Housemaster/ Mistress

An HM is responsible to the Master for the leadership of a boarding house in which an environment is developed and maintained to meet the College’s Pastoral, Academic and Co- Curricular aims, in providing a safe, secure, happy and enriching boarding community within which individual pupils can thrive. The academic and pastoral responsibilities are of equal importance.

All staff have a duty of care for pupils, but the HM acts as in loco parentis for the children in their boarding House. The College works in partnership with parents to ensure the best outcomes for the child and the HM is expected to manage frequent and open lines of communication with parents and guardians.

There must also be clear communication between the HM and the Senior Management Team, the House team, teaching and co-curricular staff, medical centre and other key members of staff.

The HM body meet weekly and more formally, four times a term and each HM can expect to make a strong individual contribution the high standards of pastoral care across the College.

HMs are expected to manage their Dame, Resident Tutor and tutor team as well as the resources of the House such that safety, good discipline and pastoral wellbeing is ensured for all pupils within it.

HMs are expected to work closely with the Admissions Department and the Marketing Department to promote the House and the College to prospective families and to our many feeder schools.

All HMs are expected to teach approximately 60% of a full timetable.

Key Responsibilities Pupils

• To give the safeguarding of pupil welfare the highest priority.
• To ensure that every pupil in the House develops his or her personal, social, extra- curricular and academic potential to the fullest extent in line with the aims of the College.
• To maintain good order and to ensure a high standard of discipline within the House.
• To promote social and recreational opportunities within the House and to participate in planning and provision of activities for pupils.
• To encourage the maintenance of pupil health and wellbeing, including emotional and mental health and wellbeing. To refer any concerns in this respect to medical staff and to senior members of the College.
• To ensure that every pupil is aware of the outlets for counselling and listening and is aware of opportunities for adult support and guidance.

2.Parents

• To work in close partnership with parents to promote the welfare of their children within the school.
• To ensure close communication with them over matters of academic progress, (including external examinations and Higher Education/Guidance) pastoral welfare and any other matter pertaining to their child within the school.
• To deal with prospective Marlborough parents in such a way that best represents the ethos, values and interests of the College.
• To ensure that records are accurately kept in respect of parental communication.

3.Tutors and House Staff

• To induct, lead and develop a team of tutors within the House, in accordance with the specific and generic role descriptions.
• To ensure that the team of tutors are aware of school policy on all important matters relating to the welfare of boarding pupils, and are able to apply this within the House.
• To liaise with the Deputy Head (Pastoral) regarding the allocation, development and training of tutors including the RHT and Super Tutor.

• To organise such duty rosters as are necessary.
• To liaise closely with the Dame, domestic staff and the Medical Centre, as appropriate.

4.Administration

• To be present at the College at such times as directed by the Master for the good management of the House. These times include: the issue of external public examination results in mid-August, the 72-hour period before the beginning of each term, (unless specific permission is sought to be away from Marlborough).
• To maintain all records, including pupils' individual files and electronic records as appropriate, and in accordance with the College’s guidance on GDPR.
• To check regularly and complete attendance registers, recording attendance of day pupils and absence of boarders, noting reasons for absence. To produce such records when required as part of compliance evidence, re external inspection.
• To prepare reports and references - including confidential reports, and notes of pastoral, disciplinary or other incidents.
• To co-ordinate all information received from parents, staff and outside agencies about individual pupils and to distribute the information as necessary using the structures in place as appropriate.
• To report damages and defects to the Director of Operations and to ensure that the fabric of the building is well cared for and that health and safety procedures are known and adhered to.
• To liaise with parents as necessary, through the annual routine cycle of the College year.
• To liaise with outside agencies - including prep schools and universities - as appropriate.

5.Management

To work closely with the Management Team to promote the good health, safety and successful management of the House. The following list is not exhaustive but gives an indication of the areas of crucial liaison.

• To work closely with the Admissions Department to sustain the recruitment of pupils, via PPVs, assessment for Shell and L6 Admission, House Lists, Prep School visiting, Open Days etc.
• To ensure the Master, Bursar and relevant members of the Management Team are aware of all relevant issues, and in particular to liaise with the Deputy Head, (Pastoral), Head of Boarding, Second Master and Deputy Head Safeguarding over disciplinary and pastoral matters.
• To liaise with Heads of Department over academic programmes.
• To liaise with the Bursar and Director of Finance over financial matters and ensure that accurate House accounts are maintained in accordance with College Policy.
• To liaise with the Deputy Head (Academic), the Deputy Head (Co-Curricular and Outreach), the Heads of Year and Senior Chaplain over matters relating to their areas of responsibility.
• To undertake relevant management tasks related to the Health and Safety of pupils and staff in House, including relevant risk assessments and fire safety drills.

• To undertake an annual staff performance review with your Dame and to oversee the management of the annual cycle of performance review for all other House Staff carried out by your Dame, through your role as Senior Reviewer.

Start date in role- September 2026