Assistant Head / Head of Prep School

Jeddah Prep and Grammar School is a high-attaining, co-educational community school (charity status) with a strong tradition of excellence. The Headmaster and the Board of Governors are seeking a skilled and experienced educational innovator to lead on the development of EYFS and Primary provision at our school.

The right person will provide the strategic leadership that will engage the younger members of our learning community; has a track record of developing innovative teaching practice. Someone who is visible, talented, aspirational, inclusive and motivational and is not afraid of challenging traditional orthodoxies will be successful in this role. We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and highly motivated Assistant Head / Head of Pre-Prep and Prep to join our Senior Leadership Team who will support the Headmaster in the leadership and management of the Prep and Pre-Prep phases. We are looking for a person who puts children at the centre of the decision-making process and who can demonstrate that they are: 

* Able to support the Headmaster in leading the school to maintain and develop high quality education for all pupils, ensuring improved standards of learning and achievement and promoting the values of the school. 

* An inspirational classroom practitioner with clear and proven understanding and experience of the learning process in Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum for England.

* A highly skilled team player who can lead, manage and motivate a supportive team of educational professionals. 

* A forward thinking leader who is autonomous, caring, and thrives on challenge and hard work, whilst maintaining a good sense of humour and an understanding of the pressures on staff and pupils.

* We are particularly interested in teachers who have experience of leading assessment at Primary level. 

Person Specification

As a school, we are proud of the strong outcomes for our pupils but with the potential to do even better. Ambitious and inclusive; caring while demanding; collaborative, visionary and inspirational are all words that would describe our school, and should describe any aspiring candidates for this role.

The Assistant Head / Head of Prep and Pre-Prep is an extremely important role in our school and, in addition to the above, candidates should be able to demonstrate through their experience that they are:

• Autonomous and highly dedicated professionals who will be clearly visible around school. 
• Able to make informed decisions and be independently proactive when solving problems and addressing issues that arise during the course of the school day.
• Excellent time managers, with the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines; as this post requires this role to be completed alongside a teaching timetable.
• Able to uphold the mission, vision and values of the school and support and implement decisions made by the school. 
• Experienced in working with a high level of independence, autonomy and judgement in their position and skilled in prioritising workloads.
• Experienced in people management - skilled in dealing with conflict and issues effectively by intervention, guidance and support, using judgement or seeking advice when handling difficult or contentious issues. 
• Respectful of the confidential nature of information discussed at senior leadership level when speaking with staff, parents, pupils and the wider community.
• An excellent team player who will work closely with the team, and will meet regularly with the Headmaster and the other school leaders and post holders as and when required.
• IT literate with strong presentation skills and able to present to a variety of different audiences effectively.
• Knowledgeable about best practice in teaching and learning in Key Stages 1 and 2 as well as nursery age range with up to date knowledge of current UK initiatives in primary education.
• We are also looking for an individual who is intellectually curious, engages extensively with evolving pedagogical discourse and has the capacity to lead, challenge and develop our teaching staff.

Jeddah Prep and Grammar School is an ambitious and aspirational school, with a shared vision of academic excellence and personal development and challenge for all our pupils, from the ages of three to eighteen.  We are a proud member of COBIS, CAIE, BSME, SAIKAC, and ISBA. 

A willingness to contribute to the wider life of the School is essential.

Applications will be assessed in order of receipt and interviews may occur at any stage after applications are received. Please therefore apply as soon as possible.

About Jeddah Prep and Grammar School

The School was established in 1967 to serve the needs of the British and Dutch expatriate communities in Jeddah. Today, JPGS welcomes expatriate and Saudi Arabian families alike, with students from a wide range of nationalities whilst retaining a family and community atmosphere. The School is heavily oversubscribed with waiting lists in almost all year groups. Children in the Prep School follow a modified version of the English National Curriculum with considerations to commence the Cambridge Primary Programme, possibly as soon as September 2019; whilst the Grammar School prepares pupils for Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) IGCSEs and International A Levels.

The School is located in the heart of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s most cosmopolitan and diverse city, where an ultra-modern cityscape lies close to the UNESCO old city of Al-Balad, a piece of old Arabia at its best. Jeddah lies on the Red Sea coast, boasting some of the best private beaches and unspoiled scuba diving to found in the world, and is not far from extensive areas of mountains and desert which offer endless opportunities for outdoor activities and unique cultural experiences.

Salary and Benefits

JPGS offers colleagues a highly competitive, tax-free salary with generous end of service benefits, accommodation on or near to the School campus, a relocation allowance, free tuition at the School for up to two children, BUPA Gold Medical Insurance and annual flight allowances. The school has excellent facilities and is fully resourced throughout.

How to apply

Please use the 'Quick Apply' link to apply directly to the school.

Alternatively, to apply for this position, the following documents are required.

• A full CV containing a recent photograph and details of three referees, one of whom must be your current or last employer.

• A Letter of Application of no more than two pages of A4, detailing your interest in the position and all relevant skills and attributes you wish to bring to our attention. 

Both documents should be sent as attachments via email to the Headmaster, Mr Mark S. Bedford, via his PA, Mrs Nicola Cunningham, hmsec@jpgs.org. The closing date for applications for this position is Friday 7th June 2019 although initial interviews via Skype or telephone may take place before then.

Jeddah Prep and Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an ICPC, ACRO (or equivalent) police check, written and verbal references and other background checks as required for entrance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.