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Head of Pastoral
THE UNITED WORLD COLLEGES (INTERNATIONAL)
UWC ISAK Japan, Karuizawa, Japan
Full-time

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Head of Pastoral

ApplyUWC ISAK Japan

Job title: Head of Pastoral

Location: UWC ISAK Japan, Karuizawa, Japan

Working pattern: Full-time

Enquiries: recruit@uwcisak.jp

View other vacancies at UWC ISAK Japan

In the mountains above Tokyo, a bold and innovative boarding school exists to educate change-makers who will make their mark in the world. Grounded in the belief that their students will be catalysts for positive change, United World College ISAK Japan strives to educate transformative
future leaders who will use their leadership and entrepreneurial skills as a positive force to impact their communities and the planet.


The school seeks a visionary leader who believes passionately that educational approaches must evolve to adequately prepare and equip future generations to adapt, inspire, and lead. UWC ISAK Japan is Japan’s only full-boarding international high school and one of the newest members of the global network of UWC. To fulfil their mission, the school invests tremendous energy into exposing its students to social issues, allowing them space and time to explore their passions, and consistently encouraging them to venture to their learning edge.

UWC ISAK Japan is looking for an experienced and committed Head of Pastoral, reporting to the Head of School.

The Head of Pastoral (HoP) has overall responsibility for the development and implementation of pastoral policies and practices in UWC ISAK Japan. The HoP has broad operational and strategic responsibility for the pastoral management of the School and its development. The HoP is responsible for overall student wellbeing by being the direct line manager for the Director of Residential (DR) and Student Welfare Coordinator and the counselling and health teams, as well as directly leading the Safeguarding team and the Community Agreement (CA) system. As part of the School Leadership Team, the HoP will be involved in strategic decision-making within the school leadership on policy matters and their implementation.

Responsibilities

Strategic Development

  • To develop and implement the School’s vision, aims, and objectives.
  • To oversee the School’s pastoral strategy, in line with agreed educational priorities.
  • To keep abreast of developments in education, in particular concerning student welfare.

School Leadership

  • To be a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, representing the interests of the pastoral life of the school.
  • To work with members of the Senior Leadership Team and, where appropriate, senior colleagues to develop, refine and implement the School’s policies and procedures.
  • To lead on all pastoral areas of the School’s development planning.
  • To have line management responsibilities for the following staff: DRL, SW, Deputy DSLs;
  • Counselling and Health departments and the Clubs and Activities Coordinator.
  • To be an excellent role model in the role of a senior leader within the School.
  • To take a leading responsibility in promoting the ethos of responsibility, self-efficacy, inclusivity, social responsibility and compassion within a warm and supportive environment.
  • Create, set and manage the various budgets which come under the HoP responsibilities.
  • The HoP will live on campus, but is not required to assume residential duty other than as admin on call.
  • Thorough understanding of the pastoral-related policies and procedures, their maintenance and leading any review process

Safeguarding Leadership

  • Leading the Safeguarding team to keep the Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures (and other related procedures) up-to-date and compliant with changing laws and norms; ensuring the implementation of such policies in school practice.
  • Managing the work of the Deputy DSLs; training staff (and other relevant parties) and ensuring that relevant staff attend external training, as appropriate; monitoring safeguarding trends, with the support of relevant software; and liaising with external agencies, as required.
  • Ensuring that the School’s procedures in relation to safeguarding are followed by all staff, working with the Head of Operations in relation to support staff.
  • Coordinating the Students of Concern list and working with other colleagues (including the Advisors and School Counsellors) to ensure appropriate support for all students.
  • Leads the Student Support group (Head of Learning, Director of Residential, Counsellors, nurses and ensures it remains action and solution focused. Update Head of School as needed.
  • Ensuring that all student files are detailed, accurate and safely stored.
  • Ensuring that the School fulfils its obligations under the Prevention strategy

Pastoral Leadership

  • Leading on all pastoral matters across the School, and ensuring that the School remains an exemplar of best practice in relation to pastoral care, equality and inclusion.
  • Understanding of the accreditation process as it affects the Pastoral area.
  • Ensuring appropriate systems for monitoring pastoral matters, and sharing information as required across faculty and staff (with due regard to confidentiality).
  • Ensure that the relevant Handbooks are kept up to date and followed (Pastoral, Health, Community)

Student Standards, Welfare and Discipline

  • Follow up on safeguarding incidents in consultation with the Head of School.
  • Having general oversight of school discipline, ensuring that good behaviour is promoted and acknowledged, and that any issues are dealt with promptly and fairly, in accordance with the Community Agreement and related School policies.
  • Overseeing the implementation of school standards on a day-to-day basis, and recommending – with the Head of Learning– any changes to the school standards, as required.
  • Overseeing the use of rewards and commitments to action, including management of Commitment to Action forms.
  • Ensuring that students take pride in their appearance and in being members of the Schoo (particularly at formal and/or public events).
  • In conjunction with the HOL, taking charge of any issues which might involve the Head’s decision to suspend or exclude.

Parent Education

  • In consultation with the HoS, developing and implementing a programme of communication and education for parents (including through the Parent Association) to assist them in supporting their child.

Shared Areas of Responsibility

  • As a member of the School Leadership Team:
  • School Development Planning.
  • Leadership/membership of working groups as directed by the Head.
  • Support for School routines and events, including speaking at assemblies and parents’ evenings.
  • Ensuring financial efficiency and value-for-money in all school activities related to this Job Description, and consistent with the fulfilment of the School’s broader strategic objectives.
  • Be part of the interview team for new members of faculty and, as required, new members of the support staff (as directed by the Head of Operations).
  • Attend school events where suitable (including concerts, plays, recitals, assemblies).
  • Provide relevant contributions in support of the School’s Strategy with the Head of Learning:
  • Contingency planning, planning for inspection and regulatory compliance.
  • Attending major School events, including UWC Day, Celebration Days and full school assemblies.
  • Take emergency on-call duty on a 4-week rotation with the Head, HOL and DR.
  • With the Director of Residential Life:
  • Oversee the appointment of the Residential Team.
  • Overseeing the residential housing assignments for students and faculty.
  • Ensure on-campus supervision of students during school breaks
  • Ensuring the smooth organisation and integration of the advisory and Life Skills systems.
  • Supporting the Residential Team and Advisors to maintain standards and excellence.
  • With the Director of Admissions:
  • Review school application questions to incorporate pastoral perspectives, with a particular focus on mental health.
  • Include social and emotional counsellors in the admission process for early identification of potential concerns.
  • With the Admissions Department and Registrar, ensure the production of the school list, and ensure that it is kept up-to-date and sensitive to the needs in particular, of gender non-conforming students.
  • Contribute to the Admissions process, including all assessment days, Open Days, and taster days, Prospective Parent meetings, Onboarding and Orientation events.
  • Support the work of the Admissions and Development & Alumni Relations offices, as required, including through attendance at relevant events.

Skills and preferred experience

  • Bachelor's Degree; Master’s Preferred
  • Teaching Certification
  • 3+ years experience in a school leadership position

How to apply

Please submit the following documents to recruit@uwcisak.jp:

  • A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
  • A current and thorough résumé of no more than two pages;
  • A one-page statement of educational philosophy and leadership practice;
  • A list of three to five professional references with the name, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission).

Safeguarding and inclusivity

All employees must adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. If, in the course of carrying out their duties, a teacher becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School, they must report those concerns to the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) or DDSL (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) immediately.