* Salary: The school will offer a competitive salary and generous benefits to reflect the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The Principal’s salary is normally subject to annual review.
* Reporting to: Principal of the Junior School
We are delighted that you are interested in coming to work at Highgate and in leading the Pre-Prep: thank you so much for getting to know us and finding out about this opportunity.
Highgate Pre-Prep is a happy, vibrant school welcoming our youngest learners to the Highgate community. Fully part of the Highgate family of schools – Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior – for over 30 years, the Pre-Prep has grown in popularity, as Highgate’s reputation as a successful co-educational school took shape and took root in North London.
Our Year 2 pupils move on to the Junior School having enjoyed a lively, innovative education free of entrance tests and prescription. We believe that the Pre-Prep building and playgrounds, recently extended and improved, are the physical expression of our belief that children in academically selective schools need not grow up quickly or miss out on play. The deliberate playfulness of the architecture and the openness of our sports fields underline our commitment to a happy, fulfilling childhood where excitement and curiosity are the motors of our pupils’ learning. Learning at the right pace for each child is a key driver for our curricular values and decision-making.
The new Principal will enjoy collaborating with colleagues in the Junior and Senior Schools to maintain and foster a vision for children growing up, for their learning, for their development as people and for their welfare. To this end the Principal is a full member of the Senior School’s leadership team as well as the Strategy and Management Committee which brings together senior leaders from across the three schools and the support staff. The Principal attends Governing Body meetings and certain sub-committees, reporting on the progress of the Pre-Prep and its development plan, contributing to strategy discussions and advising Governors. Furthermore, the Principal also plays a significant role in the joint Junior School and Pre-Prep Leadership Team, ensuring that an academically rigorous, creative and stimulating curriculum and pastoral system is in place from Reception to Year 6. Busy as the Principal is in leading the Pre-Prep, they will be a very significant player in the wider life of the whole school.
We very much look forward to meeting short-listed candidates and to exploring the future of the Pre-Prep with you. We are excited about the future and the opportunities which this appointment will create. Good luck with your application and many thanks for your interest.
The Department
Highgate Pre-Prep is for pupils aged 4–7 and we have around 180 pupils within our three-form Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes. The great majority of pupils transfer at age 7 to Highgate Junior School.
We are a school that takes a creative and reflective approach to education, with a focus on how children learn, not just what they learn. Throughout their time at the Pre-Preparatory School, the children develop resilience, curiosity and a sense of responsibility, not only as a learner, but also as a member of the Highgate community and wider society.
Pupils are bright, well-motivated and responsive and the school itself is extremely well-resourced in both human and material terms. With these advantages, the Pre-Prep can afford to be both aspirational and ambitious in the quality of education it offers. It attracts top-class teachers who enjoy the freedom from preparing pupils for entrance tests. It offers a very happy and engaging environment in which to teach and learn.
“The care, kindness, and passion the teachers have at Highgate Pre-Prep means that it is more than just a school; it’s a second home for our children.”
The Role
The Head, Governors and staff are aspirational for the Pre-Prep and see this as an exciting opportunity. In appointing an outstanding EYFS to KS2 practitioner to lead Highgate’s Pre-Prep, we see the opportunity to strengthen and deepen our Pre-Prep and Junior Schools’ alignment.
The successful candidate, reporting to Philippa Studd, the Principal of the Junior School, will be a member of a joint Pre-Prep and Junior School leadership team, deputising for the Principal of the Junior School in her absence, and sharing the responsibility for shaping and developing the educational vision for all pupils across Key Stages 1 and 2.
Candidates will lead on the day-to-day running of the Pre-Prep, holding key responsibilities for the pupils and their parents, staff and the general administration of the School. They will take an active role in admissions and the building of relationships that this entails. Candidates will work with a dedicated senior team to ensure that the quality of teaching and learning is of the highest standard, as well as to drive key topics such as diversity, inclusion, sustainability and future partnerships.
Application procedure
* Closing Date: 19th March 2025
* Shortlist Interview: w/c 31st March 2025
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.
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