Resident Houseparent (Westwood) | Vacancies | Ipswich School

Resident Houseparent (Westwood)

Permanent, full time/part time, Required from September 2026

Ipswich School has been listed as one of the top 100 schools in the country and is certainly one of the foremost independent schools in East Anglia.  We were established prior to 1399, and moved to our present site in 1852.

Renowned for its academic excellence, diverse extracurricular opportunities, and exceptional facilities, Ipswich School is committed to nurturing students’ intellectual, emotional, and personal growth. We are a co-educational school with around 1000 pupils aged between 3 months and 18 years and we operate a five-day week. Our Senior School has almost 800 pupils aged from 11 to 18 (90+ of whom board with us during term time), and we have a Prep School with around 200 pupils aged from 5  to 11 years. The Lodge Day Nursery provides the very best care for our youngest children aged from 3 months to 5 years. There are representative sports on Saturdays. Games, CCF, Community Service and a variety of other activities take place on Thursday afternoons.

About the Role

We are seeking to appoint an excellent classroom teacher to be the next Houseparent of Westwood House from September. The successful applicant will live on site at our Westwood Boarding House. In this role you will be responsible for the care of male boarding pupils living at Westwood and will also teach at Secondary level in your chosen subject on a full or part time basis on a reduced timetable.

As a Houseparent, you will play a central role in creating a warm, supportive, and structured home-from-home environment for the boys in your care. You will be responsible for their pastoral, emotional, and social wellbeing, supporting them in their personal development and helping them balance academic life with extracurricular activities.

You will work closely with academic staff, tutors, and the wider pastoral team to ensure each student feels safe, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

About You

You will have an interest in the welfare of the pupils in your care (aged between 13 and 18 years), empathy with young people, flexibility in working hours and duties, and the ability to work on your own initiative.

Ideally you will have experience of working with children in a boarding environment, together with an excellent knowledge and understanding of safeguarding. It would be highly desirable for you to have an appropriate, recognised boarding qualification, or be willing to work towards gaining one.

You will be warm, caring and nurturing with good communication and interpersonal skills.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Strong academic credentials (good Honours degree), a track record of raising academic standards, and high competence as a classroom practitioner.
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and teaching experience in a senior school setting
• Experience in pastoral care, commitment to welfare and managing safeguarding concerns, including those relevant to boarding and coeducation
• Experience in building positive relationships with parents/carers and external stakeholders
• Experience in the boarding environment including an understanding of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding.
• Ability to promote a positive ethos and pride in the school together with high standards of education, care and behaviour
• Experience working with diverse student populations
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet changing needs of students
• Proven ability to use ICT in the organisation and management of their role
• Ability to contribute significantly to the schools co-curricular programme
• Willingness to be visible an active presence in the House including evenings and weekends
• Knowledge of Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Child Protection

Hours of work, salary and benefits

This is a full-time, permanent post, subject to the satisfactory completion of a 12-month probationary period. Due to the senior nature of this role, and the range of responsibilities involved, flexibility with working hours is essential.

The starting salary for this role will be competitive on the School’s teaching staff payscale depending on skills and experience with an additional management point and some timetable remission and will depend on your skills and experience. Remuneration terms will be discussed with shortlisted candidates at interview.

Free breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided in the School Dining Hall during term time when the kitchen is in operation, and staff are able to use the School’s swimming pool and fitness gym free of charge (in compliance with appropriate rules and regulations). You will have access to Smarthealth, an employee wellbeing app with 24/7 GP access and mental health support, and a Cycle to Work Scheme. All Teachers are eligible to join a pension scheme with Royal London, with an employer contribution of 15%. The Scheme also provides critical illness cover, income protection and death in service cover.

Closing Date And Interview Arrangements

We would encourage you to download the full job description for this role from our website: www.ipswich.school/vacancies or contact the HR team on 01473 408300 or via email.

Email

Completed application forms should be returned by by 12 noon on 19th January 2026 to: Human Resources, Ipswich School, 25 Henley Road, Ipswich, IP1 3SG or via email.

Interviews will take place on Friday 30th January 2026.

Please advise us of any special requirements you may have if you are called for interview. If your special requirements mean that you need to submit this application in a different format, please contact us.

Please Note

Ipswich School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the job, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.