Job Description

Pastoral Lead - Alternative Provision

Location: Colchester, Essex
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Start Date: September 2026

Make a Real Difference Every Day

Are you a passionate, resilient and dedicated Pastoral professional looking to positively impact the lives of young people who require additional support to succeed?

We are seeking an exceptional Pastoral Lead to join our Alternative Provision in Colchester, Essex. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional who is committed to helping students overcome barriers to learning, improve attendance, develop positive behaviours and achieve their full potential.

Working closely with students, families, staff and external agencies, you will play a pivotal role in creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every young person feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed.

As Pastoral Lead, you will:

Lead on the pastoral care, wellbeing and safeguarding support for students.
Develop positive relationships with pupils who may present with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).
Support behaviour management strategies and promote positive conduct throughout the provision.
Work collaboratively with teaching staff to identify and remove barriers to learning.
Liaise effectively with parents, carers and external professionals to ensure the best outcomes for students.
Contribute to safeguarding processes and act in accordance with statutory guidance.
Support students in developing resilience, confidence and emotional regulation skills.
Maintain accurate records and reports relating to pastoral interventions and student progress.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Previous experience in a pastoral, behaviour, inclusion, youth work or safeguarding role.
Experience working with vulnerable children and young people, ideally within an Alternative Provision, PRU, SEMH setting or specialist education environment.
Strong behaviour management and conflict resolution skills.
A calm, empathetic and professional approach.
The ability to remain resilient when faced with challenging situations.
A genuine passion for supporting young people to achieve success.

Why Join Us?

At our Alternative Provision, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive regardless of their starting point. We are committed to providing high-quality education, support and guidance to students who need it most.

If you are passionate about transforming lives, building positive relationships and helping young people re-engage with education, we would love to hear from you.

Apply Now

To apply, please submit your CV and a brief covering statement outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the role.