Job Description
ABOUT BOSWORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
Bosworth Independent School is a relatively small school of approximately 300 students. This enables us to offer a supportive family atmosphere, where students and staff can enjoy their work and thrive as valued people and professionals. Our ethos is one that believes in the importance of the individual and celebrates success regardless of the level. Students come from a wide variety of countries and are motivated and aspirational, mostly aiming for Russell Group and Oxbridge.
JOB OVERVIEW
Purpose of the role
The Head of Higher Education & Careers will lead a rigorous and ambitious programme that helps every student make informed decisions about their future beyond Bosworth, and to prepare successfully for their next stage of education and for employment thereafter.
The postholder will oversee UK and overseas university applications and ensure that careers education is embedded across the curriculum. Working with students, families and other stakeholders, they will provide personalised guidance that embodies high aspirations with a realistic understanding of each student’s strengths, interests, circumstances and aspirations.
The role will give practical expression to Bosworth’s values:
Flourish: develop students’ confidence, self-knowledge and ability to make thoughtful decisions about their future.
Aspire: broaden students’ horizons and equip them to pursue challenging and aspirational goals.
Belong: ensure that every student can access guidance, opportunities and networks that helps lead them to a future life of maximal joy and purpose.
Key responsibilities
1. Leadership and development
- Develop and implement a whole-school higher education and careers strategy, with clear priorities, an annual delivery plan and measurable outcomes.
- Establish a progressive careers programme that builds students’ understanding of themselves, further study and the world of work.
- Coordinate provision across tutor time, PSHE, subject teaching, enrichment and specialist events.
- Maintain a clear calendar of guidance activities, application deadlines and preparation milestones.
- Manage the allocated budget and evaluate the quality and value of external services.
- Keep colleagues informed about developments affecting students’ choices and applications.
2. UK higher education guidance and applications
- Lead the school’s UCAS process, providing timely guidance on course selection, university choices and application preparation.
- Support students who are considering making application to other UK providers or degree apprenticeships.
- Offer individual consultations to help students construct balanced application plans that reflect their attainment, ambitions and course requirements.
- Coordinate contributions from tutors and subject teachers, and quality-assuring references.
- Support students in presenting their achievements and academic interests clearly, accurately and in their own voice in their applications.
- Coordinate preparation for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and other competitive courses, working with relevant subject specialists and leads of the school’s various Pathways programmes.
- Arrange appropriate support for admissions assessments where these are required of students, and coordinate a rigorous interview practice schedule.
- Monitor applications, offers and decisions, identifying students who need additional support.
3. Overseas university applications
- Lead a structured programme for students applying outside the UK, including those pursuing UK and overseas applications simultaneously.
- Maintain individual application plans covering deadlines, assessments, essays, references, transcripts and other school documentation.
- Help students and families compare academic suitability, entry requirements, costs, scholarship opportunities and the implications of studying in different countries.
- Coordinate overseas recommendations and supporting documents with teachers and administrative colleagues.
- Work effectively with external specialists while enhancing in-school support for students applying for overseas universities.
- Ensure that advice recognises the needs of Bosworth’s international community and directs families to authoritative sources or qualified advisers where specialist advice is required.
4. University Foundation Programme and progression
- Work with the UFP Coordinator to provide guidance appropriate to Foundation students’ qualifications and progression routes.
- Help students understand course prerequisites, English-language requirements and the conditions attached to university offers.
- Coordinate application support and monitor progression outcomes for UFP students.
- Provide accessible guidance for students entering Bosworth at different stages or with limited familiarity with UK higher education.
5. Careers education and individual guidance
- Develop age-appropriate opportunities for students to explore occupations, sectors and routes into employment.
- ensure full utilisation of the Unifrog platform in school and across all years.
- harness the power of parent expertise, alumni experience, and local community connections, to ensure a programme of inspiring careers talks is in place so students learn the breadth of opportunities open to them.
- Support informed GCSE, Sixth Form and post-school choices, explaining how subject decisions can affect later opportunities.
- Ensure that apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships, vocational routes and suitable gap-year options receive meaningful consideration.
- Arrange individual guidance at key transition points and access to appropriately qualified careers advisers where required.
- Help students develop practical skills in research, applications, CV writing, interviews and professional communication.
- Work with SEND, EAL and pastoral colleagues to make provision accessible and responsive to individual needs.
6. Experiences and partnerships
- Build relationships with universities, employers, professional organisations, alumni and parents.
- Develop a varied programme of speakers, visits, careers networking breakfasts/lunches, workplace encounters, mentoring and other careers events.
- Prepare students for work shadowing and help them reflect on what they have learned.
- Extend access to opportunities for students whose existing contacts or circumstances might otherwise limit participation.
7. Communication and collaboration
- Provide clear information to families through meetings, presentations, written guidance and online resources.
- Train and support tutors and other staff involved in guidance and applications.
- Contribute to options evenings, school recruitment events and other relevant school activities.
- Work with Admissions and Marketing personnel to communicate Bosworth’s provision and verified student outcomes.
Professional responsibilities
- Uphold Bosworth’s values and maintain high standards of professional conduct.
- Follow school safeguarding procedures and report concerns promptly.
- Handle student information sensitively and in accordance with school procedures.
- Maintain professional knowledge through training, research and relevant networks.
- Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role.
The job description is not an exhaustive list of the responsibilities of this role but reflects the core aspects of it. The nature of the role means that some evening and weekend commitments may be expected.
Person specification
Essential
Qualifications and professional development
- Degree and/or relevant professional qualification or experience.
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
Experience and knowledge
- Substantial experience supporting students through university applications, including coordinating deadlines and school documentation.
- Strong working knowledge of UCAS, course selection, entry requirements, references and post-results support.
- Fair working knowledge of supporting overseas university applications and managing their requirements alongside UK applications.
- Ability to explain unfamiliar systems clearly and work sensitively with students and families from different cultural backgrounds.
Leadership and organisation
- Ability to translate strategic priorities into an effective programme.
- Ability to motivate colleagues and manage competing deadlines.
- Confident use of digital application and tracking systems.
- Accurate record-keeping and the ability to use evidence to improve provision.
- Ability to establish productive relationships with universities, employers and other partners.
Communication and student support
- Excellent written and spoken communication, including confidence presenting to students, parents and colleagues.
- Sound editorial judgement when reviewing applications, references and supporting documents.
- Ability to listen carefully, build trust and offer balanced advice that respects students’ ambitions and supports informed decisions.
- Ability to balance encouragement with candid advice.
Personal qualities, values and safeguarding
- Initiative, integrity, reliability, discretion and calm judgement under pressure.
- Commitment to Bosworth’s values
- Commitment to equitable access to guidance and opportunities.
- Commitment to safeguarding young people and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
Desirable
- Recognised qualification in careers guidance or careers leadership.
- Teaching qualification.
- Experience leading higher education provision in a school or college.
- Experience delivering careers education or guidance, with an understanding of university, apprenticeship, vocational and employment routes.
- Experience supporting Oxford, Cambridge and other highly competitive applications.
- Detailed expertise in more than one overseas admissions system and an established network of specialist contacts.
- Experience designing a progressive whole-school careers programme.
- Experience working in an international boarding school or supporting foundation programme students.
- Experience managing budgets, external advisers or commissioned services.
- Experience using appropriate careers assessment or profiling tools.
- Experience delivering staff training and online information sessions.
- Existing contacts that could support work experience, mentoring or university preparation.
- Experience using careers platforms and analysing destination data.
- Experience supporting students through disappointing results or changes of direction
BENEFITS
• Cycle to work Scheme
• Tech Scheme
• Car Scheme
• Free flu vaccine through Healthshield
• Free eye tests
• Financial wellbeing support via WageStream
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Group income protection
• GP24: GP Access for all
• Health Cash Plan
• Death in Service
• Long service awards
• Employee referral scheme
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
ABOUT CATS GLOBAL SCHOOLS (CGS)
CATS Global Schools is a leading education group committed to inspiring the next generation of world shapers.
With a history dating back to 1899, but a focus on the future, our group brings together 16 institutions comprising independent boarding schools, an Arts University College, English language schools and a variety of summer programmes in the UK, US, Canada, and China.
Each year, we provide 18,000 students around the globe with the education they need to develop real-life skills for the future. We are dedicated to academic excellence and our students benefit from our well-developed links to over 40 top global universities.
We create a positive learning environment where every student is empowered to make a contribution to shape their world. This is made possible because of the commitment of our pioneering, persevering people who do the very best for our students.
OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY
We are committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging. Building on our core values – Pioneering, Persevering, People – We pledge to deliver a series of events, guest speakers and focus groups to make CATS Global Schools and employer of choice for all.
SAFEGUARDING
CGS is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and well-being of children and young people. As such, appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of safer recruitment employment checks in line with KCSIE guidelines. This will include satisfactory references, enhanced DBS from the Disclosures and Barring Service and, where applicable, any international equivalent being obtained. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to online checks which may include social media.