Assistant Head of Secondary
Job Description
Job Description
We are looking to appoint an experienced Assistant Head of Secondary School from August 2025.
This role is integral to shaping the academic and pastoral experience of students across the Middle Years Programme (MYP), Career-related Programme (CP), and Diploma Programme (DP) in a diverse and expanding international school. The successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of IB frameworks, a commitment to inclusive education, and the ability to support a range of student pathways leading into higher education and careers.
Overall Responsibilities
The Assistant Head of Secondary School is responsible for ensuring that GIS has the best possible learning and teaching environment and placing students at the heart of decision making. The Assistant Head of Secondary should provide support, guidance and leadership and be a model of good practice for all staff. He/She must also possess excellent communication skills and be professional and confident in communicating with all stakeholders, and external agents.
Skills
The Person
The successful candidate will have the ability to be an inspirational and innovative leader who can secure the full engagement of staff and all other stakeholders in the delivery of the school’s objectives. She/he will show leadership and moral values through action and example in her/his daily conduct. She/he will engage superbly with the community, be a respected ambassador for the secondary school, motivate others, and achieve excellent academic results within a truly holistic environment. The successful candidate will have the following key skills, experience, and attributes:
Qualifications & Personal Development
- University educated with an Honours Degree recognised learning and development is essential
- Further degree in education is desirable
Knowledge
Essential:
- Leadership and management in the fields of learning and communication
- Experience and support of IB curricula
- Assessment for Learning, Assessment of Learning, use of data, baselines assessment and value-added
- ELL and SEN provision
- Current educational issues and up-to-date curriculum developments
Desirable:
- CIS accreditation process; KHDA experience and familiarity with regulatory frameworks in Dubai; IB examining, training or workshop
experience.
Experience
Essential:
- A clear focus and passion for student learning
- Leadership position in a school with responsibility for curriculum and/or pastoral care and/or personnel
- Developing and implementing school quality improvement programmes, including demonstration of raising students’ levels of achievement
- Excellent professional knowledge (of curriculum, quality management, school organisation and current educational issues)
- Successful partnerships and communication with parents and communities outside the school The ability to represent the school to its student and parent community
