The Governors
At independent schools, governors are the source of all authority within the school and are responsible for overall policy. They control finance and administration, responsibility for which is normally delegated to the Head or the Bursar, and – probably their single most important task – appoint the Head. Governors give their time and expertise in various fields voluntarily and a good rapport between Governors and Head is essential for a well-run school.

The Head
The Head is responsible to the Governors for all aspects of school life – for example, the safety and welfare of pupils and the competence of the staff. Decisions about day-to-day running of the school are normally made by the Head. The Head is responsible for the appointment of staff, selection of pupils, supervision of all activities and arrangements, and is the final arbiter on any question, from academic decisions to the suspension of a pupil. Most Heads find time to continue teaching and make every effort to get to know all the pupils individually.

The Bursar
The Bursar is a key member of the school’s management team, responsible to the Head for the non-academic administration of the school in activities such as catering and maintenance. In addition, the Bursar, in conjunction with the Governors, is responsible for the overall financial management of the school – it will be the Bursar’s office which sends you the termly bill!

Director of Studies
With the curriculum growing more complex many schools now have a senior teacher responsible for ensuring that the school is up-to-date with developments. The Director of Studies will normally supervise the timetable and is responsible to the Head for arrangements for university entrance. The Head, Deputy and Director of Studies usually form the core management team of a school.

Housemaster/Housemistress
A Housemaster or Housemistress is responsible for the welfare and development of the pupils in a House. These are the staff who will maintain an overall view of your child’s development both in academic and non-academic matters and relay information to and from the school. They are responsible for day-to-day discipline but will refer serious matters to the Head. The Housemaster or mistress plays a key role in your child’s school life and is normally the first point of contact for parents.

Subject Teacher
Subject Teachers are responsible for the progress of pupils in the class and will provide a termly subject report. Formal meetings also provide an opportunity for parents to discuss progress directly with teaching staff.

Chaplain
The Chaplain is responsible for the religious life of the school and is a valuable member of the pastoral care staff. Unlike the Housemaster or mistress he/she is not identified with discipline and can provide support and a ‘listening ear’ for both staff and pupils.

Matron
Matron is responsible for the housekeeping aspects including boarding accommodation and laundry, but is also a key figure for the pupils and will often know them well individually. The matron can be a great source of strength to harassed staff and to (temporarily) unhappy pupils!

Sister
The Sister is responsible for medical arrangements and is in charge of the sanatorium. She can also provide valuable insights into the development of your child.

Prefects
Prefects are senior pupils who exercise responsibility for some of the daily routines in school. They may have disciplinary powers but are now much more likely to encourage and lead by example than by the threat of sanctions. Most schools will offer pupils opportunities for posts of responsibility, but because many prefer their second year sixth-formers to devote more time to studies, it is quite usual to find boys and girls in the post of prefect at an earlier age than in the past.

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