We are looking to recruit a Head of Pre-Prep at Spratton Hall, a welcoming co-educational day school. The role oversees teaching, staff, curriculum and wellbeing, drives high standards, manages operations, liaises with parents, and contributes to senior leadership.

Description

Head of Pre-Prep

(Permanent, Full Time)

Start Date: January 2027

Responsible to: Headmaster

Other Responsibilities: Member of the school’s Senior Management Team

ATTRIBUTES OF THE ROLE

It is likely that the successful candidate will already be in a middle or senior leadership position in a school, perhaps as a Deputy Head of Pre-Prep or an existing Head of a Pre-Prep (or similar). The successful candidate will need to be personable, warm and approachable. It is expected that the post-holder will have the following key skills: effective communication, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, dependability and a sense of humour.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Head of Pre-Prep oversees the Pre-Prep Department at Spratton Hall from Reception through to Year 2. The post holder will work closely with the Head of Early Years to ensure that all areas of the EYFS framework are being implemented and achieved through continuous provision and teacherled planning. The post holder will work towards achieving Pre-Prep Development Plan goals and continuously ensure outstanding practice is being achieved in all areas. The post holder will encourage and develop a collaborative and cooperative approach within the Pre-Prep team and be responsible for upholding positive relationships with parents across the Pre-Prep Department.

RESPONSIBLITIES & DUTIES

In addition to those professional responsibilities, the post holder’s key responsibility will be to focus on the pupils’ behaviour management and attitude to learning, raising the standards of teaching, learning, achievement and attainment for pupils in Pre-Prep. The post holder will also ensure high standards of teaching across the Pre-Prep Department in the classroom environment, and the emotional wellbeing of pupils through oversight of the class teachers. The post holder is expected to fully support the vision, ethos, and policies of the school and to play a key role in the smooth running of the school systems and administration.

The Head of the Pre-Prep Department is responsible for:

• The day-to-day running of the Pre-Prep Department

• Leading and Managing the Pre-Prep team of teachers and teaching assistants

• Liaising with parents of Pre-Prep children

• Organising and planning the Pre-Prep curriculum, timetables and rotas

• Organising cover for absent staff

• Co-ordinating academic and pastoral matters within the Department

• Keeping up to date with current Department for Education and EYFS literature/guidelines and informing staff of any changes

• Liaising with Pre-Prep staff and the Learning Support Department for those pupils who need learning support

• Regularly reviewing Departmental Policies and amending as necessary – in full consultation with Pre-Prep teaching staff

• Oversee Professional Development within the department

• Liaising with the Prep School to arrange effective transition for the Year 2 pupils when they move into Year 3 and maintain regular links throughout the year

• The planning and organisation of Pre-Prep Speech Day, including leading and speaking at the event

It is the role of the Head of Pre-Prep to:

• Provide effective leadership and management, enabling the department to enhance the quality of learning of the pupils, with a view to optimising the achievement of individuals and groups of pupils

• Support the stated principles of Spratton Hall as given in the Spratton Development Plan

• Be one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads in the school

• Carry out a share of school duties and extra-curricular activities, where appropriate, and to encourage other members of the department to operate in a similar fashion

Leadership

To maintain an innovative approach so that the department is forward thinking in its methods

• To inspire department members by personal example

• To ensure that the department provides a safe, stimulating and welcoming learning environment for all pupils

• To create a vision, sense of purpose and pride in the department

• To co-ordinate with the Admissions Registrar over the production and maintenance of the Pre Prep Parents’ Handbook

• To take responsibility for timetabling within the department, in consultation with the Director of Studies where necessary

• To allocate pupils to forms

• To identify and applaud areas of success for individual teachers and the department

• To chair department meetings and ensure minutes are recorded

• To assist in the process of recruiting new departmental colleagues

• To implement school assessment and target setting policies, and make effective use of data to monitor and evaluate the achievement and attainment of pupils in the subject, including the recording and evaluation of standardised test results, when appropriate

• To oversee the provision of extra-curricular activities within the department

• To assist with the production of relevant departmental material for inclusion in the prospectus, newsletter, printed material and website

• To support and encourage in others the support of individual pupils and groups of pupils through attendance of Spratton events

Curricular/Departmental Development

• To contribute towards continuity and progression within the whole school curriculum

• To represent the department in academic meetings when appropriate

• To oversee the Pre-Prep sections of the school’s Development Plan and their implementation

• To take the initiative in identifying strategies to support consistency of practice and be a leading practitioner in the team

Stock/Resources/Budget

• To identify in advance any projects for inclusion in future budgets in liaison with the DFO

• To manage the department stock, teaching resources and finances efficiently

Liaison/Communication

• To meet regularly and develop effective departmental management

• To act as the initial point of contact regarding all issues relating to the department

• To liaise with subject Heads of Department

• To inform staff about meetings, new developments and ideas related to the subject and the department

Senior Management

• To play a major role as a senior manager in the development of all aspects of the school, including its policies and their implementation

• To attend daily SMT meetings at 8am (except Wednesdays)

• To attend the full SMT meeting on a Tuesday at 4.20pm

• To attend meetings with Governors, particularly the Governor with responsibility for Pre-Prep, as necessary and as required

• To attend special school events, as directed by the Headmaster

This job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to amendment or modification at any time after consultation with the post holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of the School in relation to the post holder’s professional responsibilities and duties