Assistant Head of Secondary

Job Description

Assistant Head of Secondary – Teaching & Learning

About Us

Fortes Education has been a leading education provider in the UAE for over four decades with premium international schools and nurseries that have experienced outstanding success and growth. Our schools offer the most innovative and character-building education in the entire Middle East region.

Our core ethos and philosophy of education is Positive Education (PosEd). Through PosEd, our schools foster active engagement in learning, celebrating character strengths and accomplishments. We encourage children to cultivate fulfilling relationships with others and seek meaning and purpose in their own lives. We enable children to become happy learners and develop into innovative thinkers, confident young adults, and life-long learners. Our students develop resilience, a growth mindset and deep character strengths that allow them to flourish in an ever-changing world.

About Sunmarke School – Where Amazing Happens

Sunmarke School provides an ambitious and inspiring, values-based education that nurtures the hearts and minds of students so that they can flourish and achieve their dreams. Powered by our suite of signature programmes, Sunmarke is a uniquely innovative school, transforming young lives. This was reflected in Sunmarke School winning the coveted ‘Most Innovative School’ award at the international Which School Advisor ceremony in Dubai and London.

Sunmarke is an all–through school which offers a premium education across a fantastic range of pathways for students, including the National Curriculum of England, GCSE/IGCSE, ‘A’ Levels, BTEC and the IB Diploma Programmes. Our students regularly win examination boards’ ‘best in world’, ‘best in Middle East’ and ‘best in country’ awards every year, across a diverse range of subjects. The latest incredible IB results show that Sunmarke School is in the top 3 schools in Dubai and 69th in world rankings. Our suite of Signature Programmes is unrivalled in Dubai, with inspiring opportunities for students to experience transformative learning opportunities. These include Environmental and Sustainability Studies, where students learn in Forest School settings, as well as utilising cutting-edge hydroponic technology to examine how science can support sustainability in future terrains; a world-class STEAM centre and curriculum, which offers students an incredible opportunity to apply their learning in solving real-world problems, from Foundation Stage through to Year 9; Augmented and Virtual Reality AR/VR experiences alongside our cutting edge use of Artificial Intelligence for staff and students; outstanding performing arts opportunities with full black box and auditorium facilities alongside peripatetic music spaces and media suites; and a fantastic sports programme augmented with professional coaches, which led Sunmarke to be overall champions at the BSME Games.

Sunmarke School has been judged by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a ‘Very Good’ school since our third year of operation and is consistently judged ‘Outstanding’ by British Schools Overseas (BSO).

We present an exciting opportunity to join our all through school and to play an important part in our journey beyond “outstanding”. Sunmarke School, Dubai is one of our flagship schools, located at a prime location in Jumeirah Village Triangle.

About You

Due to the expansion of our Secondary leadership structure from August 2026, Sunmarke School is seeking to appoint an experienced, committed and inspirational educational leader to the position of Assistant Head of Secondary – Teaching & Learning.

This is a senior leadership role focused on driving excellence in classroom practice across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, including GCSE, A Level, BTEC and the IB Diploma Programme. The Assistant Head of Secondary – Teaching & Learning is responsible for leading and embedding high-quality instructional practice across the Secondary phase, ensuring that teaching consistently secures outstanding outcomes for students.

Working closely with the Deputy Head of Secondary – Academics and the wider Secondary Leadership Team, the successful candidate will lead the implementation of the Secondary Teaching & Learning Strategy. The role is impact-driven and centered on instructional leadership at scale within a large, premium British international school.

Key Aspects Of The Role Include

• Leading and quality assuring teaching and learning across KS3–KS5
• Embedding a shared language of high-quality instruction across faculties
• Designing and delivering a coherent, research-informed CPD programme
• Developing instructional coaching and building leadership capacity across departments
• Ensuring teaching practice aligns with KHDA and BSO Outstanding standards
• Promoting a culture of scholarship, academic ambition and intellectual curiosity
• Supporting Heads of Faculty in raising and sustaining high instructional standards
  

This position includes a teaching commitment, with the successful candidate modelling outstanding classroom practice and setting the standard for excellence across the Secondary phase. Further details regarding the scope of the role, responsibilities and person specification can be found in the attached Job Description.

We Are Looking For Certain Qualities

• The Assistant Headteacher should hold as a minimum, bachelor’s degree in education with PGCE or equivalent. Tertiary qualifications such as NPQSL are desirable but not essential.
• Minimum 3–5 years’ middle leadership experience. Proven leadership experience with responsibility for teaching, learning and curriculum.
• The successful candidate will be an exceptional classroom practitioner with proven leadership experience in improving teaching quality across departments. They will demonstrate strong pedagogical knowledge across secondary pathways, experience leading impactful professional development, and the ability to build highly effective teams in a large school setting.
• A creative & innovative practitioner and a highly effective leader who leads by example and can inspire and motivate & develop excellence in others?through coaching and mentoring.
• Build and develop highly effective teams, organisational structures and academic processes
  

with an ability to delegate work and support colleagues in undertaking their responsibilities.

• Ability to build and maintain outstanding relationships
• Ability to remain positive and enthusiastic when working under pressure
• Ability to organise work, prioritise tasks, make decisions and manage time effectively
  

Our Offer

• Excellent tax-free salary
• Furnished Accommodation
• Medical Insurance for self, spouse & 2 dependents
• Annual Flights for self, spouse & 2 dependents
• Tuition Fee Concession for up to 2 minor dependent(s)
• State-of-the-art facilities and amenities in a newly built campus in a prime location in Dubai
• An enthusiastic learning community of students, teachers, parents, and Board members, who are dedicated to maximise student achievement, and creating positive learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.
• Working within a team of highly driven and supportive colleagues
• Excellent professional development
• Working in Dubai, one of the world’s most sought-after work and travel destinations
  

Application Process

If you are ready to take on a role that will challenge and inspire you, Sunmarke School offers an exceptional opportunity to make a lasting impact. We are seeking a dynamic, research-informed and forward-thinking leader who is passionate about ensuring every learner has access to the highest standards of education and opportunity. In return, you will join a rapidly evolving and ambitious organisation, where you will play a central role in shaping our future growth and contributing meaningfully to the continued success of our Secondary School.

Candidates are invited to complete our Online Application by visiting: https://forteseducation.com/Careers/Current-Openings

Interviews will take place either face-to-face in Dubai or by video conferencing if the applicant is not based in Dubai.

Appointment Start Date: August 2026

Closing Date: Wednesday, 4th March 2026, 12 p.m. (UAE time)

Successful candidates will be invited to participate in our Assessment Centre either in person or online from Wednesday 11th March to Thursday, 12th March 2026. Please note that due to the expected volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Safer Recruitment Statement

Fortes Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Policies for safer recruitment are aligned with the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection. At Sunmarke School, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection, and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to various background checks, including receipt of satisfactory references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification, and police checks, including overseas checks.