Assistant Head of Pastoral (expat or local contract)

Pastoral Care at St Paul’s

Pastoral care at St. Paul’s is rooted in our core values. We place the interests of our pupils at the centre of every decision, fostering their sense of adventure, aspiration, inclusion, resilience, responsibility and, above all, kindness. Our strategy and approach are defined by St. Paul’s Leadership Team, which includes the Head, the Head of Senior School, the Head of Junior School, and Head of Safeguarding & Wellbeing. Together, we ensure a coherent, aligned, and consistent approach to supporting and safeguarding our community. 

We believe that academic success is strengthened by a strong pastoral foundation, bringing together safeguarding, wellbeing and a reflective approach to behaviour. This helps pupils to develop emotional resilience, empathy, self-awareness and social agency. 

We are committed to ensuring that our pastoral systems and processes encourage a strong and trusting partnership between pupils, parents and staff. We use monitoring and wellbeing tools such as CPOMS  to support early intervention and proactive identification of vulnerable pupils. At the heart of our practice, however, are meaningful relationships and face to face conversations, which make St. Paul’s a welcoming, respectful and safe environment. 

The role: Assistant Head Pastoral for the Senior School

We are seeking a proactive individual with imagination, creativity, empathy and energy. The Assistant Head Pastoral is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Safeguarding Team, and works closely with the Junior Leadership Team, particularly the Junior School Assistant Head Pastoral. 

The post holder will report to the Head of Senior School and collaborate closely with the Head of Safeguarding & Wellbeing and Junior School colleagues. This is a key strategic role in shaping, embedding and advancing the pastoral vision and strategy of St Paul’s. We are looking for a committed, engaged professional with excellent organisational skills, integrity, sensitivity and sound judgement. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST

Policy/Strategic direction and development

• Contribute to whole school policy development and, with St. Paul’s Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team, formulate and deliver strategy to maintain St. Paul’s position as a leading school in pastoral education and wellbeing. Ensure approaches are proactive as well as reactive. 

• Review, update and embed relevant policies and strategies within Year Group, PSHE and wider development plans, including the Senior Behaviour Policy and Pastoral Vision for the Senior School. 

• Support the Head of Senior School and Head of Safeguarding & Wellbeing in responsibilities relating to student wellbeing. 

• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Senior School (Forms 1 to 5), support safeguarding in the Sixth Form, and work together with the Head of Safeguarding & Wellbeing in maintaining excellent safeguarding standards. 

• Support the PSHE Coordinator in developing an inspiring, innovative and bespoke PSHE programme across the Senior School, encouraging active engagement from staff. 

• Encourage and develop student voice and representation through the Student Council, Sixth Form Prefect Team and expanded peer mentoring structures. 

• Help establish St. Paul’s as a centre for research in pastoral education and provision. 

• Take lead responsibility for at least one pastoral themed week each academic year. 

Leadership & management of others

• Empower Senior Heads of Year to develop leadership capacity and ensure excellent pastoral provision across the Senior School, with a strong focus on supporting and training Form Tutors. This includes professional development, coaching, mentoring, appraisal, and target setting. 

• Offer day to day support for Senior Heads of Year, deputising in their absence and chairing fortnightly meetings to discuss pastoral and academic matters. 

• Work with the Senior Leadership Team, Senior Heads of Year and Junior School to ensure all pastoral and behaviour related policies are clearly understood, consistently implemented and confidently applied. 

• Provide regular pastoral and safeguarding INSET, including training and guidance for tutors and teachers. 

• Manage pastoral data and tracking systems, bringing together information from ISAMS, CPOMS and CEM to strengthen the holistic understanding of pupils and support staff in addressing needs effectively. 

Operational and Organisational Responsibilities 

• Oversee arrangements at the beginning and end of the academic year, including formation of tutor groups and teams, allocation and clearing of lockers, duty rotas, assemblies and lunch schedules. 

• Review and manage the rewards and sanctions system, ensuring clarity, transparency and consistency for staff, pupils and parents. 

• Monitor pupil attendance and punctuality. 

• Manage the election of the Senior School Council,chair monthly meetings and oversee their leadership role. 

• Lead whole school and year group assemblies on pastoral and PSHE themes that support pupils’ academic, moral and social development. 

• Organise and implement the Prep 5 transition programme into the Senior School in partnership with the Junior School pastoral team and Senior Leadership Team. 

• Manage appropriate learning provision for pupils temporarily unable to participate in lessons or school trips. 

• Oversee Saturday Detention arrangements, including dates, supervision rotas, registers and tasks. 

General Responsibilities

This role includes teaching a predetermined timetable. 

All staff members are expected to: 

• Support and contribute to the School Development Plan. 

• Maintain up to date knowledge of teaching practice within their subject area. 

• Plan and deliver lessons that meet individual learning needs in line with school and departmental expectations. 

• Participate in quality assurance processes, including curriculum reviews, and maintain accurate records of attendance, attainment and assessment. 

• Set, assess and record work in accordance with school and departmental policies. 

• Inspire trust and confidence in pupils. 

• Support all safeguarding and child protection responsibilities. 

• Ensure a safe environment for pupils, staff and visitors. 

• Support the school’s sustainability initiatives. 

• Promote the school’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. 

• Carry out any reasonable duties requested by the Head. 

Start is expected to be in July 2026.

About us:

St. Paul’s was founded in 1926 and was the first school in South America to receive accreditation from the UK government as a British School Oversees. Fully coeducational, with about 1,000 pupils, aged from 3 to 18, it is a school with history and tradition, but which embraces innovation, contemporary values and the latest in digital learning. We are a world-class school, and an international member of HMC and IAPS, and a member of COBIS and the LAHC. We are proud of our local, national and international reputation and we constantly strive to improve the opportunities for our pupils and staff. Our recent BSO inspection judged us as a leading British School overseas, and you can download the report from our website. Our exceptional facilities place teaching and learning at the heart of the school.

Watch a video of the school:

More details about the school can be found at www.stpauls.br.

Benefits (expat contract)

For expatriates the package is a two-year (renewable) contract that includes: housing allowance; furnishing allowance; grocery allowance; return flights (at the start and end of each contract); luggage allowances (inbound and return); visa expenses covered; opt-in private pension scheme; high-interest savings scheme, healthcare and dental plan, on-site lunch and a UK-sterling salary allowance, accommodation in walking-distance apartment.

Living in Brazil and in São Paulo city

“It only took a matter of months for me to fall in love with Brazil: the warmth of its people; their optimism and zest for life; their willingness to help strangers and their ever-readiness for a party! This, against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty, incredible wildlife and some of the best beaches I have ever seen make Brazil an unrivalled country to call home away from home. More locally, São Paulo is an elating metropolis to live in: I love how diverse it is demographically; how green and leafy it is; the excellent arts and culture options; the food offering is second-to-none and the nightlife is awesome. In all, São Paulo (and Brazil) are the best places to live if you value good people, fun, quality of life and heady adventure.” - Mr Jonathan Tarrant, Second in the English Department in Senior School.

Benefits (local contracts)

• Health insurance

• Dental plan

• Pension plan

• Onsite lunches

• Food card

• Transportation tickets

Safeguarding

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The offer of the role would be made subject to receipt of satisfactory references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification checks and other safeguarding checks (including Internet and Social Media profiles and exposure), an overseas check if appropriate and a pre-placement medical assessment. Proof of entitlement to work in Brazil is also required where necessary

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be an experienced, committed and inspiring educator with: 

Skills, Knowledge and Professional Experience 

• A degree relevant to the post, a desirable DfE recognised teaching qualification and commitment to ongoing professional development. 

• Recent and successful secondary teaching experience, with the ability to teach up to Sixth Form and demonstrate excellent subject knowledge. 

• Strong planning, assessment, record keeping, ICT and presentation skills, with the ability to design and deliver high quality learning. 

• Experience in pastoral leadership within an 11 to 18 setting, including safeguarding, pupil progress monitoring, behaviour management and working with external agencies. 

• Understanding of current educational developments relating to wellbeing and pastoral care, and awareness of IGCSE and IB. 

• Proven ability to raise standards, lead change, innovate and work confidently with data tracking systems such as ISAMS, CPOMS, CEM and STEER. 

• Experience of managing teams, chairing meetings, coordinating extra-curricular activities and working collaboratively with the wider community. 

• Recent experience of leading or developing a whole Senior School initiative. 

Personal Qualities and Leadership Attributes 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including confident public speaking and the ability to engage pupils, colleagues and parents. 

• Strong organisational ability, sound judgement, resilience and the capacity to work effectively under pressure and independently. 

• Integrity, empathy, emotional intelligence and the ability to inspire trust and respect. 

• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, equality of opportunity, sustainability and the ethos and values of St. Paul’s. 

• A collaborative, flexible and reflective approach, with willingness to contribute to whole school initiatives and share best practice. 

• A sense of humour and enthusiasm for wider school life. 

Desirable 

• Experience working in an international or coeducational setting, and interest in celebrating pupil achievements, talents and leadership. 

• Experience of planning and delivering in the classroom.

• A proven track record as an outstanding classroom teacher able to teach up to and including 6th form.

• First-class planning, assessment and record-keeping.

• Highly organised having the ability to work in a self-directed manner.

• A proven record of raising standards & initiating and maintaining innovative curriculum design and delivery, with a clear vision for success.

• Confident.

• An ability to undertake Public Speaking with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent presentation skills.

• Excellent problem-solving skills.

• Excellent ICT skills.

• Working with the wider community.

• Extra Curricular planning and organisation.

• Chairing meetings.

• The ability to earn respect from pupils.

• Awareness of IGCSE and IB