Head of Safeguarding

• Job title:Head of Safeguarding
• Job Type:Permanent, Full Time, Monday-Friday, 8am - 5pm
• Salary:Competitive
• Department:Pastoral
• Reporting to:Deputy Head Pastoral
• Location:Highgate Senior School and Highgate Junior School
• Start:19th April 2027 (or earlier if availability allows)
• Closing Date:2 November 2026 at 8:00 am

Highgate is seeking an experienced, energetic and highly credible safeguarding professional to join its senior leadership team as Head of Safeguarding (Designated Safeguarding Lead). We are looking for someone who combines strong expertise in safeguarding and child protection with the ability to build trust quickly with young people, parents and colleagues. The successful candidate may come from either an educational or social care background but will share a commitment to placing children’s welfare at the heart of school life, working collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies, and helping to shape and lead best practice across a large and ambitious school community.

This opportunity arises following the departure of our current postholder, who is leaving Highgate to take up an exciting opportunity in the wider safeguarding sector. The role is well established and highly regarded within the School, reflecting Highgate’s longstanding commitment to safeguarding and pastoral care.

Highgate created a dedicated safeguarding leadership role, separate from the Deputy Head (Pastoral), in 2022 as part of a significant investment in safeguarding provision. Since then, the role has become central to the School’s pastoral structure and approach to child protection. The title is now being updated to Head of Safeguarding, reflecting the operational focus of the position and its leadership of safeguarding practice across the School.

The Head of Safeguarding reports to the Deputy Head (Pastoral) and works closely with the Head, Governors, pastoral leaders and external agencies. The role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making while remaining closely involved in casework, staff training, policy development and partnership working with families and statutory services.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join the Senior Team of one of the country’s leading independent schools and an award-winning educational charity.

We welcome applications from candidates with substantial safeguarding experience in schools, social care, health, child protection or related services. The successful candidate will have experience of leading safeguarding practice, making complex safeguarding decisions and working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. They will be an excellent communicator, calm under pressure, highly organised, and committed to the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection.

It is likely that we will be in touch soon after the deadline to invite the long list of candidates to an Online interview during the week commencing 9 November. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to visit the school for a further interview, written task, presentation, and desktop exercise in the week beginning 16 November.

Job Description

To act as the School’s Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead, providing operational leadership of safeguarding and child protection across the Foundation and ensuring the effective implementation of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice.

Operations and Training:

• To manage and support the team of DSLs across the Foundation, chairing regular DSL meetings, providing professional guidance on safeguarding cases and coordinating DSL training;
• To oversee and direct effective Safeguarding induction and continual professional development training for all staff;
• To maintain oversight of all safeguarding concerns, providing…