Assistant Head (Pastoral) & Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Proprietor of Abbotsholme School invites applications for the post of Assistant Headteacher(Pastoral) and Designated Safeguarding Lead, effective 1st September 2026. Abbotsholme https://www.abbotsholme.co.uk/ is a non-selective independent, co-educational, day and international boarding school, situated close to Uttoxeter, with buildings and grounds regarded as some of the most attractive of any school in England. Abbotsholme was established in 1889 by the visionary Dr. Cecil Reddie, a leading educationalist in the progressive schools movement and the main building is a beautiful red-brick Arts & Crafts edifice, with many original features throughout. The Chapel, with its original jewel-like stained glass, is a significant historic asset, featuring many motifs and fascinating imagery which have become intrinsic to the Abbotsholme story. Currently educating children aged 2-18, the school received an excellent report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate in April 2024: https://www.isi.net/reports. The school benefits from ambitious and supportive ownership through the Achieve Group. Abbotsholme prides itself on a caring, family atmosphere, where staff know each pupil and academic excellence is supported through outstanding, individualised pastoral care. Academic results are exceptional and pupils go on to enjoy great success at university and beyond. The Assistant Headteacher we seek..... The Assistant Head (Pastoral) and Designated Safeguarding Lead is a dual-purpose senior leadership post carrying substantial strategic and operational responsibility across two complementary domains. As Assistant Head (Pastoral), the post-holder will shape the School's pastoral culture, lead behaviour and rewards systems, line manage Heads of School and oversee counselling provision. As DSL, they will hold statutory safeguarding accountability, triage all concerns on CPOMS, oversee filtering and monitoring systems, and hold the emergency safeguarding phone out of hours. This is a role for an experienced, values-driven leader who inspires confidence in pupils, parents, staff and external partners alike. A small teaching commitment is expected as part of this role, and applications are welcomed from candidates across all subject specialisms. Key Responsibilities PART A - ASSISTANT HEAD (PASTORAL) 1. Pastoral Leadership & Culture

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the School's pastoral framework, creating and sustaining a culture in which every pupil feels known, valued and supported.
• Champion pupil wellbeing as a whole-school priority, ensuring pastoral provision is coherent, consistent and responsive across day and boarding contexts.
• Oversee the School's counselling and school nurse provision, including professional oversight of the school counsellor, monitoring caseloads and referral pathways, and evaluating impact.
• Monitor and evaluate pastoral effectiveness across all key stages, using data and pupil voice to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead strategic oversight of whole-school attendance, ensuring robust systems for monitoring, early identification of concerns and timely intervention.
• Work collaboratively with the attendance team to analyse trends, reduce persistent absence and support reintegration plans for pupils.
• Ensure attendance is considered within safeguarding thresholds and escalate concerns appropriately in line with statutory guidance.
2. Behaviour, Rewards & Sanctions
• Hold whole-school responsibility for the behaviour policy, ensuring it is applied fairly, consistently and restoratively across all year groups and settings.
• Lead the development, review and communication of the rewards and sanctions framework, ensuring it reflects the School's values and promotes positive conduct.
• Oversee the celebration and recognition of pupil achievements throughout the school.
• Manage complex or serious behavioural incidents, including fixed-term exclusions, in accordance with school policy and relevant statutory guidance.
• Analyse behavioural data and trends to identify patterns, inform targeted interventions and report to the Head and governing body.
• Promote restorative practice and a culture of accountability, growth and mutual respect throughout the School.
3. Leadership of Heads of School, Boarding and Wellbeing
• Line manage and provide professional support, supervision and appraisal to the Heads of School, each of whom holds pastoral responsibility for a defined key stage.
• Chair regular Heads of School meetings, ensuring a coordinated and consistent pastoral approach across the whole school.
• Support Heads of School in managing individual pupil welfare cases, liaising with parents and implementing pastoral plans.
• Build the leadership capacity of Heads of School through targeted professional development, coaching and mentoring.
• Work closely with boarding staff to ensure consistency between day and boarding pastoral systems, routines and expectations.
• Oversee safeguarding and wellbeing arrangements within the boarding provision, including routines, supervision and communication.
• Deliver staff training on pastoral and safeguarding
4. Policy Development & Compliance
• Lead the drafting, updating and annual review of all relevant pastoral, behavioural and safeguarding policies, ensuring compliance with current legislation, statutory guidance and best practice.
• Ensure policies are accessible to all stakeholders and that staff understand and implement them consistently.
• Monitor policy implementation across the School, identifying gaps and driving improvements.
• Contribute to the School Development Plan with regard to pastoral and wellbeing priorities.
• Support the Bursar / Data Protection Lead in responding to Subject Access Requests, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant collation of records.
• Promote best practice in record-keeping, data protection and information sharing across pastoral and safeguarding systems.
• Ensure staff understand their responsibilities under UK GDPR in relation to safeguarding and pupil records.
5. Initial Teacher Training (ITT) - Professional Mentor
• Act as the School's professional mentor for all ITT placements, providing structured induction, guidance and formative feedback to trainee teachers.
• Liaise with university and training provider link tutors, attending relevant meetings and contributing to assessment and review processes.
• Ensure trainees receive high-quality pastoral mentoring and that their professional wellbeing is supported throughout their placement.
• Monitor trainees' progress against the relevant professional standards, escalating concerns promptly to the Head and training provider.
• Promote Abbotsholme as a school of choice for high-calibre trainees, contributing positively to ITT partnership relationships.
6. Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Responsibilities
• Play a full and active role as a member of the SLT, contributing to strategic planning, school improvement and whole-school decision-making.
• Lead or contribute to SLT working groups on pastoral, safeguarding and staff development matters.
• Deputise for the Head or Deputy Head as required, including at assemblies, parent events and external visits.
• Represent the School's values, ethos and strategic direction to staff, parents, pupils and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to self-evaluation and inspection readiness, particularly in relation to pastoral provision, safeguarding and personal development.
PART B - DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD 7. Statutory Safeguarding Duties
• Take lead statutory responsibility for all child protection and safeguarding arrangements, ensuring full compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), Working Together to Safeguard Children and all other relevant statutory guidance.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all safeguarding concerns, making timely and well-reasoned referrals to Children's Social Care, the LADO, police or other agencies as appropriate.
• Ensure the School's safeguarding policy is reviewed at least annually and kept fully aligned with legislative and regulatory changes.
• Manage the Single Central Register (SCR) in conjunction with HR, ensuring all safer recruitment checks are current and compliant.
• Lead on Prevent duty, online safety, peer-on-peer abuse and contextual safeguarding, embedding a robust whole-school response.
• Report to the Head and governing body on safeguarding matters, providing regular written updates and attending relevant meetings.
8. CPOMS: Triage, Case Management & Administration
• Take personal responsibility for the daily triage of all pastoral, wellbeing and safeguarding incidents logged on CPOMS, ensuring concerns are reviewed promptly, allocated appropriately and escalated where necessary.
• Maintain and regularly audit staff roles and permissions on CPOMS, ensuring the system accurately reflects current staffing and that all users are appropriately trained.
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of record-keeping on CPOMS, providing guidance to staff on effective logging, information-sharing and confidentiality protocols.
• Use CPOMS data to identify emerging patterns, vulnerable individuals and systemic risks, informing pastoral and safeguarding strategy.
• Ensure CPOMS records are stored, shared and retained in accordance with data protection legislation and the School's information governance policies.
9. Filtering, Monitoring & Online Safety
• Hold strategic oversight of the School's filtering and monitoring systems, ensuring they are fit for purpose, regularly reviewed and compliant with Prevent duty and KCSIE requirements.
• Work closely with the IT team to respond promptly to alerts generated by monitoring systems and ensure appropriate safeguarding actions are taken.
• Lead the School's online safety education for pupils, ensuring age-appropriate and up-to-date provision across all key stages.
• Keep abreast of emerging online risks, platforms and trends, updating the School's approach accordingly and briefing staff and parents as appropriate.
10. Out-of-Hours Emergency Safeguarding
• Hold the School's emergency safeguarding phone, providing a responsive and expert point of contact for urgent safeguarding concerns outside normal school hours.
• Respond to out-of-hours incidents calmly and decisively, making referrals to statutory agencies as required and maintaining thorough documentation.
• Ensure thorough handover and debrief following out-of-hours incidents, updating CPOMS records and communicating with relevant colleagues at the earliest opportunity.
11. Leadership of the DDSL Team
• Lead, supervise and develop the team of Deputy DSLs, ensuring consistent standards of safeguarding practice and case management across all areas of the School.
• Chair regular DDSL team meetings, allocating casework, providing oversight and maintaining shared accountability.
• Ensure DDSLs are equipped and confident to exercise full DSL responsibilities during planned or unplanned absences.
12. Training, Development & External Partnerships
• Design and deliver statutory safeguarding induction for all new staff and regular whole-school refresher training, meeting the requirements of KCSIE.
• Maintain personal DSL training currency (minimum every two years) and engage in ongoing CPD in safeguarding, mental health and trauma-informed practice.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Children's Social Care, the LADO, police, CAMHS, the LSCP and other relevant agencies.
• Represent the School at multi-agency meetings, including Child Protection Conferences, Child in Need meetings and Early Help reviews.
Person Specification Essential Qualifications & Training
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.
• Current DSL training (or commitment to complete within 3 months of appointment).
• Safer recruitment training.
• Evidence of substantial CPD in safeguarding, pastoral leadership or a related field.
Essential Experience
• Significant and recent experience as a DSL or Deputy DSL in a school or comparable setting.
• Substantial experience in a senior pastoral or leadership role, with direct responsibility for behaviour, pupil welfare and/or staff management.
• Proven experience of managing and developing teams, including line management, appraisal and professional mentoring.
• Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with external statutory agencies and multi-agency teams.
• Experience of contributing to policy development and strategic planning in an educational setting.
Essential Knowledge & Skills
• Thorough, up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including KCSIE, Working Together and Prevent.
• Strong understanding of behaviour management frameworks, restorative approaches and pastoral systems in schools.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently and sensitively with pupils, families, staff and professionals at all levels.
• High personal resilience, sound professional judgement and the ability to make confident decisions under pressure.
• Strong organisational and record-keeping skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Commitment to inclusion, equality and the safeguarding of all pupils, including boarders, those with SEND and those with mental health needs.
Desirable
• Working knowledge of CPOMS or an equivalent safeguarding and pastoral case management system.
• Experience working in an independent or boarding school environment.
• Familiarity with school filtering and monitoring systems and online safety frameworks.
• Experience as a professional mentor for ITT trainees or ECTs.
• Mental health first aid qualification or therapeutic training.
• Knowledge of ISI and/or Ofsted inspection frameworks.
• NPQSL, NPQH or equivalent senior leadership qualification.
The nature of the role requires flexibility, including availability for out-of-hours safeguarding response on a rota basis. The post-holder will be expected to participate in the broader life of the School, including events outside normal school hours. The job description is not exhaustive and may be subject to review in accordance with the evolving needs of the School. Any material changes will be made in consultation with the post-holder. Application Process:
• Please complete the application form and health questionnaire attached and return to the HR team by email, HR@abbotsholme.co.uk, including a copy of your CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability for the role. Alternatively, please email our HR team at HR@abbotsholme.co.uk to request an application form or for any additional queries.
We reserve the right to make an appointment before the closing date, so early applications are advised. Safeguarding Abbotsholme School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with children's barred list information. In line with safeguarding guidance, shortlisted candidates will also be subject to an online search as part of the school's due diligence. GDPR Personal Data Notice In accordance with UK GDPR, the school will process personal data only where it is necessary and lawful to do so. Special category (sensitive) personal data will only be processed with your explicit consent or where there is another lawful basis for doing so. You are asked not to include any sensitive personal data within your application form. Please also ensure that you have obtained the consent of your referees before providing their personal details. Child Protection Statement We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and will follow our safeguarding procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate support and protection. These procedures apply to all colleagues, volunteers and governors. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order (1975, as amended in 2013 and 2020). As such, applicants are required to disclose all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those that would otherwise be regarded as "spent". Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be considered only in relation to your suitability for the role. Equal Opportunities The school is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that promotes equality, values diversity and ensures that all staff are treated fairly and with dignity and respect. Abbotsholme welcomes applications from all backgrounds and will make all reasonable adjustments to allow for the equal treatment of all candidates at interview and when taking up the post. Candidates requiring any assistance at interview should request this after an offer for interview is confirmed by the school.


• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.
• Current DSL training (or commitment to complete within 3 months of appointment).
• Safer recruitment training.
• Evidence of substantial CPD in safeguarding, pastoral leadership or a related field.
Essential Experience
• Significant and recent experience as a DSL or Deputy DSL in a school or comparable setting.
• Substantial experience in a senior pastoral or leadership role, with direct responsibility for behaviour, pupil welfare and/or staff management.
• Proven experience of managing and developing teams, including line management, appraisal and professional mentoring.
• Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with external statutory agencies and multi-agency teams.
• Experience of contributing to policy development and strategic planning in an educational setting.
Essential Knowledge & Skills
• Thorough, up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including KCSIE, Working Together and Prevent.
• Strong understanding of behaviour management frameworks, restorative approaches and pastoral systems in schools.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently and sensitively with pupils, families, staff and professionals at all levels.
• High personal resilience, sound professional judgement and the ability to make confident decisions under pressure.
• Strong organisational and record-keeping skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Commitment to inclusion, equality and the safeguarding of all pupils, including boarders, those with SEND and those with mental health needs.
Desirable
• Working knowledge of CPOMS or an equivalent safeguarding and pastoral case management system.
• Experience working in an independent or boarding school environment.
• Familiarity with school filtering and monitoring systems and online safety frameworks.
• Experience as a professional mentor for ITT trainees or ECTs.
• Mental health first aid qualification or therapeutic training.
• Knowledge of ISI and/or Ofsted inspection frameworks.
• NPQSL, NPQH or equivalent senior leadership qualification.
The nature of the role requires flexibility, including availability for out-of-hours safeguarding response on a rota basis. The post-holder will be expected to participate in the broader life of the School, including events outside normal school hours. The job description is not exhaustive and may be subject to review in accordance with the evolving needs of the School. Any material changes will be made in consultation with the post-holder.

The Proprietor of Abbotsholme School invites applications for the post of Assistant Headteacher(Pastoral) and Designated Safeguarding Lead, effective 1st September 2026. Abbotsholme https://www.abbotsholme.co.uk/ is a non-selective independent, co-educational, day and international boarding school, situated close to Uttoxeter, with buildings and grounds regarded as some of the most attractive of any school in England. Abbotsholme was established in 1889 by the visionary Dr. Cecil Reddie, a leading educationalist in the progressive schools movement and the main building is a beautiful red-brick Arts & Crafts edifice, with many original features throughout. The Chapel, with its original jewel-like stained glass, is a significant historic asset, featuring many motifs and fascinating imagery which have become intrinsic to the Abbotsholme story. Currently educating children aged 2-18, the school received an excellent report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate in April 2024: https://www.isi.net/reports. The school benefits from ambitious and supportive ownership through the Achieve Group. Abbotsholme prides itself on a caring, family atmosphere, where staff know each pupil and academic excellence is supported through outstanding, individualised pastoral care. Academic results are exceptional and pupils go on to enjoy great success at university and beyond.