Head of St John’s Pre-Preparatory School: January 2026

The Council of St John’s College is seeking a dedicated, inspirational and innovative new Head to lead St John’s Pre-Preparatory School into its next phase of development, building on the progress made by our current Headmistress, Mrs Jane Lane, who is retiring at the end of the Michaelmas Term in December 2025 after 28 years of dedicated service and leadership, over 12 of which will have been in this role.

Working closely with the Headmaster of the Preparatory School, the successful candidate will be an individual who can lead, direct and motivate a staff team that is mandated to deliver world-class teaching and learning strategies in the Pre-Preparatory (Gr 0 to 2) space. The personal development of each staff member in an environment where the Pre-Preparatory School values are lived each day will be of paramount importance.

Whether you are a current successful Head seeking a new challenge or an experienced Deputy Head looking to take the next step in your career, you will require the skills, experience and vision to push for progress in meaningful and measurable ways. Strengthening St John’s position as a world-class Christian African school will be a key imperative.

The ‘Description of the Role’ outlines the responsibilities of this important role in more detail. The ‘Candidate Profile’ also outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and personal qualities that the ideal candidate should possess. However, above all, we are looking for someone who:        

• Will lead the St John’s College vision of being a leading Anglican boys’ school in Africa, attracting and retaining world-class staff, embracing the use of technology, developing our infrastructure and remaining relevant to our regional context.       
• Shares our passion for delivering a holistic, multi-faceted foundation phase experience that combines academic, sporting, cultural and musical opportunities, which are always underpinned by the traditional Christian values of the school;
• Has an intimate appreciation of the Anglican Ethos and identity of St John’s College;
• Has the vision and strategic ability to lead the Pre-Preparatory school in a way that is appropriate for and sensitive to its 21^st Century context, that is both global and uniquely African;
• Has a clear understanding of and unwavering commitment to the school’s Transformation & Diversity imperatives;
• Will ensure that the high standards for which St John’s is known are maintained;
• Is boundried and firm, but is also kind, empathetic and fair;
• Inspires trust and confidence in all school stakeholders;
• Has the leadership ability to be both collaborative and decisive in their approach;
• Can bring relevant experience, educational expertise and fresh insight to St John’s Pre-Preparatory School to achieve excellent outcomes for all Johannians in their care.

A market-related package and housing on the estate will be offered to the successful candidate, who will be expected to commence their duties in January 2026.

Interested candidates should click the link below to access the Candidate Brief and application details.

https://www.stjohnscollege.co.za/uploads/files/Head-of-St-Johns-Pre-Prep-Candidate-Brief-2025.pdf

The closing date for applications is Friday, 7 March 2025.

At St John’s College, we are committed to proactive safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our children. All staff who have access to children will be vetted in accordance with the St John’s College safeguarding policy. This policy stipulates that staff are required to undergo all the necessary background checks in keeping with the requirements for safeguarding and child protection in South Africa, and all staff perform duties in accordance with our school’s HR Policies.

The school reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of the post. The appointment of candidates is at the sole discretion of St John’s College, taking into account factors such as St John’s College’s Employment Equity Policy. Applications are welcomed from South African citizens only or persons with a valid work permit. An application will not in itself entitle the applicant to an interview or appointment, and failure to meet the minimum requirements of the advertised post will result in applicants automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from St John’s College within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have been unsuccessful in your application

St John’s College, in line with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act), will attempt to ensure the confidentiality of all applicants for this role. All reasonable measures will be in place to protect personal information but will be used in the recruitment, selection, and reporting process. By submitting your application for this position, you are recognising and accepting this disclaimer.