely managing existing systems, ensuring integration among academic, boarding, and co-curricular teams while maintaining continuity of care in all aspects of school life, including evenings and weekends.

Due to the nature of the role, work hours will primarily occur during evenings and weekends; however, living on campus is not a requirement, though being nearby is essential. Specific working hours will be established in collaboration with the School Principal to ensure adequate SLT coverage throughout the full 24-hour school cycle.

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Collaborate effectively with the General Director, School Principal, and Heads of Primary & Middle and Secondary to ensure harmony across academic, pastoral, and boarding services.

• Lead the strategic creation and execution of comprehensive school-wide pastoral systems, ensuring uniformity across Primary, Middle, and High School.

• Serve as one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) during critical times, guaranteeing 24/7 coverage and adherence to Swiss and international safeguarding standards.

• Facilitate effective communication and teamwork among academic staff, boarding teams, and co-curricular/activity coordinators.

• Drive the development of systems to ensure efficient sharing of student information across all areas (academic, boarding, and co-curricular).

• Oversee all boarding houses (Primary, Middle, and High School) to ensure a consistently high-quality student experience.

• Collaborate closely with Heads of Section to ensure strong synchronization between boarding and academic provision, covering behavior, routines, and student support.

• Assist Heads of Section in managing complex pastoral and safeguarding situations, ensuring a unified whole-school response.

• Develop and implement evening, weekend, and co-curricular programs, partnering with coordinators and service providers to align with student wellbeing and developmental objectives.

• Lead and contribute to staff training in safeguarding, pastoral care, and boarding practices.

• Work alongside the General Director and School Principal to support staff wellbeing.

• Cultivate strong relationships with students, parents, and boarding families, ensuring clear and consistent communication regarding student wellbeing.

• Act as a vital member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the overall strategy and development of the school.

Organisation & Administration:

• Oversee pastoral systems within school platforms (e.g., iSAMS), ensuring accurate and current records relating to safeguarding, behavior, and student wellbeing.

• Develop and monitor systems to track student wellbeing, behavior, and engagement across academic, boarding, and co-curricular contexts.

• Ensure effective communication structures for daily and weekly interactions between boarding and academic teams.

• Contribute to planning and coordinating the school calendar, particularly regarding boarding, activities, and student wellbeing initiatives.

• Support admissions processes where insights on pastoral care are necessary.

• Engage in accreditation and inspection processes concerning safeguarding, boarding, and student welfare.

• Monitor the quality and consistency of boarding and co-curricular services, identifying areas for enhancement.

General Duties:

• Uphold and promote the school’s mission statement and IB philosophy.

• Maintain a visible and active leadership presence throughout the school, including evenings, weekends, and school events.

• Assist in conflict resolution and mediation involving students and staff.

• Contribute to assemblies, student events, and broader school life.

• Collaborate with SLT to facilitate ongoing school improvement.

• Offer recommendations to enhance the overall student experience across academic, boarding, and co-curricular offerings.

Please note that while the primary responsibilities are outlined in this description, the role may encompass additional tasks based on the needs of the school/faculty as directed by the School Principal.

The Ideal Candidate:

- You are an educator committed to continuous improvement and embodying the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.

- You possess a good honours degree and/or an advanced degree in a related field. Additional leadership qualifications are preferred.

- You are dedicated to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion.

- You have a passion for boarding life and can inspire others.

- You embrace advancements and innovations in teaching and learning and are open to trying new practices.

- You have substantial experience supervising learners in the MYP Personal Project and the IBDP Extended Essay.

- You possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- You align with the educational philosophy of La Garenne International School and are eager to contribute to both co-curricular and pastoral aspects of school life.

- You have strong interpersonal abilities, allowing you to build relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues and school leadership.

- You demonstrate strong ICT skills and are willing to adopt new technologies for teaching and learning.

- You maintain a positive outlook, an optimistic approach to change and development, and a good sense of humor.

Benefits:

We are dedicated to the ongoing professional development of our teaching staff, encouraging the adoption of innovative approaches to education. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to teach across our campuses in modern, well-equipped classrooms featuring the latest educational technology.

The school offers a variety of additional benefits, including:

- An opportunity to live and work in a beautiful area with excellent connections to the rest of Europe.

- A secure and safe working environment.

- Access to numerous outdoor activities, particularly as Villars is a famous ski resort.

- Opportunities to learn or enhance your French language skills.

- The chance to work in a school with an outstanding reputation.

- Be part of a growing institution with opportunities for career advancement.

- Attractive working conditions.

- Professional development opportunities.

- Potential for international travel.

- Depending on availability, places for children of staff.

- Access to your own MacBook Air.

- Teaching in modern classrooms equipped with cutting-edge technology.

- Approximately 15 weeks of annual holiday spread throughout the year.

- An annual ski pass and Free Access Card (offering many free activities and transport during the summer) for full-time teaching staff.

How to apply:

We encourage applicants passionate about education, dedicated to providing individualized attention to each learner, and committed to embracing the life of the entire school while upholding our guiding principles. If this describes you, please complete the online application form (via Schrole connect), attaching your up-to-date CV and a letter of application.