Head of Juniors-Aug 2023

The opportunity

The Head of Juniors (Years EY-Year 6) will play a central role in providing professional and informed leadership of learning and teaching and securing the highest quality of pastoral care. They will work with colleagues and pupils to support outstanding outcomes academically, pastorally, and professionally. They will work particularly closely with the Head of Senior and Head of Pastoral and Boarding to ensure a sense of continuity across the school. The Head of Juniors plays a key role in the strategic development of the school, supporting the Head of School and Executive Head in this aim. They will be a member of the school ALT alongside the Principal, Head of Seniors, Executive Head, and Head of Boarding and Pastoral. The Head of Juniors will also be the person the Head of School &Executive Head entrusts with the day-to-day running of the Juniors and will engage with pupils, staff, parents, and governors.

Purpose of the Job

The role will include maintaining a high profile throughout the school community, fostering key strategies and strong relationships to promote excellence, and working with the Head of School, Executive Head and staff to sustain and enhance the standing of the school. 

STRATEGIC MATTERS

To develop the strategic leadership of the Juniors

 To design, develop, implement and review all Juniors policies and strategic plans in consultation with the relevant members of the ALT 

To ensure the vision for the school is clearly articulated, shared, understood and acted upon effectively by all; demonstrating the vision and values of the school in everyday work and practice; motivating and working with others to create a shared culture and positive climate 

To provide professional leadership and management of teaching and learning throughout the Juniors in partnership with the ALT 

LEADING PEOPLE THROUGH GOOD RELATIONSHIPS

 To sustain effective, positive working relationships with all staff, pupils, parents and the local community.

To be committed to developing an integrated school culture, with parity of esteem for staff of all nationalities.

To develop those around them through appropriate distributed leadership and encouragement of agency wherever possible. 

To coordinate strong links with the Head of Seniors and Head of Pastoral and Boarding in order to devise an effective transition program into the Seniors. 

 To collect and disseminate all information relating to the Juniors for use in marketing, information forum and so forth. 

ACADEMIC MANAGEMENT 

 Work with the Head of School & Executive Head and senior leaders across the school to establish a vision and education model for delivering an effective curriculum. 

 To lead by example as a teacher and as a manager, setting appropriate expectations for staff and pupils in relation to standards of pupils’ achievements and the quality of teaching. 

To work with the academic teams in monitoring pupil progress and achievement, including planning for and implementing interventions and extension. 

 To assist with the collection and use of school data (where appropriate) internally to support pupil development and externally for a wider group of stakeholders, including governors. 

FURTHER RESPONSIBILITIES 

Leading the Juniors senior management team (JLT)

To achieve the highest standards of performance and self-discipline amongst the Juniors teaching and non-academic staff

 To manage parental concerns and communications, in conjunction ALT and BLT colleagues. 

To work closely with the HR team to implement recruitment strategy to achieve hiring targets for academic staff and support with non-academic administrative staff.

 To work closely with the Admissions and the Marketing department to develop effective and innovative forms of pupil recruitment and retention.

Applications are welcomed from candidates who meet the following requirements:

• A qualified teacher with a UK PGCE or other globally recognised teaching qualification (such as QTS).

• A minimum of 8 years of qualified full-time teaching experience and 5 years of management experience

• A reflective practitioner, with a positive, resilient personality and problem-solving skill set.

• Recent and consistent experience with Co-Curricular Activities

We welcome applicants with experience of working within boarding schools or applicants with a keen interest to participate, live and work within a boarding community. We appreciate that all applicants may not have such experience at present but we welcome applicants with the right approach to a unique part of the MIS experience. Preference is given to candidates already in Mainland China. 

Merchiston International School (MIS)

MIS is a British Boarding School located in Longhua District, Shenzhen, South of China. We are a thriving community that challenges all staff to push boundaries with their teaching and to be progressive in their own professional learning.

We offer an innovative British independent school curriculum for international students aged 4 – 18, starting in EYFS and culminating in IGCSE and A-level. The campus, imbued with the ethos of its founding school, Merchiston Castle School Edinburgh, is designed to create an innovative learning space in which an effective 21st-century education can flourish and inspire.

All MIS teachers are expected to participate fully in the school’s life beyond the classroom by contributing to the Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) programme and boarding house life. 

If you are interested in joining us, to teach inquisitive and talented children, in a community that seeks to provide professional development opportunities, then please apply…we want to hear from you!

How to apply

Applicants should apply online through the TES careers portal. Please provide the names and full contact details of three professional referees, one of whom should be the Director/Head of School/Principal of your current school.

Short-listed candidates must be able to provide a recent DBS/PVG check, police clearance certificate or similar record of non-criminality demonstrating that there is no reason why they cannot work with children.

Early applications are encouraged, as MIS reserves the right to appoint before the deadline.

Due to national regulations, it is very unlikely that we will be able to secure a work permit or visa for foreign nationals whose 70th or subsequent birthdays take place between August 1 2022 and July 31, 2023.