Head of Foundation Stage 2 - August 2026

An outstanding school in Dubai, GEMS Wellington International School offers exceptional learning opportunities for students aged 3 to 18. Following the Foundation Stage curriculum in The Early Years, the National Curriculum for England to Year 11 and the International Baccalaureate at Years 12 and 13, our dynamic school environment combined with the extensive range of rich learning experiences offered enables students to succeed and to aspire at every stage of their learning journey. The entire school community, a truly international one, is passionate and committed to ensuring all are recognized and celebrated for their individual strengths, enabled as lifelong learners and nurtured as future leaders.

Job purpose:

To provide strong leadership focused on continuing to develop the pastoral care and support of children in the year group. To be committed to ensuring and monitoring consistently high standards and high expectations in learning, teaching and assessment in order to improve attainment and progress within the year group.

Key Responsibilities include, but not limited to:
● Initiating a positive and friendly approachable relationship with students, parents and staff.
● Maintaining expectations for the beginning and end of the day; greeting parents and children and responding to immediate queries and concerns.
● Promoting high quality and innovative ideas across all areas of: learning and teaching, planning, the learning environment, learning skills, the use of specialist teachers and maximizing use of release time to improve outcomes for children.
● Creating a culture of optimism, motivation and inspiration. All staff within the team believe that the school and department can and will reach agreed goals and targets.
● Holding teachers to account for the attainment and progress of learners within the year group.
● Work alongside Head of School, AHTs and Lower School Curriculum Leaders to ensure a high-quality Monitoring, Evaluation and Review (MER) process of Standards in Learning and Teaching within their Year Group.
● Effectively planning, carrying out and reporting within the year groups Monitoring, Evaluation and Review cycle, including devising focused action plans in line with the School Development plan.
● Providing regular and appropriate professional learning development opportunities for members of your team in order to identify and grow potential.
● Setting challenging targets for Performance Management which are consistently monitored
● Promoting rapid progress and positive outcomes for focus learners by the facilitation of core intervention groups within the year group
● Leading Parents as Partners, including promoting high quality termly parental engagements, workshops, communication and year group events and visits.
● Maintaining good attendance and intervening effectively to improve student lateness and attendance, where it drops to below 96%.
● Facilitate and manage effective and purposeful transitions between lessons and during break times.
● Plan and facilitate an effective transition program for all stakeholders.
● Line management of teachers and TAs in your year group.
Other specific duties
● To play an active role in the future development of the school and its community.
● To promote the school’s policies where appropriate.
● Any other professional duties that are required and outlined as a leader at GEMS Wellington International School.

Successful candidates will need to:

• Embody and role model our core values of integrity, empathy and fortitude in everything they do
  

• Hold a BEd or Bachelors degree with PGCE / PGDE or equivalent
  

• Have proven experience of teaching primary level - EYFS
  

• Have a willingness to collaborate and share their outstanding practice
  

• Have a growth mindset, whereby they are reflective and solution focussed
  

• Be creative and enthusiastic in their approach to teaching
  

• Possess excellent interpersonal skills to work closely with colleagues, students and parents
  

• Have a proven track record of providing outstanding learning & teaching
  

• Have aspiration to work in a world-class school with real prospects for enhancing their career
  

• Be willing to make a positive contribution to our school community and culture through active engagement in our extra-curricular programme and community-based events.

Face to face interviews will take place in the UK between 20th–22nd of February across four locations: London, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow.

All positions attract an excellent remuneration package including: Competitive tax-free salary, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling, private medical insurance, annual airfares to country of residence and end of Service Gratuity.

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.