Boarding Houseparent (Residential)

We are looking to recruit a Houseparent for our boarding house, located in Brotherton Castle, which accommodates up to 35 male and female senior school pupils aged 12-18, ranging from flexi to full-time boarders.

This post requires someone who likes and understands children and young people, has a warm and sympathetic personality and is able to demonstrate effective decision making. They should have good inter-personal skills with children and young people, as well as their parents and guardians, and be a good listener, flexible in outlook, reliable, warm and friendly in disposition. They should have sufficient sensitivity to show tact and diplomacy. A sense of humour, a strong sense of calm and an even temper dealing with all situations in a co-operative manner are also fundamental to carrying out this job effectively.

This is a residential position for term time only, plus sufficient time at the beginning and end of term to prepare the boarding house. The Houseparent will, together with the Assistant Houseparent and Matron, work to provide a warm, welcoming environment within the boarding house where pupils should feel relaxed, comfortable and at home. Lathallan does not have weekend schooling, so the postholder will be expected to plan and deliver a programme of weekend activities for our full boarders.

The postholder will be expected to contribute to the wider Lathallan community, whether that be as a teacher in the classroom, on the sports field, on our wider estate, or adventuring beyond the school gates.

Applicants will require good organisational skills and initiative and the ability to work with a significant degree of autonomy, combined with strong ‘team player’ instincts and a good sense of school community.

All members of the Lathallan staffing team are expected to maintain high professional standards in all contact with students and colleagues and to act with impeccable integrity.

Core Responsibilities:

• Overall responsibility for boarding pupils (age range 11 to 18)
• Responsibility for the production of the Boarding improvement plan & compliance with Care Commission and SSSC regulations
• Act as liaison with the Care Commission and SSSC
• To meet regularly with the Heads of Pastoral Care
• To liaise with the Catering Manager over weekend meals
• Use of skill areas in the daytime running of the school as required
• To run and organise weekend activities for full and weekend boarders with support from senior school teaching staff
• To organise weekly, evening and weekend activities for boarders
• Supervision or delegation of prep periods Monday to Thursday
• To be aware of, and respond to, the special needs of individual boarders, including those with different cultural backgrounds, and to be aware of the changing needs of all pupils as he/she develop
• To be aware of all appropriate emergency procedures and to be trained in First Aid
• To welcome all new pupils into the House, and to integrate them as far as possible in all aspects of boarding life
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required by the Headmaster
• Ensure when going off duty, all relevant information is communicated to boarding staff
• To liaise with parents and guardians over termly & exeat weekend arrangements and transportation
• Working with the Head of Admissions on the promotion of boarding and international student guardian arrangements
• To write progression reports on students at the end of each term
• To lead and review boarding rules and policies with the pupils, boarding staff, Senior Master and Headmaster
• promoting the general progress and well-being of individual pupils and any class or group of pupils assigned to him/her
• providing guidance and advice to pupils on educational and social matters; making relevant records and reports
• making records of and reports on the personal and social needs of pupils
• communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils
• surveying stakeholders in consultation with the Head of Pastoral Care & Headmaster
• communicating and co-operating with persons or bodies outside the School
• providing or contributing to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils
• participating in any arrangements for the appraisal of his/her performance

Responsible To: Head of Pastoral Care & Headmaster

Responsible For: Assistant Houseparent and all members of the house team

Continuing Professional Development (“CPD”)

• reviewing on an ongoing basis his/her methods of pupil engagement and programmes of work and complying with the arrangements the School has in place for CPD which shall include maintaining his/her professional expertise. These will be committed to an annual plan with Houseparent being required to maintain an individual CPD record which he/she shall produce on request

Discipline, Health and Safety:

• Maintaining good order and discipline among the pupils and safeguarding their health and safety both on the School premises and when engaged in authorised School activities elsewhere
• The compliance with trips policy and production of appropriate risk assessments

Meetings:

• Chair and produce minutes for fortnightly boarding staff pastoral meetings
• With the pupil Heads of Boarding, chair and produce minutes for fortnightly meetings

Other Duties:

• It is anticipated that the post holder will teach or have the ability to deliver sport or outdoor learning. Experience in teaching Geography or Support for Learning are of interest. For sports coaching, experience in netball or athletics is desirable.

Benefits:

• The successful candidate will take up accommodation within the Castle in a recently refurbished two-bedroom flat.
• The school, with the exception of a private telephone line, will meet all service charges with the additional provision of school meals for the successful candidate and his/her family in term time and when available.
• Company events
• Company pension
• Use of our gym
• Employee discount on school fees
• On-site free parking

Terms and Conditions:

• To take up the post, a successful applicant(s) must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Candidates who are registered or eligible to register with the SSSC may also be considered.
• A first aid at work or similar certificate is a requirement.
• A successful PVG check will be required.
• The ability to drive and take a Midas minibus test is a requirement.
• Salary will be according to Lathallan salary scales & pension and based on experience and expertise.
• The appointment will be made subject to two satisfactory references being provided.

Start Date: 17/08/26

The start date for the post is August 17th 2026 with accommodation being available slightly before this date.

Apply:

A letter of application, addressed to the Headmaster, and a CV with at least 2 references should be submitted to the School Secretary, office@lathallan.org.uk by Monday 11th May at 1pm. Interviews will take place shortly afterwards.