Following the appointment of Mrs Ali Harber as Head of Dean Close School from January 2026, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced leader in pastoral care and wellbeing.
The Director of Pastoral Care will play a critical role in the implementation of 'Winchester College in the 21st Century', working collaboratively with the members of the Leadership Team and Senior Management Team. Reporting directly to the Headmster, the Director of Pastoral Care will ensure the continuing provision of outstanding pastoral care.
The Director of Pastoral Care will be an ambitious, high-calibre leader with the experience and potential to flourish at Winchester. For individuals aspiring to Headship, this is an excellent opportunity to learn and develop through leading significant, historic change at a world-class school.
Flexible start date for the right candidate with preference for commencement in January 2026.
A competitive salary commensurate with the seniority of this post will be offered and suitable accommodation will be provided. Salary is paid monthly, in arrears, to a nominated back account in 12 equal payments.
The Director of Pastoral care can expect to teach a substantially reduced timetable in order to fulfil the duties above.
The school is fully committed to the induction, training and development of all our staff, with staff supported to grow and reach their full potential.
We deliver a range of training, run by both our own staff and external providers, varying from highly practical First Aid courses to seminars and learning lunches on many aspects of teaching and learning.
There is an annual cycle of appraisal offering the opportunity to reflect on professional practice and development opportunities.
The school also offers a wide range of apprenticeships supporting staff development and progression.
The successful applicant will be enrolled in the school Corporate Health Scheme in accordance with the current rules of the scheme. Membership of the scheme does not extend to family members and is a taxable benefit in kind.
A generous pension scheme (either TeachersPension Scheme or Defined Contribution (DC) Scheme) and Life Cover (4 times salary) are part of the package.
At Winchester College, teachers may choose to participate in the TeachersPension Scheme (TPS), for which the cost to the College of employer pension contributions is capped at 23.68%. The required employer contribution to the TPS is currently 28.68%, and the 5% differential is deducted from the employee gross salary.
Alternatively, teachers may choose to join the Direct Contribution Scheme for which the default employee and employer contributions are 9% and 21.5% respectively. Under this Scheme, you have the flexibility to reduce employee and employer contributions, with a minimum contribution of 5% for employee and 5% for employer contributions. If you choose an employer contribution lower than 21.5%, the difference, net of additional employer payroll costs, will be paid as non-pensionable salary via salary exchange.
The first twenty-four months of employment will be a probationary period. Regular reviews with line managers take place over the probation period with the opportunity to discuss progress, identify any areas for action and ensure there is appropriate guidance and support in place to enable successful completion of the probationary period.
During the probationary period, the notice required by either party to terminate employment will be one month within the first term of employment. After the first term, the notice required by either party to terminate employment will be one full term.
Once employment is confirmed, the notice period will be one full term.
This teaching position follows the academic calendar, with periods of independent work and research expected during designated school holiday periods.
As Winchester College is an educational establishment, a condition of employment will be that the successful candidate must consent to the school obtaining an Enhanced Level Disclosure Check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This will reveal all spent and unspent convictions, warnings, cautions and bind-overs. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on the school website.
Safeguarding is one of the primary responsibilities of this role. The jobholder is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact with, and will need to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times. The postholder should be conversant with the responsibilities and procedures detailed in this policy and with the Department for Education Keeping Children Safe in Education. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the postholder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, they must report any concerns to the school Designated Safeguarding Lead, or in their absence, the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.
The appointment will be dependent upon the receipt of a successful medical check and satisfactory references. The College will usually seek references from shortlisted candidates before interview and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications. At least one referee must be the current or most recent employer. Where applicants are not currently working with children but have done so in the past, one referee must be the person by whom they were most recently employed when working with children.
Only applications completed on the school website will be accepted. Please attach a full CV with your application.
Please note that applications will be dealt with as they arrive. Winchester College reserves the right to appoint before the deadline passes.
Closing date for applications: 11.59pm Wednesday 21st May.
Interviews are expected to be held on Monday 2nd June and Tuesday 3rd June.
Those wishing for an informal conversation about this role are invited to speak to Iain Smith, Second Master, ics@wincoll.ac.uk.
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the recruitment process, please email recruitment@wincoll.ac.uk.
We embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to promoting a fair and supportive environment for all our employees. We are keen to welcome applications from all applicants that feel that they meet the requirements of the role, regardless of their background and culture.
Winchester College collects and processes relevant personal data as part of its everyday operations and is obliged to process it in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Act 2018. The school is the Data Controller of this data under the Act and is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office. Its registration number is Z5751669.
If you have any queries or comments about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school, please contact the Bursar and his team by emailing: dataprotection@wincoll.ac.uk or by writing to: Data Protection, The Bursary, Winchester College, College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA.
Winchester College was a pioneering institution when it was founded in 1382 and continues to be a global leader in education today. Renowned for its intellectual excellence and impressive academic record, Winchester is sought after for its combination of superb teaching, outstanding pastoral care, and an exceptional breadth of sports and other activities.
Winchester currently has 735 pupils from Junior Part (Year 9) to Sixth Book (Years 12 and 13). The majority of these pupils are boarders, with around day pupils (boys and girls) in each year in Sixth Book. The first girl boarders will join in 2026.
At all levels Winchester encourages pupils to look beyond the curriculum. We are famous for Div, our unique programme of cultural studies which promotes independence and flexibility of mind and offers an excellent preparation for university study. In these lessons, pupils engage in wide-ranging inquiry across disciplinary lines, from English literature to ancient history to the history of science.
Pupils in Sixth Book will ordinarily study three A-level subjects and Div, with the option of Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). A-levels are complemented by the flexibility of both Div and the EPQ, which allow pupils to explore their cross-curricular research interests more deeply.
Music has been central to life at Winchester ever since its foundation, and the school is unique in having maintained its Choral Foundation from 1382 to the present day. The Music Department is one of the leading departments in the country and offers outstanding opportunities to all.
Sport is a major part of Winchester life, supported by the recent opening of a state-of-the-art Sports Centre. There are many fixtures against other schools and excellent facilities allow all pupils to enjoy and participate in a variety ofsports and enable the most talented and driven pupils to train and compete at the highest level.
Much energy is also invested in the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Community Service, and in links with local primary and secondary maintained schools. This commitment provides pupils with many opportunities to work for the benefit of others, inside and outside the classroom, developing the knowledge and skills, and the rights and responsibilities, which will enable them to grow into valuable and productive members of society.
Pupils eat all meals in their boarding houses, talking with their Housedon, and interacting with friends, visitors and teachers. We believe that conversational ability, developed both inside and outside the community, equips pupils to talk to anyone, about anything, in practically any situation. This unparalleled combination attracts pupils from across the world, making Winchester a truly international and diverse community which celebrates every pupil individuality, passions and potential.
Winchester College is committed to maintaining the Founder original intention of offering an outstanding education to any pupil who would benefit from it, regardless of their financial circumstances, and many of the pupils in the College are being helped financially through the school with substantial bursaries.
Winchester College is committed to providing a respectful and inclusive workplace and a fair and supportive environment for all. We attract staff with a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and we work hard to recruit from the widest possible pool of talent, believing that this is for the benefit of our pupils and every member of our community.
Sustainability: You can learn more about our goal of creating a more sustainable school here.