Job Title: Head of KS3 (Pastoral)

Location: The Wisbech Academy

Salary: Main Teacher pay scale or Upper Teacher pay scale + TLR 2A

Hours per week / Weeks per year: 32.5 hours per week/ 52 weeks per year

Start date: September 2026

About our school

We are a new 11–16 school serving 600 students (120 PAN), growing year-on-year, we will move into our purpose-built site in 2026/27. Being part of the Wisbech Campus enables shared facilities, collaboration and excellent opportunities for staff and students.

The Role

We are seeking an inspiring and knowledgeable Head of Key Stage Three (Pastoral) to lead the development of a caring, high‑expectations pastoral culture across Years 7, 8 and 9. As a new and growing school—opened in 2024 and currently with Years 7 and 8—you will play a pivotal role in shaping the pastoral identity, systems, routines and culture that will guide pupils through the crucial formative years of secondary education.

As one of our earliest pastoral leaders, you will have the rare opportunity to build the KS3 pastoral structure from the ground up—establishing routines, policies, enrichment, behaviour expectations, character development, and a long‑term vision that reflects both your expertise and the school’s ambition to be a supportive, scholarly and inclusive community.

This role requires someone with deep understanding of pastoral care, exceptional relational skills, and the ability to mentor colleagues, nurture emerging talent, and build a cohesive, high‑performing team over time.

What You Will Do

• ·        Lead the creation of a coherent and robust pastoral system across Key Stage Three, ensuring that every pupil is known, supported and challenged.

  ·        Model and maintain high expectations for behaviour, attendance, conduct and attitudes to learning across all KS3 year groups.

  ·        Embed and champion our restorative approach to behaviour, drawing on the principles of Paul Dix to create a culture rooted in relationships, consistency and dignity.

  ·        Shape the long‑term vision for pastoral care at Wisbech Academy, ensuring that routines, culture and systems remain grounded in the best available evidence.

  ·        Mentor and support form tutors and pastoral staff as the school grows—helping to develop confident, expert practitioners.

  ·        Contribute to the recruitment, induction and professional development of future pastoral and teaching staff.

  ·        Develop high‑quality pastoral enrichment opportunities, including assemblies, character education, wellbeing initiatives and community‑building events.

  ·        Work closely with families, external agencies and multidisciplinary teams to support pupils with additional needs and ensure early, effective intervention.

  ·        Lead on behaviour support, attendance improvement, safeguarding awareness and pastoral communication across KS3.

  ·        Play a central role in establishing a warm, structured and aspirational culture during the Academy’s early years.· 

What We’re Looking For

• · ·      A passionate and committed pastoral leader with experience supporting young people in a secondary setting.

• ·        Excellent understanding of behaviour systems, attendance processes, safeguarding principles and pastoral intervention strategies.

• ·        Someone who understands the importance of routines, relationships and high expectations—and can embed them consistently across three year groups.

• ·        A reflective, evidence‑informed practitioner who embraces research and data to guide decision‑making.

• ·        An individual who aligns with a restorative, relationship‑centred behaviour ethos, and can model the calm, consistent practice it requires.

• ·        A leader with strong communication skills and the ability to coach, mentor and develop others.

• ·        Experience leading or contributing to form tutor teams, pastoral systems, behaviour cultures or year‑group leadership.

• ·        A calm, resilient, relational leader who can balance support with challenge and who thrives on building a positive culture from the beginning.

• ·        Someone excited by the opportunity to establish a new pastoral structure in a rapidly growing school.

Why Join Us?

• ·   ·    A passionate and committed pastoral leader with experience supporting young people in a secondary setting.

• ·        Excellent understanding of behaviour systems, attendance processes, safeguarding principles and pastoral intervention strategies.

• ·        Someone who understands the importance of routines, relationships and high expectations—and can embed them consistently across three year groups.

• ·        A reflective, evidence informed practitioner who embraces research and data to guide decision making.

• ·        An individual who aligns with a restorative, relationship centred behaviour ethos, and can model the calm, consistent practice it requires.

• ·        A leader with strong communication skills and the ability to coach, mentor and develop others.

• ·        Experience leading or contributing to form tutor teams, pastoral systems, behaviour cultures or year group leadership.

• ·        A calm, resilient, relational leader who can balance support with challenge and who thrives on building a positive culture from the beginning.

• ·        Someone excited by the opportunity to establish a new pastoral structure in a rapidly growing school.

Click here to find out more about The Wisbech Academy. 

Click here to find out more about the Wisbech Campus. 

About Brooke Weston Trust

Our students come from all walks of life, and we want our staffing body to be reflective of the communities we work within. Brooke Weston Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, culture, age, disability, marital status or socio-economic backgrounds. We encourage and welcome applications from minority groups and foster a work environment that’s inclusive as well as diverse, where people can be themselves.

Our Trust was formed more than 25 years ago with a simple and clear mission – to transform educational performance in all of our communities. Working in some of the most challenging contexts, we improve our students’ achievements by making long term commitments to the community and championing new approaches to improve the life chances for young people.

Our members of staff are essential to realising this vision, and a happy, motivated and supported team will deliver the best possible experiences for our young people.

We place great emphasis on creating a supportive and collaborative working environment in all our schools, where all staff can share best practice through our colleague networks. Brooke Weston staff get access to first class professional development through our Ambition Hub, which is also home to the Northamptonshire Teaching School.

To find out more about working for our Trust and the benefits available to staff please check out the BWT Join Us Guide.

The Benefits at Brooke Weston Trust we can offer you:  

 We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:  

• ·        Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays. An additional 3 days after 5 years’ service and the ability to purchase up to 10 days additional leave per year.  
• ·        One wellbeing day a year, in addition to your annual leave  
• ·        Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.  
• ·        Employee discounts with local and national retailers, covering high street supermarkets, days out and holidays, health and beauty, dining out plus lots more. 
• ·        A freshly prepared breakfast and hot or cold lunch each day when you work in one of our Trust schools  
• ·      Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your role requires you to be a member of a professional body, BWT will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.  
• ·       Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Your Care, an independent, external organisation. Your Care is available for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, both face to face and online.  
• ·        Additional health benefits including a Health Care cash plan and access to an online GP  
• ·        Cycle to Work scheme.  
• ·        Ongoing opportunities for training and development and access to the BWT Centre for Professional Development  
• ·        Collaborative and Ambitious colleagues with the support of a committed team who work to maintain high standards and expectations  
• ·        Be the difference – At Brooke Weston Trust we believe every child deserves the best possible start, giving them a "ticket for life." If you want to use your skills with an organisation committed to making a difference and improving lives, this is the place for you  

 Wisbech Academy is part of Brooke Weston Trust, which offers one of the most extensive and well‑structured professional development programmes in the region. Through the Trust’s Centre for Professional Development, colleagues benefit from:

• ·        A comprehensive CPD programme across curriculum, safeguarding, behaviour, SEND, leadership development, and governance
• ·        High‑quality training delivered by senior leaders across the Trust, alongside nationally recognised experts, Ofsted inspectors, DfE‑affiliated consultants, and specialist outreach providers
• ·        Access to purpose‑built professional learning facilities, including the CPD Centre (home of the Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub) and the Primary Training Hub at Oakley Vale Primary School
• ·        A wide range of courses spanning everything from curriculum design and teaching & learning to first aid, leadership, SEND, and operational skills

As a Brooke Weston Trust school, the Wisbech Academy sits within the Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub, which delivers the NPQ programme in partnership with Ambition Institute.

Being within the same Trust family gives our teachers excellent access to its full suite of NPQs, delivered in partnership with Ambition Institute. This reflects the strong emphasis Brooke Weston Trust places on high‑quality professional development, ensuring colleagues have clear, research‑informed pathways for progression.

How to Apply

We welcome visits and conversations about the role. Full details and application information are available at www.thewisbechacademy.org or by calling 01945 407909.

Closing date: 12^th April 2026

Interview date: w/c 24^th April 2026

Safer Recruitment

Care and respect for others are the values that lie at the heart of our Trust. The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. It expects all staff to share this commitment. All posts require proof of identity and as the role is working with children and young people this will also be subject to an enhanced disclosures barring service check. In line with safer recruitment requirements, individuals shortlisted for a role in school will have online checks conducted on their name across social media platforms and google.

A copy of the Trust Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found here - Safeguarding and Child Protection

The Trusts position on the recruitment of Ex-Offenders can be found under section 7 of the Trust SCR, Safer Recruitment and Staff Files Policy - Safer Recruitment and Staff Files Policy

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.