Head of Early Years

Roles and responsibilities

1. Pastoral Care and Student Well-being

• Student Support: Provide pastoral care and support to all students within the year group, ensuring their well-being and emotional needs are met. Act as the first point of contact for students with personal, academic, or behavioral concerns.
• Behavior Management: Implement and monitor the behavior policy within the year group, promoting positive behavior and discipline. Address student misconduct appropriately, working closely with students, teachers, and parents to resolve issues.
• Monitoring Welfare: Work to create a safe and supportive environment for all students, identifying students at risk of underachievement or personal difficulties and providing early interventions.
• Mentoring and Guidance: Offer mentorship to students, guiding them through their academic journey and providing advice on personal growth, study skills, and preparation for exams.
• Conflict Resolution: Mediate conflicts between students and resolve interpersonal issues within the year group, ensuring positive relationships among peers.

2. Academic Oversight and Achievement

• Academic Progress: Monitor the academic performance of students in the year group, tracking progress through assessments, grades, and feedback from teachers. Ensure that students are meeting their academic targets and intervene when necessary.
• Collaboration with Teaching Staff: Work closely with subject teachers to monitor and support students' academic progress. Ensure that teachers are aware of any issues affecting students' learning and well-being and help develop strategies to support these students.
• Target Setting and Monitoring: Set academic targets for students in the year group, working with teachers to track progress and adjust support strategies as needed.
• Organizing Support: Ensure that students receive any additional support they require, such as special educational needs (SEN) interventions, tutoring, or academic counseling, in partnership with other staff.

3. Leadership and Team Management

• Managing Form Tutors: Lead and support a team of form tutors, providing guidance on how to manage student welfare and academic progress within their tutor groups. Offer regular meetings to discuss student progress and pastoral matters.
• Team Development: Develop the skills of form tutors and other staff working with the year group by providing training, resources, and ongoing support.
• Communication: Act as the key point of communication between students, teachers, parents, and the school leadership team. Regularly update staff and parents on the progress of students, upcoming events, and any pastoral issues that may arise.
• Year Group Meetings: Hold regular year group meetings with form tutors to review student progress, address challenges, and plan year group activities or interventions.

4. Student Engagement and Extracurricular Activities

• Promoting Engagement: Encourage student involvement in extracurricular activities, including clubs, sports, and cultural events, to help students develop holistically and engage with the wider school community.
• Year Group Events: Organize and coordinate year group-specific events such as social gatherings, trips, fundraisers, and other enrichment activities.
• Building School Spirit: Foster a positive and cohesive year group culture by organizing events that build team spirit, morale, and a sense of belonging among students.

Desired candidate profile

• Leadership and Management: Strong leadership abilities, including the capacity to manage and motivate a team of form tutors and staff, coordinate activities, and set clear goals.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with students, staff, parents, and leadership.
• Organization: Strong organizational and time management skills to handle the various administrative, academic, and pastoral tasks associated with the role.
• Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution: Ability to handle challenging situations and resolve conflicts between students or between students and teachers in a positive and productive manner.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Sensitivity to the emotional and personal needs of students, with the ability to provide guidance, support, and a listening ear.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Ability to use student data effectively to monitor progress, identify challenges, and implement strategies for improvement.

Personal Attributes

• Motivated and Positive: A self-motivated individual with a positive attitude and the ability to inspire and motivate students and staff.
• Approachable: An approachable and supportive figure for students, parents, and staff, able to build trusting relationships.
• Resilient: Capable of managing pressure, balancing multiple tasks, and remaining calm under challenging circumstances.
• Commitment to Student Welfare: A deep commitment to the academic and personal well-being of students, with a focus on their success both inside and outside the classroom.