Deputy Head - Student Support (1.0 FTE)

We are looking for a compassionate and innovative professional to lead our student support structure and to facilitate differentiation within the classroom. The right person will join our Secondary Leadership Team (SecLT) as Deputy Head Student Support, 1.0 FTE. You will be responsible for ensuring that high quality student support is effective and collaboratively developed across the many teams who work with our students. You will have vision, creativity and a passion for inclusive practices that are purposeful and aligned with our school’s mission, vision and values.

The Deputy Head Student Support has a high profile amongst the staff and wider school community, and will be recognized as a senior leader within the school. You will work in close collaboration with the other Deputy Heads and report directly to the Principal.

The role:

• The key purpose of this role is to lead a culture of inspiring personal excellence through the school’s pastoral programmes and student support services
• The Deputy Head Student Support is expected to impart an approachable and visible presence in and around the school to provide support for staff, students, parents and the local community. Specifically:
• Support the vision, ethos and policies of the school and promote high levels of student achievement (academic, co-curricular, personal and social)
• As part of the SecLT, ensure effective day-to-day operations of ISH Secondary, including specifics such as Deputy of the Day, Academic Calendar, School events, approval of trips and any other business pertaining to the functioning of the Secondary School
• Lead in an evidence-based school culture that values educational research and best practice, where evidence and data are integral to decision making and additional sources of such information are developed as necessary
• Support the creation and implementation of school development plans and take responsibility for appropriately delegated aspects of it
• Contribute to the processes of planning, policy development and implementation across the whole school

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the Student Support Team (SST) Structure and SST Core Team
• Lead the Year Leader Team
• Be the SecLT support person who acts as the Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) and Appraisal lead for members of the Year Leader Team, Mentor Programme Coordinators, Transitions Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator and Student Wellbeing Coordinator
• Lead and facilitate collaboration with relevant external specialists/agencies (including local authorities and agencies for which speaking Dutch would be an advantage
• Representing the school by attending relevant external events e.g. samenwerkingsverband regular conference
• Support, train and provide guidance for mentors in the delivery of the Flourish programme
• Lead on the integration of preventative programmes and approaches within the academic programmes of the school e.g. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)
• Evaluate the provision of the mentor programmes and additional support in collaboration with the Flourish and Student Wellbeing Coordinators
• Support in the development and implementation of the digital student information and tracking systems

A full description of the role is available in the document “Roles and Responsibilities Deputy Head Student Support” 

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be:

• Internationally-minded
• Innovative, committed to learning and up-to-date with current research
• Inspiring, challenging and empowering
• Team player
• Visible, approachable, with excellent interpersonal skills and a good sense of humour
• Ability to prioritise effectively
• A strong sense of community, promoting equality and diversity within the school
• Demonstrated experience working with student pastoral issues
• Flexible, creative and adaptable
• Methodical, accurate and resilient
• Diplomatic, culturally sensitive
• Excellent communicator
• Role model for the ISH Community Profile

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Bachelor’s / Master’s teaching qualification to teach all year groups for Secondary Education. Please know that in order to work for us, you must be a fully qualified teacher in accordance with the standards required by the Dutch Education Authorities (DUO)
• Minimum of 5 years’ teaching experience, preferably within a context that is grounded in concept-based and inquiry-based approaches to teaching and learning
• Previous (middle) leadership experience
• Experience delivering effective training to colleagues
• Fluency in English (written as well as spoken)

Preferred:

• 4 years or more of Middle/Senior Leadership experience
• Experience of working with the complexities of a large school
• Coaching qualifications/training and experience developing colleagues with diverse subject specialisms and cultural backgrounds
• A good understanding of the Dutch language (written and spoken) would be an advantage
• Applicants who have the right to work in The Netherlands

We offer

This is a temporary appointment for one year, with a view to a permanent contract if all the conditions are met. The position is based on the Dutch Collective Labor Agreement (CAO) for Secondary Education.

Additional information

Deadline for applications is Monday, 25 October 2021.  Short listed candidates will be interviewed as soon as possible. Please note that the school reserves the right to interview suitable applicants early and appoint a successful candidate prior to the deadline. 

Please visit our school website  for more information on our application process, recruitment package, FAQs etc.

Safeguarding

The International School of the Hague is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safer recruitment practices which are aligned to the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection. All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks, and successful references.

To this end, the leadership team is required to conduct an oral reference check by directly contacting the current or previous employer.

Furthermore, those who are appointed at the International School of The Hague are required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct (in Dutch: VOG). Your appointment with The Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation takes place on condition that you obtain a VOG. Needless to say, Rijnlands will reimburse all costs in relation thereto.

The Rijnlands Lyceum Recruitment Code is applicable and can be obtained via the website.