Head of Secondary

St. George’s British International School Bilbao is a private school in Leioa, Bizkaia (Spain) that aspires to the highest educational standards and takes an international approach, focusing on providing a values-based education and achieving fluency in English. We aim to stimulate a lifelong passion for learning, encouraging every child to fulfil their academic, personal and professional goals. We follow the prestigious English National Curriculum from Early Years to Year 7.

The school is a proud member of Globeducate, one of the world´s leading K12 education groups with 55+ premium bilingual and international schools, and online programmes, educating 28,000 students in nine countries.). For more information about Globeducate please visit our website: www.globeducate.com

St. George's British International School in Bilbao is looking to appoint a Head of Secondary, for September 2022, who will provide effective, dynamic and inspirational leadership to the St. George's British International School community. They will lead, develop and continue to improve the school, in line with Globeducate’s mission, values and the Platinum Standard framework. 

They will also manage the transition to become a British School in Key Stages 4 and 5, including launching the IGSE and A-level programmes. 

As Head of Secondary, your Key Roles and Responsibilities will be:

Leadership of Others  

• Support the Head of School in the strategic leadership of the school 
• Lead and uphold the school and group mission, values and learning principles across the school  
• Lead the Secondary team, ensuring all aspects of the school run smoothly and effectively on a daily basis  
• Ensure the ethos and commitment to high standards and a culture for learning is secured through the leadership and management of other senior and middle leaders 
• Support middle leaders so that they are able to lead others effectively and bring about measurable improvements in the quality of teaching and learning 
• Have overall responsibility for the performance of teachers and students in the Secondary school 
• Ensure the school environment and practices for students and staff are safe, promoting healthy living and wellbeing

Leading Learning  

• Lead learning and teaching in the Secondary Years, ensuring they are driven by, and quality assured against, the schools’ learning principles, the Globeducate Platinum Standard and the expectations of other external bodies 
• Ensure a robust, challenging, and engaging curriculum is in place across the school that will secure high standards, continuity of learning, and prepare students for their adult lives 
• Work with the senior leadership team to create, implement & monitor a whole school teaching and learning policy to secure consistently high quality provision across the school 
• Model and promote high expectations of all staff in the Secondary phase so that every student develops their potential and achieves well 
• Secure an effective and accurate data-driven assessment policy across the Secondary phase that aligns and builds from the primary phase of the school 
• Ensure smooth and effective progression through key transition points 
• Work with other senior leaders to implement an effective professional development strategy for all teaching staff 
• Be a learner who continues to develop professionally

Leading Structure and Systems  

• Manage the transition to become a British School in Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, including launching the IGCSE and A-level Programmes. 
• Support middle and senior leaders to effectively monitor and interpret attitudinal and attainment data and take steps to ensure all students make good levels of progress 
• Support middle and senior leaders to implement SMART support and intervention strategies to support exceptional learning and wellbeing for students 
• Ensure that attendance in the Secondary school is accurately recorded and monitored and issues regarding absenteeism, behaviour and uniform are effectively addressed 
• Support leaders to ensure all reporting is accurate and in line with the schools’ reporting procedures 
• Develop, lead and implement effective quality assurance processes including competency procedures  
• Proactively communicate with the parent body in a timely and effective manner that is in line with the school values  
• Ensure robust and efficient structures and systems are in place to effectively and efficiently resource the school 
• Manage the Secondary school budget expenditure, as requested by the Head of School

Person Specification 

• University degree and recognised teaching qualification  
• Proficient level of English (Mother tongue / C2 level) 
• Fluent in Spanish
• At least two years’ school management experience  
• Eligible to work in the EU 
• Experience teaching and managing UK and/or International Schools 
• Excellent communicator 
• Strong interpersonal skills 
• ICT literate 
• Ability to lead by example the staff and pupils 
• Strong organisational skills and aptitude to work both independently and collaboratively 
• Pro-active nature 
• A team builder and player, able to motivate students and colleague and build positive relationships 
• Flexibility and the capacity to adapt positively to any given situation

Desirable:  

• Flexibility; someone able to operate at pace and comfortable within an innovative, bold, educational environment  
• A global outlook; someone who has worked internationally  
• Experience working as part of a wider group structure  
• Experience working within a commercial environment, either inside or outside of education  
• Experience working with technology and cutting-edge pedagogy  
• Experience in managing a P&L

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

St George’s British School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will have undertaken an enhanced safeguarding and local police checks.