Head of Boarding - Wellington College International Lagos at Alaro City

OBJECTIVES

• The Head of Boarding will lead all aspects of provision in the boarding house, including overseeing pupils and the adults delivering the provision. The boarding house is to provide an extension to the educational experience of the school and retain an equivalent philosophy and ethos. The Head of Boarding supports each individual pupil’s growth and development.
• The Head of Boarding must demonstrate an understanding of the wider curriculum and administration needs of the school, and achieve high standards by responding professionally, sensitively and caringly to the needs of the pupils. The position is residential, and the post holder will be required to live in accommodation as specified by the Master during term and contribute to all duties while pupils are living in school. In periods of absence from the House during term time, the postholder will arrange cover and all such absences should be pre approved by the Master.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Overall expectations

• To be resident within the House at all times during term time
• To get to know each of the boarders as individuals
• To manage the relevant boarding staff
• Ensure excellent academic and pastoral care for the boarders
• To promote excellent working relationships with parents and guardians and to respond promptly to their concerns
• To draw up a strategic development plan for the Boarding programme as required by the Master and to be responsible for its implementation
• To play an active part in marketing the School through attendance at, all relevant marketing events (on or off site) and through giving tours for prospective parents
• To manage the budget delegated to the Boarding House effectively
• To organize a programme of activities for the Boarding House which include opportunities for social interaction, charity activities and acts of community service
• To maintain high personal standards of prompt arrival for House responsibilities and events, and appropriate professional appearance • To maintain the highest standard relating to duties (administrative or teaching)
• To attend all major School events as required by the Master.

Welfare and Pastoral care

• To promote and maintain a safe environment that, wherever possible, meets the National Minimum Standards for Boarding (UK), whilst recognizing that this might not always be possible in an international context.
• To play a leading role in ensuring boarders welfare and personal development.
• To ensure the safety of boarders and staff by maintaining accurate records, dealing appropriately with hazards, and reporting any problems.
• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons by adhering to and ensuring compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times.
• To organise the induction of new boarders into the House so that they feel welcome, secure and clear about the values and expectations of the House.
• Positively encourage and organise pupils in their interests and activities and develop a positive relationship with them.
• Evaluating the pastoral care data and observations and using this analysis to identify good practice and areas for improvement.
• Ensuring effective development of pupils’ individual and collaborative study skills necessary for them to become more independent in their work.
• Encouraging pupils to participate as appropriate in the boarding activity programme and monitoring that participation
• To keep parents and guardians informed by telephone or letter of any matter affecting the welfare or happiness of their children
• Guarantee high quality and sensitive communication between parents and all boarding staff
• To seek advice, when appropriate, for pupils who give cause for concern academically or behaviourally
• To liaise with the Health Centre staff concerning the general health and life-style of the boarders and to keep closely in touch with the nursing team and/or DSL in case of individual concerns

Management of Staff

• Induction and on-going training of all boarding staff in accordance with the School ethos
• Provide high quality induction and further encouragement and guidance in the form of opportunities for development for the boarding staff according to their individual needs
• To assess the performance of members of the Boarding Team in accordance with the School’s appraisal policy
• Devise and manage staff duty rotas

Development of Boarding

• With the Master develop a vision for boarding, including weekend boarding from August 2027.
• Working closely with the admissions and marketing team in the promotion and marketing of boarding, which may include attending Open events and fairs in other cities.
• Working with the Leadership Team to be proactive and innovative
• Ensure that the boarding provision answers the needs of all boarding pupils so that outcomes both curricular and co-curricular are excellent
• The Head of Boarding is expected to liaise with the Master on boarding related issues although they should also consult with the Bursar and her team regarding any proposed changes to fabric and fittings.

Professional Development

• Improve yourself through continuous study and be willing to try new ideas.
• Be willing to accept others’ good ideas and share your opinions.
• Frequently reflect on your work and share your experience with other colleagues.
• Attend and participate fully in Staff Development programmes.
• Attend staff meetings and briefings as and when required.

Policies and Procedures

• Be fully conversant with the School’s Health and Safety Policy, monitor those sections as it affects the boarding house and instil into all pupils and staff a positive approach to Health and Safety.
• Be familiar with and adhere to the school policies especially those pertaining to child protection, safeguarding, anti-bullying, health and safety, e-safety, substance misuse and be aware of the requirements of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (UK), and to be familiar with the contents of the Boarding Handbook.
• Be familiar with the fire safety and lock-down procedures as you may be the responsible person on site in the event of a fire alarm. • Help maintain comprehensive records on each pupil within the House through OneNote
• Contribute to displays and reflect current activities and experiences in the boarding house
• To ensure that necessary alterations to the boarding timetable are implemented and communicated so that adequate cover is provided for any absenteeism.

Requirements

Basic Qualification

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in a relevant area is preferred Language
• Exemplary levels of written and spoken English
• Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese may be an advantage

Experience

• Demonstrable experience in boarding management in either Bilingual or International schools
• Experience with schools at the ‘premium’ end of the market, with experience of bilingual schools an advantage but not essential
• Familiar with working to challenging boarding targets
• Experience in leading and managing teams to deliver results.

Desirable attributes include:

• Cross-cultural working experience is a significant advantage
• Sensitivity to local customs and culture
• Be able to assess pupils’ interests, needs and developments
• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken
• Displays passion for the education industry and boarding in particular
• Record of problem-solving, strategic thinking and delivering significant impact
• Pro-active, self-sufficient and pragmatic.
• Comfortable working at pace and with agility
• Ability to manage a range of concurrent projects effectively
• Judgement to prioritise a demanding workload
• Role models self-development and receptive to feedback
• Personal integrity, accountability and credibility
• Embodies and demonstrates the Hiba values