Defence Children Services (DCS) Housemaster/mistress Queen Victoria School (QVS)

Job summary

Queen Victoria School (QVS) is a Ministry of Defence full time boarding school within the Scottish Education System. We exist to provide a caring but stretching learning environment, valued by the military families whom we serve. We embody and promote values of Excellence, Equality, Integrity, Nurture and Positivity. QVS has a long tradition of ceremonial excellence; we take pride in this and all that our School has to offer.

This is a full time residential position during term time. The Housemaster/mistress (HoM) is responsible for the safe, orderly and effective running of his/her House throughout term times. This responsibility may be delegated for short periods when the HoM is off duty, but overall accountability remains with him/her at all times when the School is in session. In addition to the role of Housemaster/mistress the postholder will also be required to carry out a reduced teaching role.

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks and successful references. Where possible references are taken up before interview.

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army.

This position is advertised at 35 hours per week.

Job description

Duties and Responsibilities of HoM:

• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and staff.
• As the Named Person, adhering to the GIRFEC (Getting It Right For Every Child) - S.A.F.E (Support. Additional. Formal. Extended) process to ensure every pupil receives the highest level of support possible.
• Nurturing and promoting growth in independence and maturity in preparation for meeting confidently the challenges of the wider world. This will be accomplished by providing a framework for living together, setting up structures for increasing responsibilities and freedoms, mentoring through one-to-one relationships and conflict resolutions.
• Ensuring effective communication with Head, Deputy Head Academic (DHT Academic), Deputy Head Teacher Pastoral & Boarding (DHT P&G), Matron, Teaching Staff and Tutors regarding pupil progress.
• Liaising with staff, medical staff and parents to monitor the health and wellbeing of each pupil.
• To be available to parents, especially at arrival and departure times; to provide a warm welcome and hospitality at these times to both parents and to other visitors.
• Ensuring the security and safety of the House as far as possible, by ensuring suitable Risk Assessments are maintained and reviewed annually for the House. HoM to liaise with DHT(P&B) and Estates.
• HoMs communicate effectively with and line manage all staff in the pastoral context.
• Lead, co-ordinate and publish House policy and procedures to the House Team. Lead House team meetings and arrange Promoted House staff meetings when required. Delegate as appropriate the lead for House Council meetings.
• Compile the annual rota for the House Duties, every summer term. With the support of the DHT(P&B) the HoMs manage their house teams and ensure there is suitable and adequate supervision in House at all times.
• Provide induction for new staff in the House. Promote and support staff with pastoral professional development opportunities.
• Effectively Line Manage, support, and review annual PADRs for, both the House Matron and Housekeeper,
• Lead and manage the wider House team (Deputy, Matron, Tutors).

Duties and Responsibilities of Teachers:

In addition to the role of HoM the postholder will also be required to carry out a reduced teaching role. In the teaching role the following will apply:

• Teaching assigned classes including the supervision of classes for absence cover.
• Preparation of lessons and contribution to the development of courses as specified by the Principal Teacher or Line Manager as appropriate.
• Assisting in the development of the school curriculum and all national initiatives.
• Assessment, recording and reporting on the work of pupils and attending parent/teacher meetings as required by the School.
• Presentation of pupils for and participation in the conduct of internal and national examinations.
• Undertaking appropriate in-service training including school in-service days subject to the policies of the School.
• Contributing to the professional development of colleagues, including probationary and student teachers.
• Participation in the administration and organisation of the School, in accordance with school policies.
• Maintenance of good order and discipline among pupils with due regard to their health and safety.
• Acting as tutor to a group of pupils.
• Advising and guiding pupils on Personal, Social and Health Education matters when appropriate.
• Regular attendance at school’s morning assembly is desirable. It is also desirable that all teachers will attend Sunday chapel from time to time and especially on Parade Sundays (6 times per year).
• Providing support for pupils at events such as sports days, concerts, stage productions, displays etc.
• As part of boarding school life, teachers are required to assist in the Hobbies programme by offering a minimum of 1 night per week for 1 hour from October to March.
• As part of boarding school life and commitment, teachers are required to assist in a boarding house, according to the agreed house supervision rota.
• Teachers must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of their colleagues and any persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. They are required to co-operate with their employer, as necessary, to enable any duty or requirement imposed on their employer by, or under, any of the relevant statutory provisions to be performed or complied with.
• Teachers are personally responsible for equal opportunities awareness and ensuring that they are aware of, and carry out, the provisions contained in the MoD equal opportunities policy.
• To be responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and/or vulnerable adults.

Full details can be found in the attached job description.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following Essential skills:

• GTCS Standard for Full Registration (or eligible to become so).
• Qualified to teach at least one subject at all SQA stages.
• Significant experience within a boarding environment.
• Significant experience of providing pastoral support to pupils.
• Have an in-depth understanding of the central role played by a Housemaster/mistress in boarding school setting.
• The ability to assist in activities in the wider school community such as rugby or hockey coaching, taking part in games, assisting with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme or Combined Cadet Force, is essential.
• Experience and understanding in implementing GIRFEC principles (or similar) and providing individual intervention plans.
• Experience and understanding of what constitutes a safe and secure boarding environment.
• Experience in helping pupils identify risks within the boarding environment and on-line.
• Demonstrate understanding and experience in child protection strategies to help keep pupils safe.

Please see essential requirements for Leading Learning, Working Together and Supporting Learners in the attached Job Description.

Desirable Criteria:

• Additional qualifications or professional recognition in wellbeing or mental health.
• A recognised Pastoral Care qualification.
• Nationally recognised First Aid qualification or willingness to obtain one shortly after appointment.
• Previous experience as a Housemaster/mistress.
• Experience of working with 15-18 age group.
• Experience of line management.
• Budget management.
• Evidence of enriching the lives of pupils within a boarding environment.
• Previous experience of handling and storing securely sensitive information on pupils.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence (must be held at point of application and be in date).

Qualifications

A teaching qualification (PGCE, PGDE or BEd) and GTCS Standard for Full Registration (must be GTCS registered on taking up appointment).
Evidence will be required at interview. All qualifications, licences or memberships declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalents will not be accepted.

Memberships

GTCS Standard for Full Registration (or eligible to become so).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Pastoral Care
• Safeguarding of Children
• Supporting Learners
• Leading Learning
• Focus Group

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Pastoral Care
• Safeguarding of Children
• Supporting Learners
• Leading Learning

Benefits

As a QVS employee you will become a MOD Civil Servant. As a teacher, you will also be a member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). As such, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies and prides itself on being a supportive employer.

Other benefits for QVS/MOD Civil Servants and members of the GTCS include:

• Highly competitive salary (SNCT scale), SPPA (Scottish Public Pension Agency) scheme.
• A generous allowance for Boarding School Duties.
• Personal and professional development opportunities.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• On campus car parking.
• Access to excellent sports facilities, including a multi-gym.
• Very favourable teacher/pupil ratio.

Discover My Benefits:

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At sift you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours: Leadership & Working Together.

Experience: Personal Statement, CV and Technical Skills: Pastoral Care, Safeguarding of Children, Supporting Learners & Leading Learning.

Your Personal Statement (maximum of 750 words) should demonstrate relevant experience details in this advert and in the job description.

At interview you will be assessed on technical skills and experience outlined in the job advert. You will also be expected to show evidence of outstanding teaching and take part in a class observation/ pupil focus group.

The successful candidate will be required to complete a Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) prior to commencing the role.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigation's can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Jill Adams
• Email : jill.adams@modschools.org

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see Further Information document attached.

Attachments

Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Further Information - External Opens in new window (docx, 34kB)20260519 -HoM Trenchard Job Pack May 2026 (M) Opens in new window (docx, 2319kB)