Head of Secondary

The British School of Guangzhou

Job Title: Head of Secondary

Start date: August 2022

About Nord Anglia Education

Nord Anglia Education is the world’s leading premium schools organisation, with more than 70 schools located across dozens of countries in the Americas, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East. Together, our schools educate over 68,000 students from kindergarten through to the end of secondary school. 

Our philosophy for education rests on our four pillars of creativity, wellbeing, excellent academic outcomes, and global connectedness. These are delivered through innovative use of educational technology to create a personalised 21st century learning experience for all students. 

Every parent wants the best for their child — so do we. Nord Anglia schools deliver high quality, transformational education and ensure excellent academic outcomes by going beyond traditional learning. Our global scale enables us to recruit and retain world-leading teachers and to offer unforgettable experiences through global and regional events, while our engaging learning environments ensure all of our students love coming to school.

https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/careers

The British School of Guangzhou

The British School of Guangzhou is at the forefront of international education in China. Established in 2005 for students aged 1-18, our school is recognised for academic excellence leading to outstanding A-Level results and entry to top universities worldwide. The Southlake Campus, a 20-minute drive north of the city centre, enjoys picturesque views over Nanhu Lake and a golf course. All classrooms are attractively furnished, air-conditioned and equipped with WiFi and an interactive whiteboard or Smart TV. The school has impressive resources and facilities including music rooms, guided reading rooms, IT zones, science labs, a dance studio, sports gym, libraries, a theatre and two coffee shops for staff and parents. Outdoor facilities include three age-specific football pitches, a swimming pool, basketball courts, a well-equipped X-fit gym and an adventure playground. In August 2018, we opened a purpose-built Early Years building to cope with unprecedented demand for places. In September 2021, we opened an additional Primary and EYFS school, for up to 800 students, which will allow us to refurbish our current site to meet the growing number of Secondary Students. 

https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/guangzhou

The Role - Head of Secondary School 

We are seeking an outstanding and experienced school leader to offer leadership, inspiration and guidance to those members of the secondary leadership team responsible for the quality of student performance and welfare. As a key member of the SLT you will play a major role in deciding on future academic direction. You will be an excellent communicator who enjoys positive relationships with colleagues, students and parents and be comfortable with technology and in leading change. To deliver our high standard of educational excellence, we are looking for leaders who are experienced, confident, well organised, have a good sense of humour and a willingness to participate fully in all aspects of school life within and beyond the classroom.  

We are specifically looking for someone who will:

 Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the IGCSE and A-Level curriculum

 Demonstrate our core values and help to promote a love of learning within our students 

 Relentlessly pursue outstanding academic performance maintaining our reputation as the most academically successful school in Guangzhou

 Blend the best of premium British education with contemporary international education to create a distinctive positioning for the school

 Oversee extension and enrichment activities to ensure that our students develop holistically.

 Lead teaching and learning within the secondary school and with an understanding and consideration given to the whole school approach.

 Oversee reporting and assessment in the secondary school

 Ensure that secondary students welfare is supported by secondary school practices

 Respect, appreciate and understand a variety of cultures and societies

 Manage financial budgets prudently and ensure value for money 

 Liaise with our parent body informally and through meetings with the parent support groups

 Manage the secondary school CPD requirements and PM processes for secondary staff

 Liaise with the Principal with regard to the teaching commitments for secondary staff

 Contribute to whole school policies and collect, collate and edit secondary documentation

 Ensure that the secondary school and any relevant school policies ensure compliance with NAE policies and meet our accreditation expectations.

 Manage secondary facilities, ensuring that Health and Safety is met

 Recruit and retain excellent teachers in the secondary school

 Play an active role in the secondary student admission process

Benefits - Head of Secondary School 

The successful candidate will benefit from career and development opportunities that are commensurate with the nature of the role.  Nord Anglia University unites our team through a vibrant online forum which harnesses the collective expertise of their peers in an exchange of knowledge, ideas and best practice. We provide extensive online and face-to-face professional development through Nord Anglia University to ensure that school managers can develop their leadership skills.

The successful candidate will enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package in line with the leadership responsibilities of a Head of Secondary.  You will have the opportunity to live in and work in one of the worlds' most vibrant cities. Guangzhou is the major city in Southern China and is a regional hub for transport, sports, commerce and cultural events. It is only 2 hours from the international hub of Hong Kong, which provides opportunities for a weekend of shopping, hiking, socialising or relaxing. Due to the comparatively low cost of living in Guangzhou the majority of our staff are able to travel widely across Asia and, are still able to, save over 50% of their salary.

Selection Process

The closing date for application is Friday 17th December 2021 with initial interviews to be held online. We reserve the right to appoint before the final interview date if necessary. Please note that in the event that a quarantine period is required we will aim to bring the successful candidate to Guangzhou by the 25th July 2022.

At Nord Anglia Education we are committed to providing a world class, safe, happy environment in which children and young people are able to thrive and learn. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils irrespective of race, ability, religion, gender or culture. 

All post holders in regulated activity (having regular unsupervised contact with children) are subject to appropriate national and international vetting procedures including satisfactory criminal record checks from both your country of residence/birth and any country of residence within the last 10 years.