Head of Department Music -August 2026

At GEMS Wellington International School, our vision is to ensure that all of our students are beacons of social responsibility, empowered by a co-constructed, pioneering and authentic learning experience.  We are seeking an exceptional Head of Department for Music who are willing to uphold our values of integrity, empathy and fortitude, to join our established team for August 2026

We are a fully inclusive, high performing school, with a long history of success.  This is evidenced through our performance in rigorous inspection and accreditation frameworks.  Some specific examples include:

• Rated as ‘Outstanding’ for 14 consecutive years by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB),

• Rated as ‘Outstanding’ by British Schools Overseas

• Holder of the coveted COBIS Patrons accreditation, with beacon status for Leadership.

• Recognition as a High Performance Learning (HPL) ‘World class School’

Through our personalised professional development programme, we ensure our teachers are at the forefront of global educational best practice and research.  Our teachers have the opportunity to engage with a wide number of stakeholders and partners, such as the Schools Students and Teachers Network (SSAT) and the Best Practice Network (BPN). 

Our personalised and bespoke professional development program affirms our commitment to not just maintain high educational standards but to position our teachers at the cutting edge of global educational best practices and research. The dynamic world of education requires dynamic educators, and with us, you are empowered to be just that.  Our collaboration with esteemed organizations such as the Schools Students and Teachers Network (SSAT), High Performance Learning (HPL), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and our Inquiry Driven Innovation partnership with Harvard Project Zero ensures that every teacher is equipped with world-class knowledge and pedagogy.  With most of our leaders being promoted from within the GEMS network of schools, GEMS teachers are in a unique position to further progress their career as we continue our expansion within the UAE and around the world.

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 Secondary A Level Music

• Proven experience of leading a team of educators

• Have a willingness to collaborate and share their outstanding practice

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

• 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 Teachers also have free access to our loyalty app GEMS rewards which provides significant savings on day-to-day life in the UAE. We offer thousands of discounts and 2 for 1 offers on everything from flights, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, making your salary go further and enhancing the opportunity to save whilst working overseas.

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