Head of KS3

Lead Culture, Care & High Expectations – Head of KS3 (Pastoral)

Location: Cambridgeshire

Start Date: September 2026

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £32,916 – £51,047 annually (actual) + TLR 2A

Are you a compassionate, strategic, and values‑driven pastoral leader ready to shape the culture of a growing school? We are seeking an outstanding Head of Key Stage 3 (Pastoral) to lead and develop a strong, caring, and high‑expectations pastoral system across Years 7, 8 and 9.

This is a rare opportunity to build a pastoral structure from the ground up in a new school setting, creating routines, systems, interventions, enrichment, and a long‑term vision that will guide pupils through the crucial early years of secondary education.

⭐ About the Role

As Head of KS3 (Pastoral), you will:

• Lead the design of a coherent, supportive, and ambitious pastoral system across KS3.
• Ensure every pupil is known, valued, challenged, and supported.
• Model high expectations for behaviour, attitudes, attendance, and conduct.
• Embed a restorative, relationship‑centred behaviour ethos rooted in consistency and dignity.
• Shape the long‑term pastoral vision, culture, routines, and systems of the school.
• Mentor form tutors and pastoral staff to develop confident, expert practitioners.
• Contribute to recruitment, induction, and ongoing training of pastoral and teaching colleagues.
• Develop enrichment opportunities including assemblies, wellbeing initiatives, tutor‑time routines, and character education.
• Work with families, external agencies, and multi‑disciplinary teams to secure early, effective intervention.
• Lead on behaviour support, safeguarding awareness, attendance strategies, and pastoral communication across KS3.
• Play a central role in building a warm, structured, aspirational school culture from the very beginning.

What They’re Looking For

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

• An experienced and committed pastoral leader within a secondary school setting.
• Knowledgeable in behaviour systems, attendance processes, safeguarding, and pastoral intervention.
• Skilled in embedding consistency, routines, and relationship‑based pastoral care.
• A reflective, evidence‑informed practitioner who uses data and research to guide decisions.
• A calm, relational, and resilient leader who models professionalism and emotional intelligence.
• Experienced in leading or contributing to tutor teams, behaviour cultures, or year‑group structures.
• Capable of coaching, mentoring, and developing others with clarity and empathy.
• Excited by the opportunity to shape a new pastoral structure in a rapidly growing school.

Whether you are an experienced pastoral leader or an ambitious practitioner ready for progression, this is an exceptional opportunity.

Why Join Them?

You’ll benefit from:

• The chance to design KS3 pastoral systems from first principles.
• The opportunity to shape a culture based on relationships, high expectations, and consistency.
• A central role in recruiting, building, and mentoring a future pastoral team.
• A supportive, research‑informed environment that values structured routines and strong relationships.
• Rapid professional growth as the school expands year on year.
• A positive, ambitious, and inclusive community of staff and students.

You will also have access to a wide range of staff benefits, including:

• Generous annual leave allowances (where applicable) and well-being days.
• Pension scheme options with life cover and financial support.
• Retail, health, and leisure discounts.
• Fresh meals provided on-site each working day.
• Professional membership fee contributions (where required).
• Well-being support and employee assistance services.
• Health care plans and online GP access.
• Cycle‑to‑work and other employee benefit schemes.
• Extensive training and development opportunities through a comprehensive CPD programme.

Interested?

If you’re ready to shape a pastoral culture from the ground up, supporting young people through the most formative years of secondary education, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and take the next step in your leadership journey.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
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