Housemistress (Junior House)

Job Introduction

Wycombe Abbey is a world-class full-boarding school for girls, located on a beautiful site in the centre of High Wycombe. With its distinctive heritage, magnificent 170-acre campus and impressive resources, the School provides an outstanding education for 650 pupils aged 11-18.  

Wycombe Abbey has been at the forefront of girls’ boarding education for the last 125 years. Superb academic outcomes are the School’s hallmark and pupils regularly secure places at the most prestigious universities across the globe. Known for its world-class education, Wycombe Abbey encourages curiosity, innovation, leadership and delight in learning among its pupils.

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a significant leadership and management role as Housemistress at this leading girls’ boarding school, and to further develop and enhance pastoral care for the girls' pivotal first year at the School.

The Housemistress has responsibility for each girl’s personal and academic development and is an important point of contact for parents. They are responsible for ensuring a safe, happy and comfortable environment in which pupils can both learn and relax.

A Housemistress can usually expect to teach up to 12 lessons per week and work before and after the end of each term. You will hold a relevant degree and be an inspirational teacher. Applications from all subjects relevant to our curriculum will be considered, and full support and mentoring given to those new to the profession. Boarding experience or experience working in boarding schools is desirable. 

Flexibility to respond to the unexpected, a sense of humour and enthusiasm are essential, as is the ability to command respect from staff and girls alike. You will be the first point of contact for parents and should be confident in developing that relationship.  

Wycombe Abbey has its own salary scale which compares favourably with other independent schools and is well above that of the maintained sector. Accommodation is provided all year round with bills and meals included during term time.   

To apply: Please see the job profile document for full information about this role. To apply, please complete an application form and submit this, together with a covering letter, to the Headmistress, Mrs J Duncan by selecting “Apply for this job”. Should you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact the HR Team on 01494 895575 or [email protected] .

Closing date for applications: Sunday 19 January 2025

Interview date:  Thursday 30 January 2025

We reserve the right to appoint to this position before the closing date, should we receive a high volume of suitable early applications.

Wycombe Abbey is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children. 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

Further information regarding filtered convictions, please refer to Filtering Guidance by the Ministry of Justice and Nacro Guidance. 

We are an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 310638.