Assistant Head Designated Safeguarding Lead – Aug 2026 – Singapore

This school is a collaboration between one of the UK’s top co-educational school, and an educational group with schools around the globe that embraces and embeds best practice from a variety of world curricula.
 
The school comprises of a Pre-Prep (located in a purpose-built ‘Early Learning Village’) for children aged 18 months to 6 years a Prep School for children aged 6 to 11 years and Senior School. Senior pupils pursue IGCSEs and A-levels.
 
The College aims to provide an inspiring education that prepares pupils for life in our school and beyond. The school delivers its own curriculum, incorporating the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage and English National Curriculum, together with a rich co-curricular programme. 

 
About the Role:
 
The school is seeking an exceptional Assistant Head – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to join our expanding school community from August 2026. This is an outstanding opportunity to take strategic ownership of safeguarding during a pivotal phase of the school’s development, as we grow from a first‑class Prep School into one of the region’s leading all‑through schools, offering education from Pre‑Nursery to Year 13.
 
What you will be doing:

• Be responsible for the overall governance, promotion and implementation of Safeguarding measures and practices within the school.
• To perform proprietor’s annual safeguarding review and reporting on relevant findings to management.
• Refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care, as required.
• Support staff who make referrals to local authority children’s social care.
• Refer cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child to the Disclosure and Barring Service, as required.
• Refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the Police, as required.
• Ensure detailed, accurate, secure written records keeping.
• Ensure the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are known, understood and used appropriately.
• Ensure the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with governing bodies or proprietors regarding this.
• Ensure the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available publicly and parents are aware of the fact that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the school in this.
• Link with the three Safeguarding Partners to make sure staff are aware of any training opportunities and the latest local policies on local safeguarding arrangements.
• Development and delivery of Safeguarding training to required personnels.
• Liaise with the Heads and DDSL(s) to inform them of issues, especially in case of any ongoing enquiries.
• Liaise with the designated authorities for child protection concerns in cases which concern an adult in a position of trust.
• Assisting the Head of College with ensuring the school is compliant with all safeguarding requirements, as detailed in the Cognita Asia Safeguarding Policy.
• Ensuring staff are kept appraised of the latest updates to KCSIE and that all colleagues receive suitable training regarding all safeguarding matters.
• Liaise with staff (especially pastoral support staff, Wellbeing Leads, school nurses and SENCOs) on matters of safety and safeguarding.
• Where children leave the school, and they have had a Safeguarding File at any point their time in the school, the DSL should ensure that their file is transferred to the new school as soon as possible. This should be transferred separately from the main pupil file, ensuring secure transit, and confirmation of receipt should be obtained.

Who we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree with PGCE or equivalent.
• Holds a recognised certificate in Designated Safeguarding.
• Have a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so.
• Have an excellent track record as an experience DSL from a school with British Curriculum.
• International school experience (preferred).
• Superb writing and speaking abilities.
• Exemplifies the school values of Curiosity, Confidence and Kindness.
• An international outlook and understanding of working in diverse environments.