Head of Positive Behaviour and Wellbeing & Boarding
Shanghai, China
Required: August 2025
Curriculum: Bilingual - Chinese/Holistic/Inquiry based, leading to IBDP
Dehong International Chinese Schools are sister schools to Dulwich College International schools. The schools takes a holistic approach to every child's learning and school experience, aiming to develop students' character, their social skills and to enable them to fulfil their academic potential. Dehong Schools provide a dynamic and innovative integrated education programme encompassing the Chinese compulsory curriculum, Dulwich College International Schools' educational philosophy and pedagogies, and the IB Diploma Programme, as well as world class facilities and outstanding faculty from China and around the world. Dehong teachers are committed to providing a variety of stimulating, challenging and fun learning experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.
The purpose-built campus is a beautiful learning environment, with large, airy classrooms, science laboratories, a spacious library, and dedicated art rooms including a ceramics workshop, and STEAM facility. The campus has flexible indoor and outdoor learning spaces.
About Role
The Head of Boarding is the lead member of the boarding team and is responsible for the oversight of the boarding provision of the house, in collaboration with the other boarding staff. The Head of Boarding will create a welcoming and homely atmosphere where our students can relax, be fully engaged in their academic studies and make strong friendships with their peers.
The Head of Positive Behaviour & Wellbeing (G9-12) is responsible for delivering outstanding pastoral care programmes for G9-12 students, ensuring that students are fully supported, their needs are met, and that they succeed academically. The role works in collaboration with the Head of Positive Behaviour & Wellbeing (G6-9) and Head of Student Affairs to lead a dynamic team of Grade Leaders and BanZhuRen/Tutors. This role reports to the Deputy Head of Secondary (Pastoral) and is a member of the Secondary School Leadership Team (SSLT).
The person in this role needs to remain flexible and adaptable to ensure effective leadership of the year group; therefore, the list of responsibilities below is not exhaustive.
Head of Boarding Responsibilities
Boarding House Oversight:
- Compliance - making sure boarding meets or exceeds minimum (UK BSA) standards.
- Ensuring that House teams are supported in their roles and that they function effectively.
- To encourage individual character and House pride whilst, as far as possible, ensuring parity exists between Houses in terms of duty management, systems and procedures.
- To ensure that excellent communication between the House team and effective record keeping is in place.
- To make sure House routines, academic support and the boarding experience for each child is supportive and effective.
Welfare and Student Responsibilities:
- Investigate all allegations of inappropriate behaviour using the school policies as guidance.
- Ensure that every student is safe and cared for within the House and wider community
- Create an environment in which every student can thrive and develop to their potential in all areas
- Write House reports for pupils at the relevant times (dependent on report writing review).
- Encourage pupils to live life to the full whilst in School, engaging with sports, arts and wider opportunities.
- Ensure that uniform and general appearance is of a high standard
- Attend meetings as needed
- Develop leadership opportunities within the House for students
- Develop and manage the House rewards and sanctions systems
Communication:
- Communicate clearly and regularly with parents and/or guardians on any relevant matters and news.
- Communicate with academic staff about students on a regular basis
- Entertain parents on social occasions
- Lead and support staff on the boarding team to ensure 'safe at school' and pastoral care are of a high standard
Safety:
- Ensure fire drills are carried out minimum once per term and that students and staff are clear on the routine
- Ensure that weekly risk assessments are carried out in House (walk arounds)
Safe at Schools
Abide by the safe at schools' policy and keep abreast of any changes.
Head of Boarding Additional Expectations
- Competence to orally and verbally communicate with parents in a professional context
- Embrace the education of the whole person
- Lead and/or support a minimum of one (1) co-curricular activity
- Attend and participate constructively in staff meetings
- Participate (including preparing students/activities) in the wider life of the school, such as assemblies, celebrations, extra-curricular events and so on
- Collaborate with colleagues across Dehong schools and Dulwich College International to share best practices around the network and participate in group-wide events as appropriate
- Support service learning and sustainability practices, events and programmes
- Teach lessons as agreed with the Head of Secondary
Head of Boarding Hours and Duties
- Houseparents can expect to undertake up to 3 morning duties a week and up to 3 evening duties..
- Where possible, we try to accommodate commitments outside of school and build duty rotas around these, but it cannot be guaranteed.
- As with all boarding and parenting roles, the hours can be long and the Head of Boarding must be prepared to work at any time to care for the boarders in times of emergency. Flexibility, resilience, patience and empathy are key qualities of an outstanding Head of Boarding and the reason this position is widely regarded as excellent preparation for other senior management roles.
Head of Positive Behavior and Wellbeing G9-12 Responsibilities
Key Pastoral Responsibilities
- Be responsible for promoting the School vision, mission and culture and embedding the Dehong Core Values and IB Learner Profile within the community.
- Be responsible for the Positive Behaviour and Wellbeing of all pupils across the Secondary School.
- Demonstrate a genuine interest in the students across the middle school and develop positive relationships with them in order to best support their individual needs.
- Collaborate with the Head of Student Affairs to lead the Grade Leader and BanZhuRen/Tutor teams in Grades 9-12.
- Work with the Head of Student Affairs and the Counsellor to develop the 'Keeping Myself Safe' and Circle Solutions programmes and wider wellbeing programmes targeting the needs of students in Grades 9-12.
- Ensure that the Safe at Schools programme is of a high quality and supports the wellbeing, development and academic success of the students in Grades 9-12 of the Secondary School.
- Lead and develop the G10 to IBDP transition process in coordination with the IBDP coordinator.
- Work with the Head of Secondary to ensure that Grade 9 students are well supported in their High School admissions process and to lead and develop the G9 to G10 transition process.
- Work with the CAS and IBDP Coordinator to ensure that the students holistic academic needs are met.
- Liaise with Deputy Head of Secondary (Academics) and IBDP Coordinator regarding students of concern
- Work with the Head of Boarding to ensure that the students' academic and pastoral needs are met, both in and out of school.
Policies and Procedures
- Ensure high standards of student behaviour in line with the schools Positive Behaviour for Learning policy
- Ensure that the school's Positive Behaviour for Learning and Safe at Schools policies are adhered to, and applied consistently, across Grades 6-9.
- Create and implement systems where appropriate to ensure we are effective in providing students with the best support for individual needs.
- Be proactive in identifying behaviour concerns, implement effective strategies to address the identified concerns, and raise standards of behaviour across Grades 6-9.
Communication
- Maintain regular contact with parents, in collaboration with Grade Leaders and BanZhuRen, updating them as necessary on the behaviour and wellbeing of students.
- Meet with parents, where appropriate, to ensure the needs of students are met and concerns are addressed effectively.
- Communicate and collaborate with the Counsellor as required.
- Communicate with Group Leaders to ensure that all G9-12 student academic needs are being met and interventions or enhancements are provided where necessary.
Administration and Professional Learning
- Attend and lead Group Leader and BZR/Tutor meetings and forums in line with the expectations of the position.Keep up-to-date with current developments concerning pastoral care of students in order to ensure best practice and high quality pastoral provision.
- Contribute to the whole-school professional development proramme, leading on delivery as appropriate
- Identify external professional learning opportunities for members of your team and coordinate that training accordingly
- Support the Deputy Head of Secondary (Pastoral) in successful administration of the pastoral bottom-up budget for the Secondary School.
Head of Positive Behavior and Wellbeing G9-12 Additional Expectations
- High-level written and verbal communication skills
- High-level communication skills to communicate with parents in a professional context
- A commitment to holistic education
- Teach lessons as agreed with the Head of Secondary (approximately 12 periods per week)
- Lead and/or support a minimum of one (1) co-curricular activity
- Attend and participate constructively in staff meetings
- Lead and participate in assemblies, celebrations and extra-curricular events
- Support service learning and sustainability practices, events and programmes
- Collaborate with colleagues across Dehong schools and Dulwich College International to share best practices around the network and participate in group-wide events as appropriate
- Be an active member of the Safe at Schools team.
- Abide by the safe at schools' policy and keep abreast of any changes.
- Support BZR/Tutors with any Safe at Schools needs.
- Other teaching and learning related tasks as determined by the Principal
Salary and Benefits Package
- You will receive one of the most generous international school salary packages available in China
- Expat-style housing
- Annual airfare allowance (for teacher and dependents)
- Comprehensive International Health Insurance (for teacher and dependents)
- Annual Relocation and Domestic Bills Allowance
- Shipping allowance (in and out bound)
- 3 year contract