At St Andrews, we believe that every student deserves consistent, high-quality support, both academically and personally, throughout their school journey. One of the key roles that helps us achieve this is the Head of Year for each year group. They play a vital leadership role in shaping the student experience, fostering academic progress, emotional well-being, and a strong sense of community. It is at the heart of student success and personal growth.
The impact of the role is significant. Let’s take a closer look at how the role of Head of Year functions in Primary School and High School.
What is a Head of Year?
In general, each year group has a Head of Year who leads and manages a team of tutors, ensuring students receive consistent and supportive guidance throughout the academic year.
They set the expectations for behaviour, attendance, punctuality, and academic performance. By working closely with key staff, including the Senior Leadership Team, Heads of Departments, and various teams across the school, the Head of Year ensures every student is supported in a way that reflects our diverse, inclusive, and vibrant school community.
Supporting holistic development in Primary School
In Primary School, the Head of Year, also known as Year Leader, plays a pivotal role in overseeing both the academic progress and pastoral care of students within their year group. This position combines strategic curriculum leadership with a deep commitment to student welfare, fostering a cohesive and nurturing learning environment for young learners.
Core responsibilities include maintaining high standards of teaching and learning, monitoring curriculum coverage, curriculum development and ensuring effective assessment practices. The Year Leader ensures that the curriculum is implemented consistently across classes and is designed to support all students in achieving key developmental milestones. Central to this is creating an environment where children feel safe, respected, and actively engaged in their learning.
Beyond academic oversight, a Primary Year Leader is instrumental in promoting student well-being by cultivating positive peer relationships, monitoring emotional and social development. Year Leaders work closely with Class Teachers to provide personalised support and ensure that each student’s individual needs are met with care, empathy, and consistency. In the Primary School, a parent’s first point of contact is always the Class Teacher; however, there is also an option to include Year Leaders in any communications.
Additionally, the Head of Year contributes to quality assurance across the year group, helping to align teaching practices and communication standards. They coordinate with multiple departments and lead the planning of events, activities, and initiatives that enhance the student experience.
Building systems of support for wellbeing and academic success in High School
In High School, with students navigating adolescence and preparing for formal qualifications, the need for robust support systems becomes even more critical. The role of the Head of Year typically focuses heavily on pastoral care, which means looking after the personal well-being, emotional health, and social needs of students.
This includes helping with friendships, managing stress, building confidence, and having someone to talk to when facing and overcoming challenges. As a key liaison with families, the Head of Year is often the first point of contact for parents or guardians regarding their child’s welfare.
Head of Year in High School keeps a close oversight of attendance and student welfare, and they are able to identify challenges early and provide appropriate interventions to support student success both inside and outside the classroom. This proactive leadership supports not just individuals, but the year group as a whole in meeting its potential.
Safeguarding and compliance
At St Andrews, safeguarding is a top priority. The Head of Year is instrumental in upholding and promoting the school’s safeguarding policies. They ensure that any concerns are identified and acted upon in line with statutory and school-based procedures. This vigilance ensures our school remains a safe and nurturing environment for all.
Building a sense of community
The Head of Year also plays a key role in building a positive year-group identity and wider school spirit. From leading assemblies to organising year-group celebrations, cultural events, and residential trips, they help create opportunities for students to connect, reflect, and grow beyond the classroom.
Their leadership supports not only academic achievement but also the development of well-rounded, globally-minded individuals ready to contribute positively to the world.
Primary School | Heads of Year
High School | Heads of Year
