Head of Chemistry - Deira International School, Festival City

Head of Chemistry, Deira International School, Festival City, Dubai

We are currently hiring an experienced Head of Chemistry for Deira International School, Festival City, Dubai. This appointment is for August 2023.

Deira International School is an Outstanding rated (BSO – November 2021), award winning school located on a beautiful campus in Festival City, Dubai.

With students from ages 3-18, DIS is run as a not-for-profit school and is part of the Al Futtaim Education Foundation. Founded in 2005, the school is renowned for providing an outstanding inclusive and holistic education. In our recent inspection, the report recognised the following:

·       Staff are overwhelmingly proud of the school and believe that it is well led and provides a safe and inclusive learning environment.

·       The quality of teaching, learning and assessment across the school is outstanding.

·       Teachers have high expectations of pupils and consistently challenge them in lessons and other activities to do their best.

·       Staff enjoy working at the school and believe they are treated fairly, respected and valued.

·        At every phase, the curriculum is planned with precision, is well sequenced and systematically builds on pupils’ prior learning.

·       DIS has a strong focus on academic progress and achievement.

The student body has over 80 different nationalities and this diversity is fundamental to the community nature of the school. Exceptional facilities provide wonderful opportunities for a holistic approach to education; sport, performing arts, academic, technological, leadership and creative pathways are all on offer, ensuring our students enjoy enriching and varied school experiences within our classrooms and beyond.

Although non-selective at admission, our students achieve exceptional exam results which compare to top UK schools. Digital literacy development is emphasised as the school prepares its pupils to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. This success enables our students to move on to the very top universities worldwide.

Our personalised, play-based and continuous provision in the Early Years ensures that students are rigorously assessed against the prime and specific areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This focuses on developing key learning skills and the foundations for accessing the Primary Curriculum. In primary, students receive an enriching and broad curriculum offer, which includes the delivery of several non-core subjects. Our senior students take the IGCSE examinations in Year 11 and move into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) in Years 12 and 13.

Al Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF) owns and provides governance to Deira International School. AFEF aims to realise its vision of taking education in the UAE to the next level of future readiness and of preparing students for an increasingly globalised and technologically advanced world. Al Futtaim Education Foundation is an initiative of the Al Futtaim family to support the vision of the Government of Dubai and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) for the creation of a globally competitive economy while maximising its social contribution to the community through this not-for-profit endeavour. 

The Post:

Head of Chemistry

We are looking for a Head of Chemistry who has a genuine passion for their subject, for helping young people, and for working as part of a team in which their input helps others to be the best Chemistry teachers they can be. Success with exam classes is vitally important; a joy in taking Chemistry beyond those exam classes is essential.

The successful candidate will work in a large department which is very popular across all phases in the school. You would be joining a strong developing department consisting of highly driven individuals who are passionate about improving student progress, providing a holistic approach to student learning and instilling a ‘culture of curiosity’ to establish a fundamental interest in Science and the world around us. The department has achieved success over the past year with our IB results showing outstanding progress and attainment, and the KS4 results being very good across the various courses provided. 

A successful candidate would be expected to contribute to building on this success by consistently producing all-inclusive outstanding lessons and being involved with the development of curriculum with a specific focus on chemistry. As a department we annually enter the Junior Breakthrough Challenge and have some exciting new events to promote Science further within the school, working together cohesively to make these a success, with expectations that all Science staff take a significant role in these.

Application Process

If you meet these criteria we would very much welcome your application.

We offer an excellent remuneration package including competitive tax free salary, furnished accommodation, medical insurance, visa costs, baggage allowance, fixed term renewable contact, annual flight allowance and free school places for up to two dependents.

To apply for the above role, please share your CV and TES application below.

Deira International School, Festival City is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students. A UK enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.