Head of English

The Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS) is a co-educational day and boarding school (Years 7-13) modelled on the best of British independent and international education. We follow a curriculum based on the English National Curriculum in Years 7 to 9,  and offer IGCSE and A level for senior students. Attracting students from Penang, the whole of Malaysia as well as internationally, POWIIS currently welcomes around 400 students. We are not highly selective, and accept students with a broad spread of ability, but our cohorts include many very able students. Results at IGCSE, AS and A level are strong, and most leavers head to top universities in the UK, US, Australia or Asia.

Academics are only part of the story at POWIIS, however, and we offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, and every Friday afternoon is devoted to the POWIIS Project, where students select from a wide range of activities designed to enhance their global citizenship and develop their soft skills.  We also offer an enhanced programme for students who are part of our Arts Academy.

The outstanding facilities are located in the attractive rural location of Balik Pulau, on the island of Penang. Facilities at the school are second to none in Penang, and arguably in Malaysia. They include a substantial and developing library, a magnificent 500 seat natural acoustic auditorium with full backstage and technical facilities. Our Steinway D concert grand piano, a provision usually found only in professional venues, is indicative of our leading reputation in the performing arts. There is a multi-purpose sports hall, a 25 metre swimming pool, football and netball pitches, tennis courts, a fitness suite, art studios, and a design technology centre.

The senior staff are from leading schools internationally and many of the teachers have come from other top international schools or directly from the UK. We are seeking to recruit able and visionary teachers interested in supporting high standards in a friendly and relatively informal atmosphere, where contact with students extends well beyond the classroom.  One of the attractions for teachers is the quality of the students, most of whom are utterly delightful, many are talented and discipline problems are largely absent. The school has a very special atmosphere of purposeful and relaxed co-operation with excellent staff/student relationships.

Because of its beauty and gentle life-style, Penang is an attractive location for teachers at various stages of their careers. It is an excellent and safe place for families, but the comfortable standard of living and exotic travel opportunities will appeal to younger teachers as well as those at a more senior stage. The quality of life, for all, is very high, not least because of the warmth and generous hospitality of the people of Penang.

Part of the philosophy of the school is that subjects should be taught by specialists at all levels. Candidates for posts should therefore have good academic backgrounds themselves and be able to teach across the range from Year 7 through to A level. One of the great strengths of the school is that teachers have a whole range of interests themselves, enabling contributions beyond their subjects. Teachers are encouraged to follow their own enthusiasms within school and, indeed, to be seen to pursue their areas of interest outside. The school’s trips calendar is impressive, both within Malaysia and overseas.

POWIIS is a boarding school and consequently all teachers are expected to contribute to the wider aspects of boarding school life including occasional evening and weekend involvement on a rota basis. Experience of boarding education and independent schools is an advantage but by no means essential.

POWIIS is committed to the safety and well-being of all of its students. Those appointed will be subject to a thorough background check and must be able to provide up to date and full police checks/child protection certificates/criminal records disclosures covering all countries in which they have lived and/or worked for at least the last 10 years.

We do our best to acknowledge applications and to keep applicants informed, but the large number of applications sometimes makes this impossible, for which we apologise.