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Head of Primary

Head of Primary

Al Dhafra Private School

United Arab Emirates

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  • Expired
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
September 2017
Apply by:
3 May 2017

Job overview

Head of Primary (Elementary) - Al Dhafra Private School, Al Ain

Al Dhafra School, Al Ain is a large school of 2,700 students based in a delightful oasis town approximately 80 minutes’ drive from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The school is well established with a strong community following; 57% of the students are Emirati and almost all students speak Arabic as a first language. Virtually all students join in Al Dhafra in the Early Years and remain through to follow either the British Curriculum IGCSE and A Levels, or the American High School program. Results from the IGCSE and A Levels are outstanding and comfortably exceed the UK and international norms. The school has a large Primary section of approximately 1700 students from Years 1-6 and follow the English National Curriculum. Girls and boys are taught separately from Year 4. 

The school received an A band ‘Good’ rating in its January 2016 inspection and is now on the path towards Very Good and Outstanding. Inspectors made specific mention that “Provision in the Kindergarten (KG) is good and young children are provided with a happy and successful start to their life in school”. All staff are building towards the next goal and the school has a clear sense of purpose and energy in this direction. 

Our EYFS/Primary Years 1-3 are housed together in their own building. All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, there is a BYOD program and e-learning is actively being developed to further student learning.  Students are well-behaved, curious, confident and delightful. A leadership priority is to ensure that the English National Curriculum is being applied to provide appropriate levels of challenge to all students to ensure that they at least meet and hopefully exceed their potential. Pedagogical change in the last two years has seen improved use of assessment data for planning, student-centred activity, transparency of objectives and success criteria and visible evidence of students’ understanding of their learning and progress.

Al Ain - An Oasis in the Desert

Al Ain city is described as the 'Garden City' of the United Arab Emirates, situated inland from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and bordering the Sultanate of Oman. During the summer months the climate in Al Ain is hot and dry, however historically many Emirati locals migrated to Al Ain during the summer to escape the coastal humidity and enjoy the natural spring water which exists in the Al Ain area. During the cooler months (November to March) Al Ain enjoys beautiful sunny skies, mild temperatures and residents have the opportunity to enjoy the many parks, gardens and outdoor recreation activities which are on offer. Whether you enjoy visiting historical sites, shopping at your favourite luxury-brand store, off-road 4x4 adventuring in the desert, horse riding, playing golf, football rugby, or even surfing, Al Ain offers a wide range of choices. 

Expats and locals alike enjoy the quieter pace of life compared to the main cities and the ability to build close relationships within a welcoming community. Easy access to a range of indoor and outdoor pursuits including wadi and desert adventures, shopping and dining destinations, sports and recreational opportunities as well as the extensive cultural, historical and religious destinations attract the adventurous as well as those who enjoy a quiet life. For those with definite financial goals, Al Ain offers an attractive environment, with decreased living costs allowing you to reach your savings goals without having to sacrifice quality of life compared to the larger cities of the UAE.

Job Description and Person Specification 

About the role:

This position provides an exciting career opportunity for an experienced Senior Leader in an established, successful and popular school. 

The post-holder will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team, whose main area of responsibility will be the Leadership and Management of the Primary (Elementary) phase of the school. The successful candidate will oversee the continued development of learning and teaching in this dynamic and vibrant area of the school. The Head of Primary will work with the leaders and teachers in the Primary section to raise the quality of education from Good to Very Good or Outstanding against the standards of the UAE Inspection Framework. 

We seek an able leader who has the confidence to lead a team, set priorities and measure impact. Outstanding knowledge of classroom practice and pedagogy is essential; embedded experience of the English National Curriculum is desirable.

For further details and personal specifications please read the attached documentation and EITHER use the APPLY NOW button below or submit your CV and a covering letter to secretary@dhafraschools.com, subject: Head of Primary Al Ain. Interviews may be by Skype in the first instance. Al Dhafra reserves the right to offer the position prior to the closing date if a suitable candidate is found.

Attached documents

About Al Dhafra Private School

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+971 767 1123

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Al Dhafra Private Schools in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, is a private school that has been in successful operation since 1988; it is one of three schools owned and operated by Dhafir Holdings. The school moved to its current premises in 2001 and has since grown to be one of the largest schools in Al Ain. It is under the leadership of Principal Mr Roger McDuff who took charge in September 2017. The school achieved a strong 'Good' rating in its last inspection earlier this year. 

Al Dhafra School is situated in the heart of the unique city of Al Ain, a charming oasis with historic and cultural significance. The school offers quality education to 2800 students of diverse backgrounds in Early Years to Year 12. The student body is formed from over 35 nationalities which makes the school distinct in nature, with a culturally rich and diverse environment. The majority of the students are Emirati (55.1%); other nationalities are Jordanians (11.4%), Egyptians (8.16%), Syrians (6.35%), Omanis (2.72%), Palestinians (2%), and others (14.27%). The language of instruction and administration is English and the senior students achieve outstanding results, comfortably exceeding international norms.

Teachers at Al Dhafra work collaboratively, collegially and diligently to meet the needs of the learners. Students are characterized by their readiness and enthusiasm for learning and their pride in belonging to Al Dhafra. There is a strong family culture within the school and turnover is low. The school's buildings are adjacent to each other, starting from the Kindergarten and Years 1-4 to the east side of the school. Grades 5-12 are in the middle part of the school, with separate learning for boys and girls. The high school building and the administration building are to the west of the school. 

The school offers education in the English National Curriculum from Early Years to Year 12 and the American Curriculum for Grades 9-12. Al Dhafra values education as a key tool of individual development and transformation and aims at creating a community of empowered students in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. At Al Dhafra every student is inspired and challenged to learn, grow and accomplish academic, personal and social goals. 

Additionally, the main focus of Al Dhafra Private Schools in Al Ain is to provide the opportunity for a comprehensive education for all students which focuses on cognitive, emotional, physical and social development. The educational program fosters students' reading, writing, calculating, problem solving, critical thinking, and creative expression. The school environment nurtures self-confidence, independence, cooperation, and the physical well-being of all students. The school works in affiliation with ADEK , is a centre for Cambridge University International Examinations and is accredited by Cognia. As a consequence, Al Dhafra Private School is a key part of the international community that strives to inspire and prepare learners for excellence. 

The school also shares its facilities with the Al Ain community where various establishments use not only the sporting facilities but also acts as a SAT and AP Centre. Additionally, the school acts as a host to various universities from around the world that use the school premises to showcase their respective universities for both students and parents. 

Al Dhafra Private Schools encourage students to develop a sense of values and responsibilities which enables them to be contributing members of their community and of the multicultural, global society. In partnership with the families, the school guides students towards becoming lifelong learners with a positive outlook of the world.

Roger McDuff

Principal

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