Current vacancy
Governor & Educational Mentor - Surrey, UK
Background to the role
A family based in Surrey, KT22, are seeking an exceptional full-time Educational Mentor and Governor for their son, aged eight and a half.
The child has been home educated for the past two years within a structured and well-established framework, and has thrived in this environment. He is bilingual in Russian and English, and is currently supported by dedicated tutors in both languages. The family are now looking to appoint a senior educational figure to assume full oversight of his academic direction, personal development and daily structure, coordinating the wider programme and working in close collaboration with the existing tutors.
The student is a highly intelligent and naturally curious boy with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm. He is a fast thinker who benefits from constant engagement and stimulation, responding best to those who can match his pace and speak to him on his own terms. Biology is his favourite subject, with a particular interest in animals, and he takes great pleasure in hands-on, discovery-led learning. He currently follows both the English and Russian curricula and is comfortably ahead of expectations for his age group. He is to continue in home education until the age of eleven, at which point the family may consider his transition into traditional schooling.
Outside of his studies, the boy attends regular gymnastics and swimming sessions. He has a strong and confident personality and responds best to those who are calm, authoritative and measured, while remaining warm, engaging and inspiring.
Duties of the tutor
The Governor will assume full responsibility for the planning and delivery of the boy's core academic programme, encompassing both STEM and Humanities, while coordinating the contributions of the existing Russian and English tutors to ensure a coherent and ambitious overall curriculum, tailored to the child’s strengths, interests and future educational ambitions. The Governor will also take ownership of the student's English homework, working in tandem with his English tutor to ensure continuity and progression.
The Governor will take ongoing responsibility for monitoring progress across all subjects, regularly reviewing the curriculum to ensure it remains appropriately ambitious, adapting to the changing needs and interests of the child, and that any gaps in knowledge are identified and systematically addressed.
The student’s daily structure runs from 9.00am to 1.30pm for lessons, followed by lunch and an afternoon period given over to outdoor activity, sport or play. The Governor will be responsible for timetabling across the week, Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, including the coordination of his gymnastics and swimming sessions. They will attend such activities with the student and provide regular feedback to the family on his progress and development beyond the classroom.
The Governor is also expected to organise and oversee the student's social schedule, including the arrangement of playdates and group activities, ensuring that he has ample opportunity for peer interaction and the development of social skills alongside his academic work.
Academic rigour and imaginative, unconventional thinking should define the programme in equal measure. The family place great value on project-based, hands-on learning and wish to move decisively away from a purely text-based or rote-learning model as found in traditional education. The garden, the natural world and real-world experience should be used as an extension of the classroom wherever possible. The family have access to a farm, and the Governor is encouraged to draw on this and other practical environments to bring subjects to life, particularly Biology and the sciences. Trips and excursions should be incorporated into the programme as a matter of course.
The Governor will be expected to develop a clear and structured plan of study, monitoring progress regularly and maintaining transparent communication with the family. Besides this. the role is as much one of mentorship as it is of academic leadership: the successful candidate will be a thoughtful and inspiring presence in the boy's life, helping to instil confidence, intellectual curiosity, good etiquette and social awareness.
The family travel at times, and the Governor should be prepared to accompany them if and when required, integrating educational value into travel experiences. Flights and accommodation will be provided on such occasions.
Desired tutor profile
The family consider the presence of a strong, active and positive role model to be essential at this stage of the boy's development, and the Governor will be expected to embody these qualities throughout the engagement.
An outstanding academic record and substantial experience in primary education are essential. The ideal candidate will be a charismatic, energetic and intellectually driven individual, with comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of pedagogical approaches and a personal philosophy of learning developed over the course of their career. They will be flexible and adaptive, as comfortable debating ideas as they are leading a nature walk or designing a long-form investigative project.
A background in or strong familiarity with educational psychology and cognitive development would be highly advantageous, as would experience working within bilingual or multilingual households. The Governor must be comfortable operating within a bilingual Russian and English environment, though fluency in Russian is not required.
Above all, the family are looking for someone who has the personality, the presence and the intellectual depth to form a strong and lasting connection with a highly bright, strong-willed and energetic child, someone who will be a positive and formative influence on his development over the course of at least two years.
Contractual details
Commencement Date: As soon as possible.
Duration: Two year term, with possible extensions.
Salary: £120,000 per annum
Hours: 09:00 - 17:00 four days per week, with significant additional preparation.
Days Off: Three per week, including weekends
Holidays: Nine weeks per annum, to be scheduled around the family’s needs.
Travel: May on occassion be required.
Accommodation: Not provided.
Meals: Not provided.
Car: Not provided.
How to apply
Interested in this role? To apply please email info@witherowbrooke.com with your CV and subject line "Surrey Educational Mentor Application".
Witherow Brooke are offering a £500 referral fee for a recommendation of a candidates subsequently appointed to the role.