Head of Residential Life (Upper Sixth)

Canford School is seeking to appoint a well-qualified, inspirational pastoral leader with a passion for promoting excellence in pastoral care and the capacity to motivate and support Upper Sixth pupils, as well as managing and developing the dedicated Residential Life staff team. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong, innovative vision for the College as an opportunity to prepare our Sixth Formers for adult-life. They will be flexible, energetic, possess a good sense of humour and have the ability to be calm, firm and cheerful in dealing with young people. They will be confident in their ability to forge positive relationships with parents and guardians and will not only be an adaptable and supportive member of a team, but also able to work independently. 

The successful candidate will be able to articulate and evidence a strong track record of innovation and achievement in the pastoral sphere, will have previous experience of pastoral management in a boarding context and, most importantly a strong, dynamic and caring character with warmth and charisma.  Deep reserves of stamina, emotional intelligence and resilience are also essential qualities.  In addition, you must have excellent communication, management and teamwork skills and a high degree of administrative efficiency. With a focus on professional development and opportunities for career progression, Canford also offers an excellent benefits and accommodation package. 

Canford is a very successful co-educational boarding and day school with 648 pupils aged 13 – 18, of who about a third are day pupils. There are 286 pupils in the Sixth form. It has one of the most beautiful settings of any school in the country and has a very enjoyable and exciting atmosphere in which to work. The pastoral side of the school is very strong, and applicants should be willing to play a full part in the co-curricular life of the school. 

OVERALL PURPOSE

The Head of Residential Life (Upper Sixth) will hold pastoral responsibility for all pupils in the Upper Sixth at Canford upon their transfer from Day and Boarding Houses to the College. They will also oversee all aspects of the boarding provision in the two College Residences (opening Sept 2026), managing the Residential Life team, ensuring that boarding standards are met and that the provision of social, life skills and wellbeing activities for the Sixth Form is delivered to a high standard.

The overarching aim of the College setup is to support the Upper Sixth in their transition to life beyond school and to empower them to make appropriate decisions about their own futures. At the same time, it is crucial that they make the most of their final year at Canford and that appropriate routines, safeguards and initiatives are in place to support academic success, personal development, relationship building and wellbeing. Pupils are encouraged to engage purposefully with all aspects of school life, act as leaders and role models for younger pupils, and prepare for their final exams with dedication.

At a time when they are on the cusp of adult life, it is paramount that the pastoral guidance pupils receive should not only support them whilst at school but should also provide them with the knowledge and tools required to flourish as they look to make the transition to living more independently.

The development of the College is an exciting juncture for the School, and the successful candidate will have considerable opportunity to innovate and to have significant pastoral impact at Canford.

DUTIES

Pastoral Leadership

• Be a frequent and visible presence across both College Residences and the College Hub, forging positive relationships with pupils, parents and colleagues.
• Foster a culture where pupils are empowered to take increasing responsibility for themselves (with a particular focus on their wellbeing and decision making) whilst at the same time feeling confident to access the systems of support available to them.
• Ensure that the pastoral provision in the College is innovative, intentional and thoughtfully aligned with its overarching vision and ethos, which is to support the transition to adult life.
• Develop and refine processes that support the smooth transition from Houses to College, ensuring that pastoral handovers are comprehensive, that pupils’ pastoral needs are understood and prioritised and that communication with parents and guardians is open and effective.

Safeguarding and Compliance

• See that any requirements of the Children Act are adhered to: particularly promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all pupils for whom s/he is responsible or with whom s/he comes into contact; ensuring compliance with the school’s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times; and reporting any concerns to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or the Headmaster.
• Ensure that National Minimum Standards for Boarding are met and that the College residential offering is fully compliant.
• Utilise pastoral systems, including My Concern, to log issues relating to safeguarding, wellbeing and welfare. Furthermore, keep clear, well organised records of all pupils including any disciplinary records, reports, emails and notes, which may be used for reference in the future.

Management and Collaboration

• Work in close collaboration with the Deputy Head Pastoral, Assistant Head - College (AHC), Safeguarding Officer, and members of the Wellbeing team in matters related to U6th pupil welfare.
• Contribute to the College multidisciplinary team of staff – academic, pastoral, co-curricular, futures – in support of Sixth Form pupils.
• Contribute to the broader systems in place for pastoral management across the school, attending all regular Housemaster/mistress meetings.
• Lead the Residential Life (ResLife) and College Administration and Pupil Support (CAPS) teams, ensuring that a positive atmosphere is maintained and that staff are supported in their professional development.

Pastoral Care

• Be available to Upper Sixth pupils for help and guidance. In a residential context, this may include being regularly called upon ‘out of hours.’ Where the issue falls outside of the pastoral remit, appropriate support should be signposted, and the Head of Residential Life (Upper Sixth) may work in close collaboration with colleagues in different areas of the school.
• Work in close partnership with Sixth Form Tutors, so that pupil welfare is prioritised.
• Set high standards of personal behaviour and manners, and expect these from all pupils.
• Ensure that systems are in place to regularly capture pupil voice and ensure that the offering in the College Hub and Residences can be dynamic and responsive to pupil need.
• Design and implement, with the support of the ResLife team and in collaboration with the Assistant Head College, a varied and inclusive programme of:
  • community and social events that can be accessed by the whole of the Sixth Form
  • College activities that support the development of skills for independent living
  • initiatives supporting welfare and wellbeing, both at school and in preparation for adult life.

Communication

• Foster positive working relationships with parents, by way of welcome, regular information sharing, collaboration if / when any significant problem appears, hosting receptions during the year and promoting opportunities to build a strong College community for all families.
• Be readily available for consultation with parents to deal with issues arising at School or at home.
• Write reports positively, offering honesty and encouragement

Operations

• In collaboration with the Assistant Head College, create staffing rotas for daytime and overnight supervision of the College Hub and Residences, ensuring that these are fair and allow for reasonable rest breaks.
• In collaboration with the CAPS and ResLife teams, ensure that College buildings are properly looked after; that breakages and faults are reported to the Estates Bursar, and that pupils are encouraged to treat the School property respectfully.
• As budget holder for the College, liaise closely with bursarial departments and ensure that financial controls are in place.

Recruitment

• Assist in the recruitment of pupils to the school by a) contributing to initiatives designed to support admissions into the Sixth Form in particular, as well as the School in general; b) showing prospective parents round the College and discussing pastoral and educational matters with them; c) demonstrating enthusiasm for the College model and the opportunity it provides to prepare pupils for the transition to life beyond school.

Wider contributions to School life

• Staff at Canford are encouraged to contribute to the broader co-curricular life of the school
• Whilst this is anticipated to be a stand-alone position, there may be opportunities to combine the role with additional responsibilities from teaching, co-curricular or support areas. Such an arrangement would be discussed at interview.

No job description can fully convey the full responsibilities that are required for the successful operation of a role such as this, and responsibilities are likely to evolve over time with the development of the College.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• An honours degree in any subject (D)
• A recognised teaching qualification such as PGCE (D)
• Level 3 safeguarding certificate (D)
• Proven pastoral leadership in a boarding context, working with pupils of Sixth Form age (E)
• A clear understanding of National Minimum Standards for Boarding and their implementation (E)
• A clear understanding of safeguarding and welfare protocols for adolescents (E)
• Experience managing complex pastoral situations, particularly concerning young adults (E)
• A clear understanding of the academic and co-curricular demands of Sixth Form life in a boarding context (E)
• Knowledge and/or experience of the residential context at universities (D)
• Experience of creating and delivering programmes for the development of life skills (D)
• Experience of developing and implementing social programmes for young adults (D)

Key Skills

• Ability to innovate in the pastoral sphere, with the intent to create provision that is pupil centred and future focused (E)
• Skilled communicator; able to swiftly build strong relationships with pupils, parents and colleagues (E)
• Track record of effective team management (E)
• High degree of administrative efficiency and ability to work at pace (responsive to need) (E)
• Effective ICT skills (D)

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about the wellbeing of young people (E)
• Proactive and creative; excited by the prospect of innovating and building a new model for boarding (E)
• Adaptable and supportive member of a team (E)
• Outward looking with a desire to grow and learn (E)
• Stamina, resilience and emotional intelligence (E)
• A role model for young people who is empathetic and value driven (E)

Please ensure you include details of referees in your application. Please also upload a covering letter and full curriculum vitae. For queries contact the HR Department on 01202 847590 or by email: recruitment@canford.com. Further information may be obtained from Julia Bird (Assistant Head College) by emailing jfb@canford.com. 

Please ensure you cover the following points in your cover letter:

• Boarding management – experience of pastoral leadership in a residential context with pupils of Sixth Form age.
• Innovation in the pastoral sphere – evidence of initiatives you have led that have supported the personal development of pupils as they prepare for life beyond school
• Building and growing the College – experience developing new pastoral systems / structures and your approach to change management in these instances
• Community, engagement and trust – how you would ensure that pupils, parents and colleagues feel confident in the pastoral provision in the College.
• Personal qualities – what makes you the right person to take on this exciting leadership role at Canford?

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 18^th November 2025 and we anticipate that interviews will take place the following week.  

Canford School is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our Community and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.  

Canford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

All successful job applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening.