Secondary Deputy Headteacher

Job Description

Job Description

The deputy Head of Secondary, under the direction of the Head of Secondary, will take a major role in:

• Embracing and encouraging the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the GEMS Core Values.
• To promote and embody the ‘The GFM Way’ so that it is always at the core of school improvement work ensuring children are at the heart of everything we do.
• Assist in shaping & implementing the school strategic plan, excellence plan and any other school priority improvement initiatives.
• To contribute to and also provide leadership and management of the staff and students.
• To ensure a high-quality school experience for all students, securing desired outcomes.
• To ensure a high-quality customer experience for all parents.
• Ensuring high academic standards in the school in relation to the schools own desire for all students to be the best they can as well as a commitment to the UAE National Agenda targets.
• Formulating the aims and objectives of the school and establishing policies for achieving these aims and objectives
• Managing staff and resources to that end
• Monitoring progress towards the achievement of the school’s aims and objectives
• Managing budgets and undertake teaching and other professional duties as reasonably delegated by the Principal.
  

Leadership Qualities

• Uphold public trust in school leadership and maintain high standards of ethics, behaviour and professional conduct
• Build positive and respectful relationships across the school and Parent community
• Lead by example
• Always strive for continuous improvement, and have the highest expectations for yourself and others
• Be an effective role model who demonstrates consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour which is expected of students
• Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school
• Treat students and staff with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position
  

Duties And Responsibilities

School culture and behaviour

• Relentlessly uphold The GFM Way
• Embrace and encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined in the GEMS Core Values.
• Work closely with the Head of School, Secondary Leadership Team and Vice Principal to establish effective and globally relevant practices of learning & teaching. Implement the school’s vision for quality in the school linked with the GEMS expectation of excellent education.
• Create a culture where students experience a positive and enriching school life
• Uphold educational standards in order to prepare students from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life
• Ensure a culture of staff professionalism
• Encourage high standards of behaviour from students, built on rules and routines that are understood by staff and students and clearly demonstrated by all adults in school
• Use consistent and fair approaches to managing behaviour, in line with the school’s behaviour policy
  

Teaching, curriculum and assessment

• Champion the Teach Like a GEM
• Champion Instructional Coaching and the use of Steplab
• Establish and sustain high-quality teaching across all subjects and phases, based on evidence
• Ensure teaching is underpinned by subject expertise
• Develop monitoring and evaluation systems to assess teaching and learning standards, and implement any necessary improvement strategies.
• Ensure the teaching of a broad, structured and coherent curriculum
• Establish curriculum leadership, including subject leaders with relevant expertise and access to professional networks and communities
• Use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing students’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
  

Additional And Special Educational Needs (SEN) And Disabilities

• Promote a culture and practices that enables all students to access the curriculum
• Have ambitious expectations for all students with SEN and disabilities
• Make sure the school works effectively with the parents to identify additional needs and provide support and adaptation where appropriate
  

Organisational management and school improvement

• Establish and sustain the school’s ethos and strategic direction together with the governing board and through consultation with the school community
• Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively
• Ensure staff and students’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of duty of care
• Manage staff and student wellbeing
• Ensure rigorous approaches to identifying, managing and mitigating risk
• Identify problems and barriers to school effectiveness, and develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context
• Lead on school improvement areas and ensure strategies are effectively monitored, implemented and reviewed
  

Staff management and Professional development

• Performance manage Assistant headteachers and middle leaders, including carrying out appraisals and holding staff to account to their performance
• Ensure staff have access to appropriate, high standard professional development opportunities
• Keep up to date with developments in education
• Seek training and continuing professional development to meet needs
  

Governance, accountability and working in partnership

• Understand and welcome the role of effective governance, including accepting responsibility
• Ensure that staff understand their professional responsibilities and are held to account
• Lead the school effectively and ensure it efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
• Work successfully with other Founders or Cluster schools and organisations where appropriate
• Maintain working relationships with fellow professionals and colleagues to improve educational outcomes for all students
  

Skills

Successful candidates will need to:

• Have a certified teaching qualification, at degree level such as B.Ed, PGCE, PGDE or equivalent.
• At least 5 years of solid and demonstrable experience in teaching a Primary School in a British curriculum school
• Experience in a similar role
• The personal leadership qualities to developing trusting relationships, a coaching approach to development and be able to inspire others.
• The desire to provide outstanding teaching and learning
• Aspiration to work in a world class school with real prospects for enhancing their career
• Excellent IT and interpersonal communication skills to work closely with students and parents
• A creative and enthusiastic approach both in and out of the classroom
  

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.