Head of Junior Years

Package Description

The school prides itself on its warm and welcoming community, inclusive of all staff.  Our teaching staff work alongside the operational teams to ensure the smooth running of the school.  We value the contribution of all team members. 

Through involvement in the co-curricular programme all those who work with us can bring their passions to work. Developing our talent is important to us.  Access to training and professional development is available and encouraged.

Our reward package includes:

• Generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
• Access to onsite gym
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Benefits Programme, including discounted access to health insurance, financial well-being products, cycle to work and electric car schemes as well as discounts to a number of major retailers
• Fee discount
• A three course lunch is provided during term time

The Role

The Edinburgh Academy is seeking to appoint an outstanding Head of Junior Years to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the academic, pastoral and personal development of pupils in Geits (P7), 2nds (S1) and 3rds (S2). This is a highly influential position at the heart of the Senior School, offering the opportunity to lead a dynamic year group team and to make a lasting impact on the daily lives and long-term success of around 250 pupils.

The successful candidate will be an inspirational teacher and pastoral leader with the vision, energy and empathy to ensure that every pupil is supported to thrive — academically, socially and emotionally — during these crucial formative years. Working closely with the Deputy Rector (Student Life), the wider Pastoral Team and colleagues across the Junior and Senior Schools, the Head of Junior Years will oversee transitions, wellbeing, behaviour, engagement and progress, ensuring the highest standards of care, scholarship and character education.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced teacher with a strong leadership skillset to take on a significant promoted role within a forward-thinking and values-driven school, where relationships, ambition and pupil development sit at the heart of everything we do.

The post is available from August 2026.

Main Responsibilities

The Head of Junior Years has responsibility for the pastoral and academic wellbeing of pupils in Geits (P7), 2nds (S1) and 3rds (S2) at The Edinburgh Academy. Assisted in their duties by three Assistant Heads of Year, who have direct leadership of these individual year groups, the Head of Junior Years oversees all aspects of student life for pupils in the Junior Years. The Head of Junior Years will have a strong presence around the Senior School, and they will oversee the pastoral care and discipline of pupils in their year groups and take responsibility for the smooth daily running of the Junior Years.

The Head of Junior Years works within as part of the wider Pastoral Team who oversee support throughout the Senior School:

Head of Junior Years - P6 liaison/ Geits/ 2nds/ 3rds (P7/S1/S2) - 250 pupils approx.

Head of Middle Years - 4ths/ 5ths (S3/S4) - 210 students approx.

Head of Senior Years - 6ths/7ths (S5/6) - 220 students approx.

The role will contain elements of both academic and pastoral work, and as such would suit an experienced teacher with a wide-ranging skillset. The role will require the successful candidate to:

• Work collaboratively with the P5/P6 Department Head to ensure a smooth transition for our new Geits (P7) year group
• Oversee all transitions for new pupils joining the Junior Years – working with the Admissions Department.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Pastoral Team to share ideas, problems, information and strategies.
• Liaise with parents and families of EA pupils to be an important point of contact for pastoral/academic oversight of pupils in the Junior Years.
• Liaise with others, including outside agencies and organisations, to support pupil progress and wellbeing.
• Lead, support and develop the Assistant Heads of Year and their group of Class Teachers, and use their strengths to build a coherent and effective Junior Years team.
• Oversee the academic progress of pupils in their year groups in co-ordination with the Deputy Rector (Academics.) The Head of Junior Years is responsible for tracking pupils into and through their BGE year groups. Central to this is the process of target setting and review.
• Collaborate closely with the Junior School to build on their tracking and monitoring and develop the tracking system further into the Middle Years Team.
• Work collaboratively with the Deputy Rector Student Life on matters of well-being, safeguarding and when necessary, child protection, working alongside our CPC and Deputy CPC.
• Co-ordinate, publicise and monitor attendance at any clubs, societies and activities on offer to pupils in their year groups. This includes working with the Director of Sport to support the physical wellbeing of pupils.
• Oversee and encourage pupil involvement in co-curricular activities and track wider engagement of all pupils, seeking to build on their four capacities: successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
• Gather information and liaise with the Deputy Rectors and the Support for Learning Department throughout the year as required, but specifically prior to Review Meetings. They should also chair the discussion of their year groups at Academic/Pastoral Review Meetings.
• Work with the Admissions Department for new EA students into the Junior Years as well as assisting in the co-ordination of EA pupils as they transfer from P6 into Geits.
• Work with Marketing Team to promote EA and the Junior Years programme – establish/strengthen links with other Junior/Prep Schools.
• Work with our Head of Outdoor Education and Character Education to help plan and co-ordinate residential trips and visits for Geits and 2nds. Liaise with the Head of Middle Years on the 3rds Outward Bound residential camp.
• Lead and facilitate weekly Year Group assemblies. Plan and co-ordinate, with the Charities Committee, social functions for Geits, 2nds and 3rds.
• Seek out and promote opportunities for Pupil Leadership. Liaise with the Senior Years Team to oversee the day to day running of the Mentoring Scheme, where senior pupils mentor Geits, 2nds and 3rds. Work with the Middle Years Team to encourage Middle Years pupils to run lunchtime activities for Geits, 2nds and 3rds.
• Work with the Deputy Rector (Student Life) and the Assistant Heads of Year with the running and organisation of the Health and Wellbeing programme.
• In addition, it is essential that the Head of Junior Years monitors and maintains high standards of behaviour and appearance across their year groups, with specific responsibility for pupil discipline in line with the Positive Behaviour Policy.

Also included are those duties and responsibilities associated with all teachers at the Edinburgh Academy:

1. To plan, prepare and teach lessons to all assigned pupils according to their educational needs.
2. To assess, record and report on the progress of the pupils within the guidelines written in the Staff Handbook.
3. To engage with the wider School Curriculum in a manner which is consistent with the ethos of the School.
4. To carry out such administrative and other routine tasks as are outlined in the Staff Handbook.
5. To demonstrate a commitment to both individual professional development and to the developing curriculum in the School.
6. To carry out any other duties and to assume any other responsibilities as the Rector shall from time to time reasonably request.
7. To be conscious at all times of the importance of the external image of the School and to act in a professional and constructive manner with pupils, parents and external agencies.

The Ideal Candidate

The Candidate

This is an important and demanding leadership role, of crucial importance to the wellbeing and care of all pupils. The successful candidate will play a central role in setting and maintaining the highest standards in terms of scholarship, pastoral care, commitment and discipline. Given the demands of this position, it would not be expected that the post holder would also hold an additional senior appointment, such as a Head of Department post. The post would suit either an applicant seeking a significant promoted position for the first time, or a Head of Department wishing to develop their professional life in a new and challenging direction.

Qualifications / Experience:

Essential:

• A qualified and experienced teacher with GTCS registration
• A proven track record of leadership, either in pastoral or academic fields, and a high level of administrative and communication skills
• Knowledge and understanding of motivating, inspiring and challenging young people to nurture the best from them, academically and personally
• An empathetic and knowledgeable pastoral leader with strong understanding of child protection procedures and the promotion of well-being for young people.

Desirable:

• Experience in the use of iSAMS or other databases
• Experience and knowledge of assisting in National 5 subject choices.
• A willingness and skillset to develop tracking systems, collecting and analysing data to plan school improvement.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role therefore the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK via other means.

About the school/organisation

The Edinburgh Academy is a fully co-educational school. The School consists of a Senior School, Junior School and a Nursery Department. The School is a member of HMC. The Edinburgh Academy moved to full co-education across the whole school in 2008. The Junior and Senior Schools are on separate sites, both of which have spacious grounds and sports facilities including extensive playing fields, an all-weather sports area, and a large Sports Hall and Centre.