Principal

Stonyhurst International School, Penang

Stonyhurst International School, Penang (the “School”) is the sister school to the 429-year old Stonyhurst College, UK, the oldest Jesuit school in the world. A Catholic school of Ignatian spirituality, the School offers co-education to pupils from 3 years to 18 years from all religious denominations and secular belief systems. The school is located in one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods on Penang Island with direct ocean frontage and featuring world class educational facilities. 

The School offers a unique educational experience through our personalised learning, coaching, advisory and counselling programmes. The organisational structure of our school allows allocating pupils an individual learning coach and mentor that will guide them through their entire learning journey.

Students are offered explicit opportunities to work alongside both older and younger students as part of their coaching group, developing a genuine sense of cohesion and friendship amongst our senior and junior students. Our close partnership with Stonyhurst College, United Kingdom enables us to provide students a richer educational experience in charting pathways into the very best universities worldwide.

The School opened in September 2022 with enrolment from Nursery through to Year 9. Over the following years the school will expand to a maximum enrolment of ~1,200 students. Currently operating as a day school, boarding is intended to be offered in the near future.

Role

This is an exceptional professional opportunity to play a leading role at an exciting time in the development of the School. 

The Board of Governors is seeking to appoint a dynamic and visionary Principal from July 2023 to lead and manage the newly set-up school. A collaborative leader the Principal will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team comprising the Bursar, the Head of Senior School, the Head of Junior School, the Head of Pastoral and the Director of Admissions and Marketing. 

Vision and leadership

The Principal is responsible for providing, executing and continuously appraising, an ambitious vision and development plan for the school to ensure that the School: 

• represents the best of Ignatian culture and identity, building on a rich heritage whilst embracing diversity through a global lens
• provides the highest quality educational and formative experience
• has the safety and wellbeing of each individual pupil at its centre
• provides a rich range of opportunities that allow each pupil to maximise their potential and achieve ‘as much as I can’ (Quant Je Puis)
• builds a strong sense of belonging (‘esprit de corps’) and family within the school’s pupil community
• maintains full compliance with regulatory requirements
• operates to a financially robust model

In executing the said plan, the Principal’s responsibilities includes building enrolment and progressing a dynamic organisation that optimizes the School’s operations. His/her responsibilities would include:

Organisational management

• Building capacity, including recruiting high calibre staff, and developing leadership at all levels
• Championing an open and collegial organisation where all staff are empowered to take the initiative and ownership of their areas of responsibility
• Supporting colleagues to achieve their full potential 
• Engendering a culture of academic depth and intellectual variety
• Working closely with the Bursar to ensure effective finance and resource management
• To lead on inspection preparation to ensure that the school meets its obligation in relation to the relevant regulatory bodies.
• Establishing and deepening links with stakeholders including the local community
• Continuing to deepen the strong partnership with Stonyhurst College, UK

On a day-to-day basis, the Principal is responsible within the School:

Leadership and Management

• To ensure the safety of pupils, staff and visitors
• To ensure that all programmes of teaching and learning of pupils have the Jesuit Pupil Profile at the centre
• To ensure a close integration between the junior and senior school
• To ensure seamless pupil transition at each level
• To engage with pupil councils ensuring that pupil voice is used to inform development and drive quality

Teaching and Learning

Working with the Head of Senior School and the Head of Junior School to ensure: 

• A consistently high quality of provision for teaching and learning for all pupils including co-curricular provision, paying attention to effective school calendar management
• That appropriate continuing professional development is provided so that all staff are supported in delivering the curriculum

Inclusion and Assessment

Working with the Head of Pastoral and the respective Heads of Schools to ensure that: 

• Each pupil is ‘known and loved’, their strengths and needs are identified and appropriate provision is made both inside and outside of the classroom
• Appropriate continuing professional development is provided so that all staff are supported in differentiating for a diverse range of learners including those with additional educational needs and the gifted and talented

Safeguarding and Pastoral Care

Working with the Head Pastoral to ensure that:

• All pupils are kept safe through embedding a culture of safeguarding throughout the School
• Policies and procedures promote good behaviour and the tone of rewards and sanctions reflect the Ignatian identity of the School, and are implemented effectively and consistently

Communication

• To inspire and enthuse the School staff, students and wider community to be the best that they can be (Quant Je Puis) 
• To build and manage strong and trusting relationships with current and prospective parents, the staff, alumni and the wider community
• To participate and contribute to promotional initiatives such as events and materials including the website 
• To be the primary ambassador for the School, effectively communicating the vision, mission and identity to a wide range of audiences

Potential candidates are encouraged to click on the attachment below for desired Personal Attributes and other qualities the ideal candidate may have

Terms of Appointment 

Salary

The demanding position carries a great deal of responsibility. Consequently, the package available will be competitive and commensurate with the importance of the role and the successful candidate’s experience.

A housing allowance, or housing, will be provided along with medical insurance, airfares for the Principal, spouse and dependents and fees remission for up to two dependent children.

The post will be offered subject to satisfactory references, a medical examination and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

To Apply

Online applications should include an updated Curriculum Vitae, a cover letter which outlines how you meet the personal and professional specifications required of the position and the contact details of three referees. 

Closing date

Applications will close on 10th February 2023 with interviews commencing the following week via Zoom. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.