House parents/Head of Boarding
OVERVIEW
Hatherop Castle School is seeking to appoint, for September 2025, enthusiastic houseparent’s who understand the importance of creating a ‘home from home’ environment for our boarders. We welcome candidates who are new to boarding as well as candidates who have experience of working in a boarding environment. The boarding house has undergone a significant period of investment to reflect this feel. We welcome applications from candidates with a teaching background who could offer a reduced timetable alongside their boarding responsibilities. Equally, we encourage applications from individuals who are keen to work solely within the boarding environment and lead this area of the school.
Boarding plays a significant role in the life of this prep school, and this is an exciting opportunity to develop and enhance boarding at Hatherop Castle School. The current provision includes 44 beds situated on the top floor of the Castle and welcomes boarders from the local area, HM Forces, and overseas. We offer flexible boarding options, including flexi, weekly, and full boarding. Additionally, an exciting immersion programme has recently been launched, which will welcome overseas pupils to Hatherop Castle, allowing them to experience life in a UK boarding prep school.
Full job description can be found below.
Role commences September 2025
Hours, Salary & Benefits:
An excellent salary and benefits package will be provided including access to the Private Pension scheme and school fees remission. A recently refurbished two-bedroom, two bathroom flat is offered as part of the package.
Position: Full time, permanent role, term time only.
Salary: Dependent on whether the role is boarding only or has a teaching responsibility linked to it.
Additional Benefits:
- Lunch (during term time), snacks and hot drinks all provided as part of the role.
- EV scheme with Octopus Energy
- Cycle to work scheme & shopping discounts
- Mean’s tested fee remission is available
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Access to Group’s counselling scheme
- On site parking
- Personal accident at work cover
Responsibilities:
The Head of Boarding/Houseparents are responsible to the Headmaster for the well-bring and pastoral care of all boarding pupils and, in particular, ensuring that staff with pastoral responsibilities provide a happy and welcoming environment in which pupils can enjoy their full, weekly or occasional boarding experience.
They will also be required to promote boarding, enabling the School to continue to develop its boarding community.
The successful candidate will:
- Ensure the boarding department meets the National Minimum Standards and will oversee boarding inspections
- To lead the development of boarding at Hatherop Castle
- Monitor, oversee and maintain the welfare, safety, discipline and pastoral well-being of all members of the boarding house
- To act as loco parentis and an appropriate role model for all the boarders
Specific responsibilities and duties will include:
- Plan and oversee boarding inspections, including Wishford inspections.
- Stay informed on Safeguarding, attend training, and make referrals to DSL.
- Develop and review boarding promotion and marketing strategies with the Headmaster.
- Undertake pastoral duties with parents, pupils, and staff.
- Organise boarding routines to ensure security, safety, and well-being of boarders.
- Communicate regularly with the Head, Deputy Heads, staff, and parents about boarders’ welfare.
- Set, supervise, and monitor duty rotas for adequate supervision in the boarding house.
- Maintain standards of discipline, behaviour, and dress for boarders.
- Plan weekend activities within agreed cost limits and brief staff.
- Ensure arrangements for boarders returning or leaving each term and during holidays.
- Allocate boarders to dormitories.
- Review boarders’ welfare with the pastoral team.
- Arrange boarders transfers to and from London and airports when required.
- Liaise with the business manager on additional charges for boarders’ bills.
- Meet weekly with boarders to discuss their thoughts and feelings.
- Ensure adequate catering provision for boarders and their parents.
- Liaise with Housemother, House Tutors, and gap students about boarding house operations.
- Appraise boarding staff according to the school’s appraisal system.
- Complete Health and Safety paperwork in line with school policies.
- Act as the night-time fire coordinator.
- Stay updated on boarding issues and implement new strategies.
Person Specification:
Qualifications & Training
Essential:
- Educated to degree level with QTS. (If offering a teaching responsibility)
- UK Driving Licence
Desirable:
- First Aid Training
- Outdoor Qualifications
- BSA Qualifications
- Minibus MIDAS training
Experience:
Essential:
- Have sound and proven experience of teaching and working within a boarding environment.
- Experience of working within a team environment.
Desirable:
- Worked with Prep School aged children in other schools or educational settings
- Marketing of boarding
Skills:
Essential:
- High standard of written and oral communication
- Has a good knowledge and understanding of social media and how to use this to promote boarding.
- Multi media computing skills.
- Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
Desirable:
- Multi Media communications
Personal Attributes:
- Wholly committed to the values and ethos of Hatherop Castle
- High level of emotional intelligence
- Good Sense of Humour
- High Personal Standards
- Proactive, solution driven.
- Eye for Detail.
- Calm under Pressure
- Able to inspire, motivate and support pupils, parents and colleagues.
- Team Player
- Willingness to see the bigger picture.
Full details can be found in our candidate pack.
Application Form
Candidate Pack
Location
Hatherop Castle
Hatherop,
Cirencester,
Gloucestershire,
GL7 3NB
Deadline and how to apply
The closing date for applications is 29th April 25.
Applications should be submitted using Wishford Education’s Application Form.
If you have any queries, require any adjustments for application or interview stage or would like further information, please contact:
Molly Rees, Talent Acquisition Partner. Molly.Rees@wishford.co.uk
Wishford schools are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Appointments will be made solely on merit and will be made without regard to age, disability, gender, nationality, race, colour, ethnicity, or religion.
