Runnymede College is a prestigious British International school located in Spain, offering high-quality education following the British National Curriculum.
We are currently seeking a full-time Pre-Prep School Deputy Head to join our dedicated team in September 2025 or January 2026.
Pre-Prep School Deputy Head – Job Description
Responsible to: Pre-Prep School Head
Key Internal Relationships: Headmaster, Assistant Head, Head of Prep School,Prep School Deputy Heads, Deputy Head Timetable, SENCO, Heads of Department, Head of Staff Development
1. Purpose of the role:
To provide a safe, secure and well-organised environment that enables children to thrive as independent learners and engaged, considerate members of the school community. The Deputy Head will be responsible for leading the pastoral provision for Pre-prep School pupils, including safeguarding the wellbeing and safety of pupils. and overseeing a proactive PSHE programme.They will work closely with the Pre-prep School Headmistress and other senior staff to tailor a consistent approach to pastoral care for pupils from Pre Nursery to Year 3.
The Deputy Head will also be responsible for promoting a vibrant and stimulating academic culture within the Pre-Prep School, working to ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning. They will be actively involved in overseeing teaching and learning practice through Pre-Nursery to Year 3, focusing leadership in Years 1, 2 and 3, and SEND.
2. Main responsibilities:
i.) Strategic direction
• Establish a consistent approach to pastoral care which unites the year groups within the Pre-Prep School
• Oversee Pre-Prep School curriculum which meets the needs of all Pre-Prep School pupils and equips them with the skills needed to make successful transitions between Year groups.
• To develop, implement and regularly review pastoral and academic policies for the Pre-Prep School which meet British School Overseas minimum standards
• To work alongside the other DSLs and Head of the Pre-Prep School to keep abreast of changes in Safeguarding regulations and advise the Senior Leadership Team on matters of compliance
• To support the Headmaster in teacher recruitment.
• To contribute to the School Development Plan
• To work with the Deputy Head timetable and the Head of Pre-prep school on the development of a school timetable.
• Inform the School Leadership Team of current research, trends and issues relevant to the academic life and pastoral care in the Pre-prep School to facilitate future planning
ii). Leadership & Management
• Line manage class teachers and teaching assistants, including monitoring of teacher performance, schemes of work and conducting weekly meetings.
• Participate in whole school Senior Leadership meetings
• Assist the Head of Pre-prep school in inspection preparation
• To oversee the induction of new Pre-Prep School staff, alongside the Head of Staff Development
• Organise and manage the academic calendar in the Pre-prep School, including assessments, reporting and parents’ evenings
• Assist the Head of Pre-prep with the staff duty rota and staff cover
• To take overall responsibility for the pastoral provision for pupils
• Provide guidance for staff in the planning of trips and visits and ensure implementation of the School’s Trips & Visits Policy
• To provide support for school events, including assemblies and parents’ evenings
iii.) Safeguarding
• To be a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the Pre-Prep School.
1. acting as a support to staff on safeguarding matters and keeping staff aware of child protection procedures;
2. managing referrals: liaising promptly with schools, external agencies, the Police and other authorities as appropriate;
3. keeping the Headmaster and Deputy DSLs informed of safeguarding issues;
4. undergoing training in child protection (level 2 and level 3) every two years, and being able to put that training into practice;
• Oversee Safeguarding training of Pre-prep School staff and work with other DSLs to maintain training records and ensure that all staff are fully aware of mandatory policies and the Staff Code of Conduct
• Ensure accurate and timely records of safeguarding concerns are logged on MyConcern
• To work with the DSLs and SENCOs to maintain a register of vulnerable pupils register and ensure this information is communicated effectively to relevant staff.
• Ensure that safeguarding training is included as part of the induction of members of new staff
iv). Monitoring and reporting behaviour
• Oversee the Pre-prep School rewards system, facilitating opportunities for celebration of pupil successes.
• Maintain high standards of positive behaviour among the pupils and have due regard for their health and safety both on the school premises and when engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere
• To take overall responsibility for pupil disciplinary procedures and policy, including directing the work of class teachers to investigate and deal with disciplinary cases in all year groups
• Supporting class teachers in the implementation of individual support structures and target setting
v). Curriculum development
• To ensure that Year group teams meet regularly to plan and prepare for lessons
• To assist teachers in planning the curriculum and ensure that teaching is consistent within Year groups and in line with national curriculum requirements
• To liaise with the Directora Técnica to ensure all educational and curriculum standards are met for international schools in Spain.
vi). Assessment tracking & Monitoring
• To develop effective systems for monitoring and evaluating the progress of all pupils
• To work with the SENCO and support staff to implement appropriate strategies to support pupil progress
• To coordinate assessment within the Pre-prep School, including the assessment of pupil progress in Phonics from Reception to Year 3
• To develop a consistent approach to assessment and the use of data to develop a culture of individualised and high-impact learning
• To plan interventions, in liaison with teachers and the SENCO, where appropriate and/or necessary
• To support staff in developing the skills to effectively interpret data about students
• To oversee the reporting of pupil progress to parents
vii). Pupil recruitment and retention
• To work closely with the Headmaster, the Assistant Headmistress and Admissions to drive recruitment into the Pre-Prep.
• To assist the Head of Admissions in designing marketing material and keeping the Pre-prep school website up to date, as well as assisting the IT department in maintaining a high profile on social media through communications with current and prospective parents.
• To be involved in strategic plans for pupil recruitment and retention
The successful candidate will lead a team of teachers and assistants across Pre- Nursery, Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3. The purpose of the role is to provide a safe, secure and well-organised environment that enables children to thrive as independent learners and engaged, considerate members of the school community. The Deputy Head of Pre-Prep will be responsible for leading the pastoral provision for Pre-Prep School pupils, including safeguarding the wellbeing and safety of pupils. You will work closely with your dedicated leadership team to tailor a consistent approach to pastoral care for all pupils in the Pre-Prep School.
The successful applicant will have:
• A good honours degree from a British University
• A PGCE or equivalent qualified teacher status
• Substantial evidence of middle leadership or some evidence of senior leadership
• The ideal candidate will be very familiar with the English National Curriculum at the Key Stage 1 age range
• Successful applicants must have a native level of spoken and written English
• Experience as part of a senior safeguarding team – desirable
• Proven experience of leading teaching and learning
• A strong background in SEND and inclusion, with the potential to lead on this area in the Pre-Prep age range
• Experience in a UK based Private School or British International Overseas School – desirable
If you meet the above criteria and are enthusiastic about contributing to the growth and development of young learners at Runnymede College, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding position.
Please send us your CV and cover letter, including referee contact details.
Final date for applications is December 31st 2025
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and first round interviews will take place via Zoom on a rolling basis. The final round interview will be held face-to-face at Runnymede College in Madrid. The School reserves the right to make an appointment before the closing date if a suitable candidate is found. If you have not heard from us within six weeks of submitting your application, please assume you were unsuccessful this time.
We are an equal opportunities employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Hiring decisions are based on skills, experience and attributes required for the role. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.
Runnymede is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including check with past employers and ACRO Criminal Records Office.
