Housemaster/Housemistress of Field’s House (Sept 2026 or Jan 2027 start)

The Appointment

The vacancy arises with the current Housemistress (HMM), Mrs Emma Campbell, moving to Winchester College. Field’s House has thrived under Mrs Campbell’s thoughtful and expert care and leadership since 2019.

Field’s House is a hugely successful girls’ Boarding House situated at the centre of the College. Re-constituted as a girls’ boarding house in 2002, it has become a warm home-from-home environment for c. 60 girls, aged 13-18.

Built in the early years of the Twentieth Century and situated in the Upper Quad, it commands wonderful views of the sea and of the Upper Quad. It is largely built in the Gothic style of the original College but there are some more modern areas which harmonise beautifully with the old. Originally a boys’ House, this became a girls’ House in 2002 after extensive refurbishment, and there have been additional modernisations since. The House is based around three floors in a beautiful listed building, with attached and spacious family accommodation for a resident Housemistress (hereafter HMM). Pupil accommodation is in spacious and well-equipped shared work rooms for those in the Third to Fourth Form (Years 9-10); largely in individual rooms for those in the Firth form and Lower Sixth and in individual rooms for those in the Upper Sixth Form. The House also enjoys a beautiful and spacious Tutors’ study; a Matron’s flat and office; accommodation for the resident Assistant Housemistress and for a resident tutor; a sizeable and well-appointed central Common Room; a Sixth Form Common Room; two kitchens; year group specific bathrooms facilities; a laundry room and two garden areas. The Housemistress’ study links the girls’ House and ‘private side’ accommodation. The House is harmoniously decorated throughout and is home to some 65-70 girls aged 13-18; nearly all of whom are boarders.

The HMM’s accommodation comprises a family house adjacent and linking to the House. It boasts a sitting room, dining room, spacious family kitchen, four bedrooms; two bathrooms, a laundry room and a lovely enclosed garden, onto which the sitting rooms opens out. Modern, airy and spacious, it is a lovely family home. There is a garage and parking for two cars.

We are seeking a good honours graduate to become the next HMM of Field’s. This is a teaching post, and any academic subject currently offered at Lancing will be considered (with the usual timetable remission for a HMM post of one third of a standard teaching timetable).

The standard tenure of a Housemaster/ Housemistress at Lancing is 8 years. This may be extended by mutual consent in two-year blocks. This post will particularly suit a candidate who has proven pastoral abilities and who wishes to gain further experience and skills in this area. It may suit a candidate who has career interests and ambitions to move into Senior Management in due course. The post offers the exciting prospect of continuing to lead the growth and development of one of Lancing’s successful boarding houses.

Field’s House is one of seven Boarding Houses. It has an excellent team of experienced visiting tutors, including a resident Assistant Housemistress, a House matron and a team of domestic assistants.

The appointment will be made by the Head Master who will be assisted by members of the College’s Senior Management Team.

Job Description 

The all-embracing role of the Housemaster/Housemistress (HMM) is to promote the moral and physical welfare, the happiness, and the academic progress of all the boys or girls in their House.

There are various ways in which those goals can be achieved. The role allows for a great deal of individual and personal HMM initiative. The following list therefore serves only as a guide-line summary of the main responsibilities.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Relationships with members of the house:

Academic

• To monitor the setting of all new pupils and conferring with the Assistant Head (Academic) in the event of concerns.
• To ensure that every member of the House has an appropriate academic tutor and that regular meetings take place.
• To liaise with the academic tutor, Heads of Department and members of the SMT as appropriate about any academic or pastoral concerns pertaining to any member of the House.
• To monitor the half-termly grades and liaising with tutor, class teachers and pupil to ensure that pupils receive suitable encouragement and guidance.
• To supplement the input of the academic tutor to advise on GCSE, A Level and university choices.
• To compile (in close liaison with the academic tutor) the UCAS (or other) reference for those members of the House applying to university.
• To supply academic/ employment references, as appropriate, for current and past members of the House.
• To ensure that every member of the House, of whatever level of ability, has every opportunity to realise their academic potential.

Moral

• To support members of the House as they develop personal qualities such as care for others, trustworthiness, self-knowledge and leadership.
• To induct new pupils into the expectations of the House and the College; providing a mentor for new pupils and supervising the settling in of new pupils
• To identify those who have particular needs and taking appropriate action.
• To formulate and co-ordinate Individual Welfare Plans for those pupils who require such support.
• To monitor the development of attitudes and values and, insofar as is deemed possible or desirable, shaping and directing these.
• To maintain good order and a high standard of behaviour within the House in line with college policy.
• To provide appropriate opportunities for leadership within the House and recognition of service to the House community.
• To take note of, and acting upon, the relevant provisions of the Children Act and of the College’s Child Protection policy.

Physical

• To monitor each pupil’s programme of games and extra-curricular activity and ensuring that it is such that their potential is being fully developed and that the demands on each pupil are reasonable.
• To ensure House participation in all competitive sports.
• To check the appearance of members of the House specifically in relation to the wearing of correct dress, cleanliness of clothes and style of hair in relation to the school uniform guidelines.
• To be aware of dietary requirements, encouraging attendance at all meals and the consumption of a varied and healthy diet and taking action in the event of the uncovering of inappropriate eating habits.
• To ensure that whole-school policies pertaining to the structure and timings of the pupils’ day are adhered to and upheld.
• To liaise closely with the Health Centre and the House Matron with respect to the physical and emotional health of all pupils in the House.
• To promote care for the privacy, person, and property of all members of the House, within a safe and secure environment.

Cultural

• To encourage members of the House to widen their cultural experience.
• To encourage participation in music, drama, debates, reading and a range of societies, expeditions, and activities.
• To encourage knowledge, understanding and acceptance of cultural diversity and difference.

 Communications

• To develop and maintain good relations with parents and guardians and keeping them informed of the academic and personal development of their children via the school reporting procedure and individually as required. The HMM is the conduit for all initial communication between parents and school and is the focal point for all communication regarding pupils within their House.
• To keep the Head Master abreast of problems or noteworthy achievements relating to individual members of the House.
• To attend meetings of Housemasters and Housemistresses.
• To liaise regularly with the Assistant Housemaster/ Housemistress to ensure coverage of all aspects of the running of the House, and, if appropriate, mentoring them in preparation for a future role as HMM.
• To liaise with the House Matron on matters relating to the health, dress and appearance of pupils, the appointment of cleaning staff and the effective execution of the regular cleaning of the House.
• To liaise with the Bursar and College maintenance department in order that the House be safe, secure and well-maintained.
• To manage a team of House Tutors, overseeing and guiding their involvement in the House community, ensuring that they are aware of general school policy and, if appropriate, preparing them for their own future role as HMM.
• To support the work of the Chaplaincy in all ways possible including attendance at services at which the presence of members of the House is expected.
• To liaise with the Deputy Heads regarding training and INSET.
• To liaise with the College medical team when appropriate to promote the good health of all pupils and to ensure that parents and or guardians are kept informed in the event of medical intervention.
• To select senior pupils who will take on positions of responsibility within the House and advising the Head Master of pupils who could take on responsibility within the school at large.
• To create a body of senior pupils as House Captains who will work with the HMM in the everyday running of the House and holding regular meetings of that body.
• To meet and inform prospective parents, ensuring that they leave with an accurate and positive impression of College and House life.
• To establish and maintain links with Preparatory School Heads and others.
• To maintain links with past members of the House and their parents.

Administration

• To undertake registration (or delegating this as necessary to a tutor) and recording this according to the prescribed guidance.
• To keep relevant and professional records on each pupil in the House, filing correspondence and recording events of significance.
• To ensure the proper confidentiality of pupil records.
• To keep a note of any sanctions awarded to members of the House.
• To ensure that each member of the House has a complete report at each point of the reporting cycle and contributing an assessment to that report.
• To run and be accountable for financial transactions within the House.
• To comply with Health and Safety and Fire regulations pertaining to a House.
• To hold regular meetings with the House Tutor body.
• To ensure that, as far as reasonably possible, there is an adult presence in the House at all times/ that pupils know who is on duty and available for assistance and support.
• To establish a duty rota for the various jobs undertaken by members of the House in order to ensure the effective operation of the community.
• To produce and updating a House Handbook.

Skills and Experience

• An excellent communicator and educator able to lead by example and inspire pupils.
• Degree-level education in a relevant discipline with appropriate post-graduate professional qualifications or equivalent and experience in schools.
• A good team player with the ability to form, lead and shape a team of House staff but also to work independently and to work within the key pastoral team of Housemasters/ Housemistresses.
• Outgoing and positive in personality with a ‘can-do’ mind-set and the enthusiasm and gravitas to be an outstanding ambassador for the College.
• Kindly, approachable, and measured in manner with the ability to form strong working relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents.
• Sharply attuned to the importance of marketing with strong inter-personal and PR skills.
• Organisation, discretion, flexibility, and attention to detail.
• Excellent skills in oral and written communication.
• Willingness to contribute to the wider life of the College.
• Confident proficiency with using Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word and Excel. Training will be given on the College’s Management Information System (iSAMS).

 

This job description sets out the main duties at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary occasionally but without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed, and the candidate will be required to carry out any reasonable requests required by their Line Manager.

Application Procedure:  

Applications should be made using the application form. Candidates are asked to add a covering letter setting out, as succinctly as possible, their reasons for applying for the position at Lancing.

Application forms are available from the College website www.lancingcollege.org.uk.

Please send any emails to recruitment@lancing.org.uk

A full curriculum vitae and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of a minimum of three referees, one of whom should be the candidate’s current or most recent employer should be included with the application.

Informal conversations about the post may be arranged with Andrew Chappell, Assistant Head Pastoral, at AMC@lancing.org.uk

Closing date: 9.00am Thursday 7 May 2026

Interviews: Thursday 14 May 2026

The College reserves the right to call individuals to interview and appoint prior to the closing date for applications.

Information & Downloads

Location:

Department:

Salary: The starting salary will be commensurate with the experience of the successful candidate. In addition, the role of a Boarding Housemaster/ Housemistress commands an A* allowance; currently £15,157 per annum.

Closing date: 07-05-2026

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