Assistant Housemistress / Housemaster
- Organisation: Downe House School
- Location: Berkshire
- Tenure: Full-time
- Closing Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026
This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in a busy boarding community. Bring drive, warmth and resilience as you support our girls through challenges, celebrate success and inspire them to achieve their full potential.
Downe House is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18, based in the village of Cold Ash, Berkshire. Our aim is to provide pupils with a wealth of academic, pastoral and Co-Curricular opportunities to allow them to grow into confident young women.
An Assistant Housemistress fulfils a vital role at Downe House. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for excellence; unbounded energy to ensure the House is well run and an unyielding determination to support each girl in the House, as she navigates her own individual journey to be the very best version of herself (even at 7am, when she might rather be in bed!).
You will be immersed in the 24/7 nature of a busy school. The ideal candidate will be intelligent, patient, kind, fun and brave role models for our girls and with previous experience of working in a boarding environment. Preferably you will also be a qualified teacher, who is able to teach up to half a timetable in your specific field.
You’ll inspire our girls to be trailblazers in all that they do. Attention to detail, a good understanding of cross-cultural issues and great likeability are important qualities. When it goes wrong, as it can on the teenage journey, you will need to be able to help your girls to navigate failure and manage parental expectations with diplomacy and wisdom. You will be supported in your role by your Housemistress and a wider House Team to ensure the happiness and safety of pupils in your care.
This is a residential post, so the Assistant Housemistress will be required to live in the fully funded self-contained accommodation which will be provided. You will have weekly time off during the 34 weeks of term time and enjoy substantial holiday periods for nearly 18 weeks outside of term time.
We offer a range of benefits including:
- Generous employer contribution to pension
- Life Insurance and Critical Illness cover
- Regular CPD opportunities and a supportive induction programme
- Provision of delicious free meals, on-site parking
- Modern gym and swimming pool facilities, for staff use at set times
- A vibrant and supportive staff community
- A beautiful working environment in a semi-rural location
Downloads
This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in a busy boarding community. Bring drive, warmth and resilience as you support our girls through challenges, celebrate success and inspire them to achieve their full potential.
Description
Downe House is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18, based in the village of Cold Ash, Berkshire. Our aim is to provide pupils with a wealth of academic, pastoral and Co-Curricular opportunities to allow them to grow into confident young women.
An Assistant Housemistress fulfils a vital role at Downe House. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for excellence; unbounded energy to ensure the House is well run and an unyielding determination to support each girl in the House, as she navigates her own individual journey to be the very best version of herself (even at 7am, when she might rather be in bed!).
You will be immersed in the 24/7 nature of a busy school. The ideal candidate will be intelligent, patient, kind, fun and brave role models for our girls and with previous experience of working in a boarding environment. Preferably you will also be a qualified teacher, who is able to teach up to half a timetable in your specific field.
You’ll inspire our girls to be trailblazers in all that they do. Attention to detail, a good understanding of cross-cultural issues and great likeability are important qualities. When it goes wrong, as it can on the teenage journey, you will need to be able to help your girls to navigate failure and manage parental expectations with diplomacy and wisdom. You will be supported in your role by your Housemistress and a wider House Team to ensure the happiness and safety of pupils in your care.
This is a residential post, so the Assistant Housemistress will be required to live in the fully funded self-contained accommodation which will be provided. You will have weekly time off during the 34 weeks of term time and enjoy substantial holiday periods for nearly 18 weeks outside of term time.
We offer a range of benefits including:
- Generous employer contribution to pension
- Life Insurance and Critical Illness cover
- Regular CPD opportunities and a supportive induction programme
- Provision of delicious free meals, on-site parking
- Modern gym and swimming pool facilities, for staff use at set times
- A vibrant and supportive staff community
- A beautiful working environment in a semi-rural location
Downloads
