Founded in 1853, Wellington College has established itself as one of the pre-eminent independent schools and a pioneer in education globally. Set in 400 acres of beautiful parkland in leafy Berkshire, the School is home to 1,100 day and boarding pupils aged 13-18. The charitable foundation also includes Eagle House Preparatory School which educates 400 children. Over the last decade, its family of schools has grown to include several international schools, which share the approach and attitude of a Wellington education.

Wellington’s curriculum is vibrant, demanding and progressive. With its ground-breaking wellbeing course and classes in Philosophy and Thinking, Wellington has become nationally renowned as a centre for curriculum development. Where many schools focus on examination results and league table position as the main criteria for success, the whole ethos of Wellington is focused on each and every individual who passes through its gates. Creativity is celebrated and flourishes, which has been recognised by the Arts Council through its award of the Artsmark Gold in recognition of outstanding provision and standards. Wellington is also renowned for having a “premier league” reputation as one of the best schools for sport in the UK and, in recent years, its teams have achieved national renown and titles in hockey, rugby, golf, shooting, triathlon, squash, equestrianism, cricket, rackets and polo. Outward-facing in all it does, the College’s focus on service, leadership and character education means that Wellingtonians leave the school fully prepared for the challenges of adult life in the 21st century.

80% of pupils are weekly boarders from London and the surrounding areas. 10% of pupils receive fee assistance, including the School's 26 free places which it hopes to grow. The Wellington Estate also includes the prep school, Eagle House, the majority of whose pupils go on to join the College. Wellington has a strong reputation for being pioneering and progressive, and believes that if education is about bringing the best out of children, then just delivering a raft of A and A* grades, although important, is not enough: Wellington College aims to inspire and support its pupils so they can become the very best they can be. With happy and fully-rounded pupils, examination grades naturally follow, as its outstanding results prove.

Looking to the future, Wellington College wants to maintain its position as the modern face of education, leading the debate and pioneering the discussion around how a 21st century education should look. Having been named ‘Independent Boarding School of the Year’ by the TES Independent School Awards, Wellington College aims to continue to develop, promote and share best practice in education, alongside maintaining its identity built on intellectual curiosity, true independence and the courage to be properly and unselfishly individual.

The role of the Safeguarding Governor is key to understanding the effectiveness of safeguarding for everyone in the schools. They should understand the requirements of safeguarding guidance and legislation, and be ‘confident in their challenge to executive leaders on strategies for monitoring and improving the behaviour and safety of pupils’ (Competency Framework for Governance (DfE 2017)).

The roles and duties listed below act as an aide memoire for what it would be reasonable for a nominated safeguarding governor to undertake.

The safeguarding Governor’s role is to:

• Understand the safeguarding requirements
• Check that the School is compliant with statutory guidance
• Ensure that the safeguarding and child protection policy is being followed in practice; and to be involved in any policy review
• Support the work of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and other relevant staff by meeting at least twice termly
• Report back to the Governing Body about their activities to inform them in order to facilitate scrutiny and the impact of safeguarding by writing an annual Safeguarding Report and giving termly updates
• Ensure resources are effectively allocated or where changes might be required
• Ensure that safeguarding deficiencies are brought to the governing body
• Ensure that the governing body are kept aware of the safeguarding risks to young people in the school
• Encourage other members of the Governing Body to develop their understanding of the Governing

Governing Body’s responsibilities with regard to well-being, safeguarding and child protection and support them in the performance of these duties are to:

• Check out whether there is a consistency in safeguarding across the whole school
• Make sure that there are effective systems in place to keep vulnerable children safe
• Ensure that the training programme for staff reflects the needs of the school and statutory regulations
• Ensure that records are kept securely and in one place
• Ensure that the curriculum for safeguarding reflects the risks for the young people in the area
• Ensure that safer recruitment processes are in place
• Ensure that the Single Central Record is compliant

Wellington College seeks a new Safeguarding Governor who will play a key role on the Board of Governors, providing oversight of appropriate policies and procedures, working closely with the designated safeguarding lead, and championing best practice in all aspects of safeguarding and pastoral care.

The successful candidate may come from a range of sectors and organisations but will be committed and passionate about the safeguarding and wellbeing of young people. Whilst direct safeguarding experience is not essential, individuals with experience such as across healthcare, education or working with young or vulnerable people would be welcomed. The Safeguarding Governor should not be a current parent as this could lead to them being compromised in the event of a disciplinary matter.

The successful candidate will have the communications skills, intellect and passion to actively engage with senior staff helping them translate leading practice and contemporary research into a residential school setting. They will be innovative, collegial and able to challenge. Most importantly, they will be passionate about helping Wellington College’s pupils to flourish.

A list of current Governors can be found here.  

This role is unremunerated; however reimbursement is made for reasonable expenses with regard to duties on behalf of the school. The Governing Body meets four times per year and the Pastoral & Safeguarding Committee meets three times per year, making the formal meeting commitment approximately seven half-day meetings a year plus an annual strategy day in Berkshire. Additionally, the Safeguarding Governor will be available to provide a source of ad hoc advice to the senior leadership. Finally, they may wish to attend a small number of ceremonial or formal occasions. The overall time commitment during term time would be indicatively one and a half to two days per month. 

Candidates will be able to attend in-person meetings and school visits.