Pastoral Manager

Full Job Description

We work smarter so that you can enjoy the things that matter outside of work

Job Title:  Pastoral Manager
Location:  Meadowcroft School, Wakefield, WF1 4AD
Hours:      42.5 hours per week | Monday–Friday | Mon, Tue, Wed 8am - 4.30pm, Thurs 8am- 5.30pm, Fri 8am- 3.30pm
Salary:      Up to £32,000 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        July 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Are you passionate about shaping young people’s lives, breaking down barriers to learning, and creating a school culture where every pupil feels safe, supported and inspired to thrive? Meadowcroft School is seeking a dedicated Pastoral Manager to join our leadership team and drive forward our commitment to exceptional pastoral care and personal development.

As our Pastoral Manager, you will play a central role in ensuring pupils experience a positive, enriching and safe school life. You will work closely with pupils, staff, parents and external agencies to remove barriers to learning, promote high standards of behaviour, and champion the wellbeing and personal development of every child.

You will be a visible, trusted leader—someone who builds strong relationships, models professionalism, and ensures our ethos of independence, resilience, respect, aspiration, enjoyment and community unity is lived out across the school.

What you will be doing

• Lead the pastoral provision across the Centre, ensuring high standards of behaviour, wellbeing, safeguarding and personal development; oversee attendance (with a focus on vulnerable groups), manage transitions, coordinate individual support plans, and embed the school’s ethos of independence, resilience, respect, aspiration, enjoyment and community unity.
• Work directly with pupils to remove barriers to learning, identifying strategies for behaviour, social and emotional needs; monitor targeted interventions; supervise lunchtime/after-school clubs and transport; set and review wellbeing targets; and ensure pupils experience a safe, enriching and aspirational school life.
• Drive high expectations for behaviour and conduct, ensuring consistent implementation of the behaviour policy, modelling professionalism, fairness and respect; investigate incidents, apply transparent consequences, and promote routines that support exemplary learning and social behaviours.
• Collaborate with staff across the school, ensuring all colleagues understand and apply pastoral systems; liaise with teachers, SENCO, safeguarding and senior leaders to monitor behaviour, attendance and personal development; provide specialist advice, coaching and staff training; and contribute to whole-school pastoral policies and action plans.
• Act as the lead point of contact for parents/carers, maintaining regular communication regarding behaviour, progress and attendance; build positive relationships to encourage family involvement; support parents with information and guidance; and ensure pastoral strategies are clearly communicated and reviewed.
• Work in partnership with external agencies, maintaining up‑to‑date knowledge of available support; liaise with professionals to meet individual needs; complete required documentation; attend multi-disciplinary meetings; and facilitate the transfer of relevant pupil information internally and externally.
• Maintain high-quality pastoral administration, ensuring accurate records of interventions, behaviour, attendance, medical needs, risk assessments, behaviour plans, return-to-school meetings and personal development documentation (including RAs, PHPs, SSPs, pupil passports and Sleuth data).
• Contribute to leadership responsibilities within the Centre, being visible at key times of the day, supporting safe and effective learning environments, participating in SLT and Health & Safety meetings, leading staff training, and supporting the delivery of the School Development Plan.
• Develop and monitor whole-school personal development, planning and reviewing strategies that promote SMSC, British Values, citizenship, independence and life skills; provide data analysis and reports; introduce innovative approaches; and ensure pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education, training or employment.
• Promote a culture of safety, wellbeing and professional excellence, supporting safe working practices, modelling high standards of dress, punctuality and attendance, building strong relationships with pupils, staff, parents and agencies, and taking responsibility for personal health, safety and welfare.

What you will bring

• Is passionate about pastoral care and improving life chances for young people.
• Has strong leadership skills and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Communicates confidently with pupils, staff, parents and external partners.
• Is highly organised, emotionally intelligent and solution-focused.
• Can model high expectations, fairness, professionalism and integrity.
• Brings creativity and innovation to personal development and wellbeing initiatives.

About Us

Meadowcroft School is an independent specialist day school across four sites in Wakefield, supporting pupils with complex SEMH needs and additional learning difficulties. We provide a safe, nurturing environment with personalised support, small classes, and a broad, balanced curriculum. Our dedicated team works with families, therapists, and external professionals to remove barriers and celebrate progress. We prepare every pupil to build confidence, essential life skills, and a pathway to future success.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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