Deputy Head Pastoral and Safeguarding

The Opportunity

Salary: Depending on qualifications and experience and is commensurate with a Senior Leadership position

Closing date: 24th September 2024, midday

Interviews: Where possible, interviews will take place on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October 2024 

Start Date: January 2025

Founded in 1802 and set in a beautiful Yorkshire valley, Ampleforth College is the world’s foremost Catholic boarding school, welcoming girls and boys of all faiths aged 11-18. Each student’s unique talents are recognised and nurtured within a welcoming community rooted in Benedictine values. At its foundation, the basic mission of a Catholic School is to invite young people into a transforming encounter with Christ through the life of the Christian Community.  This gift is realised in Catholic Education as a place where children grow in: 

• self-knowledge  

• self-acceptance  

• self-gift  

We are seeking a Deputy Head Pastoral and Safeguarding who has lead responsibility for child protection and safeguarding and ensures a word class full boarding experience, in a growing school. The College has regrown its numbers and is now heading to achieving its 2024 target of 420 pupils but looking over the next period to end up at 450 in a position of renewed strength. We need a Deputy Head Pastoral and Safeguarding who will help the Ampleforth College reach this target. These numbers will allow for the opportunity to run ‘family’ houses and supports the vision of a home from home during the student’s time here. Key elements of the role include managing referrals and raising awareness. It is envisioned that the successful candidate will be Designated Safeguarding Lead.

This is a key appointment, one of the most important appointments we will make this year and is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding practitioner who will strive for excellence in and out of the classroom and Boarding House. At Ampleforth, a Catholic education is an intentional and coherent vision for the formation of our students and something that senior leaders strategically consider how they can instil in all aspects of school life. With Catholic formation being inextricably linked to discipleship, it is strongly considered in our Teaching and Learning Strategy and can be seen through the shared philosophy that supports all staff members to see every interaction, however small, as an opportunity to form and shape students.

A Catholic education is both a promise and an invitation, because the strength of this is that firstly it is lived and shared. It is crucial to recognise that the journey from self-knowledge, into wholehearted and self-giving love underlies education in a Catholic school and the right candidate will understand and embody these beliefs.

Building on the current reputation for outstanding personal development of our students, which the newly appointed Head, Jon Mutton, achieved in this role, the College is looking for an energetic and ambitious candidate to consolidate the excellence Ampleforth achieves in pastoral care.

You will have previous experience at middle or senior leadership, most likely within a Boarding school, as well as a successful and proven track record of outstanding pastoral care, safeguarding excellence, tutoring and the other aspects outside of the academic element. This position is a residential position, with living space located on the beautiful grounds.

In return we offer the following benefits:-

• Free meal during working hours
• Death in Service Gratuity
• A generous Bounty scheme for referral of new staff
• Free car parking on site
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• A friendly and supportive working environment
• 10% Staff Discount at Ampleforth Abbey Shop and Tearooms
• Discounted gym membership
• Fee remission (at the Head’s discretion)

Should you have any questions regarding this position or would like further information, please contact Jon Mutton, Deputy Head Pastoral at jbm@ampleforth.org.uk

Please return completed application forms to  employment@ampleforth.org.uk  

St Laurence Education Trust and Ampleforth College are committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people. They expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and will ensure that all recruitment and selection practices and procedures reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) along with other relevant employment checks.