Location: Sheffield, KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
Opening Date: January 2027
Start Date: July 2026 (or earlier by mutual agreement)
Type: Full-time, Permanent Appointment
About Seaton House:
Seaton House is an exciting new, co-educational, independent school founded on Christian principles. Located on 25 hectares of pristine land in Sheffield on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, the campus offers a biophilic learning environment designed to nurture the head, heart, and hands of every child.
The school will open in January 2027, initially welcoming scholars from Grade 0000 to Grade 6, and Grade 8 and 9, with plans to expand each year until it reaches a full Grade 12 offering. Seaton House will be registered with ISASA and will follow the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) curriculum.
Seaton House is committed to academic excellence, sport, cultural activities, character formation, and holistic education, preparing young people to live with integrity, curiosity, and compassion.
The Opportunity:
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to serve as the Founding Head of a new school, playing a key role in shaping the culture, educational standards, and community of staff, scholars, and parents. The successful candidate will join the Board and Founding Team in mid-2026 to help guide the pre-opening phase and lead the transition to a fully operational school in 2027.
Key Responsibilities:
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Provide visionary leadership in establishing Seaton House as a leading independent school in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Work closely with the Board to implement the school’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
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Lead the recruitment, induction, and development of the founding staff team.
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Oversee the finalisation of curriculum design, policies, and pastoral systems.
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Ensure that teaching and learning reflect best practices and align with IEB standards.
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Foster an inclusive culture that nurtures intellectual curiosity, empathy, and moral strength.
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Build strong relationships with parents and external partners to create a supportive school community.
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Collaborate with estates and operations teams to ensure campus and facilities readiness.
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Represent the school as chief ambassador with warmth, professionalism, and integrity.
Qualifications and Experience:
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A relevant degree in Education (postgraduate qualification preferred).
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At least 10 years of experience in teaching and educational leadership, with substantial senior leadership experience in an independent or high-performing school.
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Proven ability to lead teams, inspire excellence, and manage complex projects.
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Experience establishing or significantly developing a school, division, or programme will be an advantage.
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A personal commitment to the Christian faith and to modelling Christian leadership in education.
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SACE registered.
Personal Attributes:
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Visionary, strategic thinker who can motivate teams to achieve goals.
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Warm, relational leadership style that builds trust and motivates others.
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Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
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Emotionally intelligent, with sound judgment and resilience.
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Passionate about holistic education, shaping a culture of excellence, curiosity, and care.
Application Process:
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following by 18th November 2025 to careers@seatonhouse.co.za:
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A detailed curriculum vitae.
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A one-page outline of the role of the Head in the first year of a new school such as Seaton House.
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Contact details for three professional referees.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews in December 2025 and January 2026. If you haven’t heard from us by 15th January 2026, please assume your application was unsuccessful.
Seaton House:
Growing bright minds and good hearts on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
Closing Date: 18 October 2025
Location: KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
Email: careers@seatonhouse.co.za
Website: www.seatonhouse.co.za