Assistant Head – Secondary

Job Description

Assistant Head – Secondary – Virginia American School (AY26/27)
 

Job Description

Aldar Education are currently seeking an outstanding Assistant Head – Secondary for Virginia American School in Abu Dhabi, commencing AY26/27.

Virginia American School is an honoured part of the Aldar Schools network, a global leader in education with a commitment to excellence. Joining a family of several schools, we share a collective vision of shaping future leaders and providing a world-class education to a diverse student population with Aldar Education.

At Virginia American School, we believe that education is not just about academic excellence, but also about shaping well-rounded individuals who will become future leaders. Our curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and leadership skills in our students. We also provide a diverse and inclusive environment, preparing our students to thrive in a global society.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group. The successful candidates will be closely aligned with our core values and ethos and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region.

Responsibilities

Main Duties:

• Assist the Assistant Principal Secondary in maintaining a safe, orderly, and positive learning environment.
• Support the administration and monitoring of assessments, schedules, and academic programs in coordination with SLT and department heads
• Line-manage grade-level leaders, providing guidance, support, and performance feedback.
• Organize staff coverage and assign duties for absent personnel to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Support student achievement initiatives, including standardized testing, interventions, progress tracking, and data collection.
• Contribute to pastoral care by monitoring student welfare, supporting wellbeing programs, and fostering a nurturing school environment.
• Collaborate with SLT on curriculum, instructional strategies, and school improvement initiatives.
• Assist in planning and coordinating staff professional development to enhance teaching quality.
• Support timely completion of reports, forms, and data submissions.
• Perform other duties as delegated by the Principal, Vice Principal, or Assistant Principal Secondary.
  
  

Specific Duties:

Academic Leadership & Student Achievement:

• Assist the Assistant Principal of Secondary in guiding academic programs and ensuring high-quality instruction across all grades.
• Support monitoring student progress through assessments, reports, and feedback systems.
• Help ensure academic standards align with national and international benchmarks, including UAE National Agenda initiatives.
• Assist in curriculum development and review, collaborating with Middle Leaders and teachers to implement effective teaching strategies.
  
  

Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and Curriculum:

• Lead and oversee teaching and learning monitoring systems.
• Lead and support programs designed to develop and grow teachers for optimal student academic outcomes.
• Collaborate with academic teams and SLT to ensure assessment practices in secondary are robust, reliable, and valid.
• Collaborate with academic teams and SLT to ensure curriculum review mechanisms are established and that processes are in place to enhance and enrich secondary curriculum across all subjects.
• Manage the structure and execution of assemblies, thematic events, activities, and academic enrichment opportunities.
  
  

Staff Leadership & Management:

• Line-manage grade-level leaders, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback.
• Assist in supporting and developing teaching staff through professional development and coaching.
• Promote collaboration, teamwork, and continuous learning among faculty.
• Support staff coverage and allocation of duties for absent teachers to maintain smooth school operations.
  
  

School Vision, Mission & Values:

• Assist in promoting the school’s vision, mission, and values across the Secondary school.
• Support fostering a positive, inclusive, and collaborative school climate aligned with the school’s ethos.
• Ensure Secondary goals align with the wider strategic aims of the school.
  
  

Parental Engagement & Community Collaboration:

• Assist in establishing strong communication with parents and families regarding student learning and wellbeing.
• Support organizing parent-teacher conferences, workshops, and community events.
• Help address parent concerns professionally and empathetically.
  
  

Operational & Administrative Support:

• Support the day-to-day operations of the Secondary school, including timetabling, resource allocation, and staff coverage.
• Ensure effective use of educational technologies, teaching tools, and classroom resources.
• Help maintain a safe, orderly, and well-organized learning environment.
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor Degree in Education or B.Sc degree with PGCE is essential. Desirable Master’s degree.

Minimum Experience:

• At least 6 years’ experience, including 4 consecutive years teaching performance exceeds standards and expectations as evidenced by performance appraisal
• At least 2 years’ experience in middle leadership role
• Experience of leading school initiatives that have led to improvement in standards and achievement.
• Experience working with parents and external agencies.
  
  

Job Specific Knowledge & Skills:

• With secure knowledge of teaching and learning, and a track record of implementing effective strategies to raise standards and plug gaps in learning.
• ability to work with data and be effective in using data to diagnose, intervene and evaluate impact upon learning.
• ability to organize tasks
• ability to handle multiple tasks
• ability to exercise good judgment
• must possess leadership skills
• must appropriately handle confidential information