Assistant Head: Pastoral Care – Secondary School, The Arbor School – August 2023

Assistant Head: Pastoral Care – Secondary School, The Arbor School – August 2023

School Overview

Enough For All, For Ever

The Arbor School opened in 2018 with a very different vision of what education could and should be – experiential, authentic and inspired by the natural beauty, human ingenuity, and profound ecological and social challenges of the Arabian Peninsula.

Our school is an exciting and innovative place to work. The National Curriculum is combined with inquiry driven learning and a positive education based ethos. Our central concepts of eco-literacy and sustainability provide a bigger picture to students’ learning. A fundamental belief in the inherit goodness of people and their capacity to act with empathy and compassion underscores the sense of hope that is fundamental to learning for a sustainable future. The resilience and determination to tackle challenges that have grown to global proportion is essential to finding sustainable solutions and orchestrating the social changes needed.

We pursue a holistic approach to teaching and learning, designed to prepare learners:

• to understand the interconnected concepts of sustainability, individual and collective well-being, and environmental and social justice.
• to find purpose, meaning and joy in their interactions with the natural world and with each other, and to seek to understand people who are different to themselves; and
• to experience a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy through their actions at home, in school and in the wider world.

The Role

The Arbor School seeks a special individual for an exciting opportunity that has arisen within our school. The successful candidate will play a key role in fulfilling the school’s ecological and sustainability vision, as well as challenging students to fulfil their potential. The Arbor School are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Assistant Head - Pastoral Care to lead the wellbeing, pastoral care, behaviour and attendance of students in the newly opened Secondary School. The successful candidate will have strategic oversight of current pastoral care, as well as supporting the opening of the Sixth Form going forward.

We are looking for an experienced, motivated and inspirational leader with a passion for this integral part of our school. They will lead the personal, social and emotional development of the students in our care, showing experience with overseeing a diverse and inclusive pastoral care programme. The successful applicant will oversee relevant school events, student induction and transition, student leadership and our house programme.

JOB SUMMARY

The successful candidate will be proficient and experienced in leading pastoral care systems previously, ideally across Secondary and Sixth Form. You will form an integral component of the Secondary Leadership Team, with responsibilities across KS3, KS4 and eventually KS5 as the secondary school grows into a full A – Level programme. There will be a small teaching load.

THE ARBOR PROMISE

Arbor teachers are a part of a community which is inclusive, fun-loving, and active. Arbor teachers enjoy authentic friendships with their colleagues, positive relationships with school leaders, who care for their wellbeing, and are a team in the true sense. Arbor teachers are resilient in the face of challenge, are stable and calm in the face of change, and creative and flexible when solving problems. Arbor teachers bring their passions and interests to enrich our school and are clear that there is an expectation to do so. We commit to meeting agreed deadlines, to communicating proactively with an assumption of positive intent and share a passion to provide an education of the highest quality to our students.

REQUIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE:

• Native-level English language skills
• Bachelor’s degree in a specialist subject, with a PGCE in Education with QTS or equivalent
• Higher level degree preferable (Masters or similar)
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience leading in the UK or a reputable school overseas with leadership qualification (NPQSL or similar)
• A track record of outstanding Pastoral Care and an ability to create a caring and nurturing classroom environment

REMUNERATION:

Competitive tax-free salary, school provided accommodation, free school places for children, private medical insurance, annual airfares, and end of contract gratuity as per the UAE labour law.

APPLICATION:

To apply for this position please ensure the following documents are sent to recruitment@thearborschool.ae, Attn: Mr. Brett Girven, with the role “Assistant Head: Pastoral Care” specified in the email header:

• An up-to-date CV with a recent photograph to be included.
• A letter of application, no longer than two pages in length, which outlines your educational philosophy and suitability for the Arbor School.

The Arbor School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective safer recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection. All appointments are subject to CV and qualification checks, interview, identity checks, criminal record checks, and successful references.

All appointments are subject to the approval of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.