Head of Boarding

Essential

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Strong experience in boarding, pastoral care, residential education or a closely related environment.
• Successful experience of leading and developing people.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and a clear commitment to the welfare of young people.
• A genuine enjoyment of working with students aged 16–19.
• Warmth, empathy and the ability to build strong relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries.
• Good judgement and the ability to remain calm and make appropriate decisions in challenging situations.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work confidently with international students and families from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
• A proactive approach to solving problems and improving provision.
• An understanding of the importance of health and safety, compliance and effective premises management within a residential environment.
• The ability to work collaboratively across academic, pastoral and operational teams.
• High expectations of themselves, colleagues and students.
• Professional curiosity and an interest in continuing to develop as a leader.
• A willingness to work evenings, weekends and provide additional boarding cover when required.

Desirable

It would be particularly advantageous to have:

• Experience within an international or boarding school.
• Previous experience as a Head or Deputy Head of Boarding, Senior House Parent, Housemaster/Housemistress or pastoral leader.
• DDSL or DSL experience.
• Experience of inspection, regulatory compliance or quality assurance.
• Experience overseeing residential premises, facilities or estates-related matters, including identifying issues and working with facilities or maintenance teams to ensure resolution.
• Experience contributing to health and safety management, risk assessment or operational safety within a school, residential or comparable setting.
• Experience reviewing, developing or implementing safeguarding, health and safety or operational policies.
• Experience leading improvement projects or contributing to a School Development Plan.
• Broader operational leadership experience within a school or comparable organisation.
• Experience working with international students and families.
• Relevant boarding, pastoral, safeguarding, health and safety, education or leadership qualifications.
• An interest, skill or hobby that could contribute positively to student and boarding life.

1. Lead and Develop Boarding

• Provide clear leadership and direction for the boarding provision.
• Create a culture of high expectations, warmth, consistency and strong relationships.
• Directly line manage the Boarding Team, set clear expectations, objectives and standards.
• Support and develop staff through regular feedback, appraisal, coaching and appropriate performance management.
• Develop and review a Boarding Development Plan that supports the priorities of the School Development Plan.
• Translate relevant School Development Plan priorities into practical improvements within boarding.
• Use student, parent and staff feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop effective, fair and sustainable boarding rotas.
• Promote a culture in which colleagues take responsibility, communicate effectively and work collaboratively.

2. Pastoral Care, Safeguarding and Student Experience

• Act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) and work closely with the DSL and wider safeguarding team.
• Ensure safeguarding and pastoral concerns are identified, recorded, communicated and followed up appropriately.
• Ensure the boarding team knows students well and notices changes in behaviour, wellbeing or circumstances.
• Lead responses to significant pastoral or residential incidents.
• Support students with homesickness, friendship difficulties, cultural adjustment and other challenges associated with living away from home.
• Work closely with the School Nurse and relevant colleagues to ensure appropriate care for students who are unwell.
• Create an inclusive boarding community that reflects and celebrates our international student body.
• Ensure students understand and meet expectations around behaviour, curfew, attendance, routines and residential life.
• Support students in developing increasing independence, responsibility and practical life skills.
• Ensure boarding routines support healthy habits around sleep, study, organisation and wellbeing.
• Promote meaningful opportunities for student voice and leadership.

3. Create a Positive Boarding Community

The Head of Boarding will help ensure that students enjoy living at EF Academy Oxford as well as studying here.

This will include:

• supporting a varied programme of evening and weekend activities;
• contributing to the School's House system and wider student life;
• supporting celebrations, cultural events, trips and community activities;
• creating opportunities for informal interaction between students and boarding staff;
• encouraging students to participate, try new things and contribute to the life of the School;
• ensuring communal spaces are welcoming and used positively.

Snack Night and activities in the student kitchen are examples of the informal community experiences our students value. We are also keen for colleagues to bring their own interests, skills and ideas to residential life.

4. Oversee Boarding Operations and Front of House

The Head of Boarding is responsible for ensuring that boarding operates smoothly, safely and efficiently.

This includes oversight of:

• the day-to-day operation of the boarding houses;
• boarding rotas, staffing and cover;
• student room allocations and room changes;
• arrivals, departures and student travel arrangements;
• airport transfers and related administration;
• boarding induction and onboarding;
• accurate student whereabouts records ;
• boarding-related Front of House and visitor arrangements;
• Welcome Days and other significant arrival, departure and School events.

The Head of Boarding will also have oversight of the residential environment and boarding premises.  ensuring that issues are identified, prioritised, communicated and followed through appropriately.

This will include:

• maintaining a good understanding of the condition and day-to-day requirements of the boarding accommodation;
• carrying out or coordinating appropriate checks of residential areas;
• identifying maintenance, security or health and safety concerns;
• working closely with the Facilities team to ensure issues are resolved appropriately and in a timely manner;
• monitoring standards across bedrooms, communal areas and the wider residential environment;
• ensuring appropriate records, actions and follow-up are maintained where required.

The Head of Boarding will ensure appropriate cover is maintained when House Parents are unavailable due to sickness, off-site duties or other operational circumstances. This includes providing contingency cover for the boarding duty phone personally when required, which may occasionally extend overnight.

The postholder should continually look for ways to make boarding systems simpler, safer, more efficient and more student focused.

5. Communicate and Contribute Across the School

For many of our families, their child may be living thousands of miles from home. Clear, sensitive and proactive communication is therefore an important part of the role.

The Head of Boarding will:

• maintain strong communication with parents and families regarding significant residential and pastoral matters;
• ensure boarding colleagues communicate professionally and consistently with families;
• act as the main boarding contact for more complex or escalated concerns;
• work closely with Pathway Managers, academic colleagues and other pastoral staff;
• work collaboratively with Admissions and Enrolment teams to support prospective and incoming students;
• contribute to campus visits, Welcome Days, Open Days and other School events;
• maintain effective relationships with Facilities, Catering and other operational teams;
• contribute boarding, pastoral and operational expertise to relevant School projects and improvement priorities.

As part of a small school community, the Head of Boarding will have opportunities to contribute to areas beyond the immediate boarding remit and broaden their leadership experience.

6. Compliance, Health & Safety and Quality

The Head of Boarding will:

• Ensure boarding operates in accordance with relevant safeguarding, health and safety, residential and School requirements.
• Maintain a good working understanding of the regulatory requirements that apply to boarding and residential provision.
• Contribute actively to the School's wider health and safety arrangements as they relate to boarding and residential accommodation.
• Ensure appropriate risk assessments are in place, current and acted upon.
• Maintain and review relevant boarding policies, procedures and records, working with appropriate colleagues across the School.
• Contribute to the review and implementation of safeguarding, health and safety and operational policies where these relate to boarding.
• Ensure boarding staff understand and consistently follow School policies and procedures.
• Maintain effective arrangements for student whereabouts, security, emergencies and overnight supervision.
• Contribute confidently to inspection preparation, compliance reviews and evidence gathering.
• Ensure that identified compliance or safety actions are followed through to completion.
• Monitor incidents and patterns to identify emerging concerns or areas for improvement.
• Maintain consistently high standards across the boarding provision.