The Worthgate School has been inspiring and empowering students to achieve for over 70 years. Our campus is nestled in a leafy corner of historic Canterbury, a city that is renowned for its safety and beauty, and for being home to three universities that have educated generations of young minds. In all we do, The Worthgate School inspires and empowers our students to achieve greatness.
Worthgate School is part of CGS (CATS Global Schools), which also includes CATS Cambridge, Guildhouse School, CATS Boston, Bosworth Independent School, Bournemouth Collegiate School and ST Michaels (Llanelli). A boarding school, Worthgate School caters almost entirely for international students aged 13+ from over 50 countries. Courses of study include its own University Foundation Programme, recognised by almost all UK universities, a Pre-Programme and High School Term (one term programme), as well as GCSE, A Level and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Main entry points for students are September and January.
The School aims to provide the highest quality in education, pastoral care and boarding. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment which celebrates what connects us as a global college community. We believe that happiness breeds success and aim to offer stimulating and supportive living and learning experiences where achievements are celebrated. We strive to develop well-rounded, confident and responsible individuals who aspire to achieve their best and can contribute positively to the demands of a changing world.
The post of Head of Boarding is a senior position and forms part of the Senior Leadership Team at The Worthgate School. The purpose of the role is to lead and manage the provision of all aspects of boarding as well as playing a crucial role in whole-school strategy and development. The post holder will have the ability to manage boarding teams effectively and possess excellent communication and administrative skills. We are looking for someone to join us from September 2023 or sooner.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB – Please note this is not an exhaustive list and the full job description should be reviewed prior to applying
As a member of the Senior Leadership team, you should carry out your role to support the needs of the students you work with and the College in general.
In as much, you will:
- Lead and manage the College’s Deputy Head of Boarding and the team of Boarding Team
Leaders to ensure the students’ boarding experience exceeds their expectations as well as that
of parents, agents and other stakeholders and to ensure the successful implementation of
procedures in the boarding houses and proactively evaluate and improve standards.
- Ensure that the College complies with National Minimum Standards (NMS), Independent
Schools’ Statutory Regulations and any other relevant legislation across all aspects of the College
boarding provision.
- Be the Designated Safeguarding Lead and as such, prepare and present the Annual Safeguarding
Report to the Executive Board.
- Proactively contribute to the senior leadership of the college, collaborating and communicating
effectively with colleagues, particularly the Assistant Principal Pastoral and Assistant Principal
Academic and their teams to work towards college priorities.
- Ensure effective reporting to and communication with parents, guardians, agents, CEG overseas
staff by Student Care in accordance with College Policies and procedures.
- Liaise with the Assistant Principal Pastoral, Pastoral Directors and Personal Tutors to monitor
students’ overall wellbeing and ensure that all Boarding team Leaders do the same.
- With the Assistant Principal Pastoral, liaise with the Pastoral Directors at the College who
monitor student welfare and behaviour during College hours and ensure that all Boarding Team
Leaders do the same.
- Support and assist students to ensure that they understand and are actively adhering to College
Behaviour and Attendance policies, including the issuing of sanctions, incentives and rewards in
consultation with the Assistant Principal Pastoral and ensure that all Boarding Team Leaders do
the same.
- Together with the Assistant Principal Pastoral and Boarding Team Leaders (BTLs), produce
attendance or behaviour strategies, targets and letters for students of concern and to follow up
from letters sent.
- Take the lead on all behaviour and welfare issues of Boarders when outside of College hours and
liaise with the Assistant Principal Pastoral and/ or the Vice Principal and Principal if needed.
Manage, and where required participate in, the investigation and monitoring of consequences
for reported cases of misbehaviour and breaches of College boarding rules by students.
- As and when needed, arrange and attend Stage Warning or Behaviour meetings with the
Principal.
- Hold meetings with the Assistant Principal Pastoral to discuss behaviour of students or
attendance of persistently low attenders.
- Together with BTLs, follow the school’s Behaviour and Attendance Policies.
- Line manage BTLs, the College Nurse and the Activities Team.
- Drive improvements to professionalise college produced marketing materials including
newsletters and notice boards, ensuring that everything that is produced to be seen by a
customer conforms to brand guidelines.
- Together with the Assistant Principal Pastoral, develop the college’s external presence online
through social media, blogs, etc.
- Foster good working relationships with the Sales & Marketing team, gather ‘good news stories’
and updates from the Boarding Houses and ensure these messages are being heard in market.
- Act as host for agent, student and other external visits and to ensure that all visitors are
provided with a welcoming reception, comprehensive tour of the building and key information
relating to the boarding experiences and services.
- Together with the Assistant Principal Pastoral, ensure that key messages are delivered to
students in the Boarding Houses, e.g. upcoming activities and events.
- Ensure the overall appearance of the Boarding Houses is meeting expected standards – e.g.
cleanliness, notice boards, common areas etc. and ensure the boarding premises and facilities
are kept in a proper state of maintenance and repair, reporting any issues to the Ops Team.
- Oversee the preparation of the content for the boarding pre-arrival information in advance of
each intake, working with key stakeholders including the Principal, the Welfare team, marketing
and admissions to make sure this is delivered to students on time and to consistent brand
standards.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is a senior member of staff, from the College’s leadership
team. Together with the DSL, the two Deputy DSLs have a legal responsibility for dealing with
safeguarding issues, providing advice and support to staff, liaising with the Local Authority, and
working with a range of other agencies. In particular:
- Manage referrals
- refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care as required;
- support staff who make referrals to local authority children’s social care;
- refer cases to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern as required;
- support staff who make referrals to the Channel programme;
- refer cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child to the Disclosure and
Barring Service as required; and
- refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the Police as required.
- Online safety
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The job requires that you are:
- Efficient and organised
- A skilled communicator and a relationship builder - able to work effectively with colleagues
and students
- IT literate
- Smartly and professionally dressed
- Good at prioritising your time
- Able to work under pressure
- A quick learner
- Proactive, flexible, trustworthy, dependable and reliable
- Internationally aware and culturally sensitive
- Good team player, but also able to work autonomously
- Willing to play a part in the wider life of the College community
And that you have:
- Experience of National Minimum Standards (NMS), Independent Schools’ Statutory
Regulations and other relevant legislation
- Proven management skills
- A logical, structured and organised outlook on life
- High levels of energy, an even temper and a sense of humour
- The ability to relate to young people
- A willingness to work unsociable hours, including weekends and evenings
OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY
We are committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging. Building on our core values - Pioneering,
Persevering, People - we pledge to deliver a series of events, guest speakers, and focus groups to
ensure we offer respect and understanding to all communities.
AND FINALLY
CATS Global Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare or our students and
expect everyone connected with the organisation to share this commitment. All positions are
subject to safer recruitment pre-employment checks in line with KCSIE guidelines