Head of Pastoral (Primary)
About This Role
Behaviour for Learning:
Establish, uphold, and routinely assess the efficiency of the Behaviour and Rewards systems and policies to promote exemplary learning behaviours throughout the school.
Provide key behaviour metrics to the senior leadership team and implement necessary improvements.
Counsel the Assistant Principal Pastoral on behaviour-related policies and collaborate with parents and students when issues exceed the scope of the Heads of Houses.
Safeguarding:
Serve as the Deputy Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) for the Primary school. Completing DSL training is a requirement for this position. Ensure the implementation and adherence to the school's child protection policies and procedures.
Strengthen and enhance the systems for child safeguarding and protection throughout the primary school.
In the event of a child protection or safeguarding incident, assume responsibility for investigation and subsequent actions.
Wellbeing, Attendance and Punctuality:
Oversee and assess the wellbeing curriculum.
Conduct surveys, analyze wellbeing data, and formulate action plans aimed at improving pastoral care.
Track student attendance, document data, and analyze it to enhance attendance and punctuality.
Staff Training:
Ensure the house team has an efficient system for identifying staff professional learning and development needs to be included in the School Staff Development Plan.
Provide relevant training for staff to effectively implement behaviour and safeguarding systems, ensuring consistency throughout the school.
Encourage and empower staff members to reach their full potential as effective practitioners of ‘Quality Pastoral Care.’
Evaluation and Improvement Planning:
Assess and evaluate the quality of students’ personal and social development, as well as their protection, care, guidance, and support (Standards 2 and 5 in the 2018 UAE Inspection Framework), and initiate appropriate improvements.
Contribute to the review process by supplying relevant reports in accordance with school policies and procedures.
Communicate evaluation outcomes to the senior leadership team, assist in drafting the SEF/Action Plan, and utilize evaluations to effectively plan enhancements.
Holding Others to Account:
Ensure the establishment of suitable systems and structures to hold staff accountable.
Strike a proper balance of support and formal procedures to ensure staff meet the high expectations of GEMS Education and The Westminster School.
Regularly evaluate staff progress towards agreed improvement objectives in alignment with the school's appraisal, performance management, and line management policies and procedures.
Employ the school’s observation protocols to oversee pastoral care, behaviour for learning, and staff and student practices, followed by discussions on progress and areas for enhancement across Houses.
Contribute constructively to one’s own appraisal, performance management, and line management.
Policies & Procedures:
Participate in the development and ongoing review of policies governing school operations, ensuring that the staff team remains actively engaged in policy formulation.
Lead the creation and implementation of individualized educational and behavioural programs aimed at fostering learning behaviours in children.
Ensure the formalization and enforcement of policies and procedures related to pastoral care, safeguarding, and child protection throughout the school.
Assist in the drafting and implementation of daily pastoral care systems and schedules (e.g., breaks, arrival, dismissal).
Accountability to Stakeholders:
Promote the development of a stakeholder-focused culture within the school, aimed at enhancing levels of engagement and satisfaction among students, parents, staff, and community stakeholders.