Head of Secondary School

Sharjah English School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success and that contributions should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities.  Therefore, this job description and person specification is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the employee, or Sharjah English School, to only the work identified.  It is the expectation of the school, that each employee will offer their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our organisation.

The central part of the role is the efficient and effective running of a secondary school of 330 students, established in 2005, as it aims to build on its current outstanding reputation and to establish itself as one of the top schools in the Gulf region.  SES is currently moving from 2 form to 3 form intake in Years 7 and 8, and this change will work its way up the school until 2023.  The post holder will be responsible for leading whole school strategic vision, working in close harmony with the primary school, the development and day to day operations and decision making in all aspects of the Secondary School.

Purpose:

• Lead the development and provision of the highest quality of UK education at Sharjah English School. 

• Manage and guide the school through its next stage of development in terms of teaching and learning; to ensure outstanding examinations results at GCSE and A-level.

• Remain fully informed about compliance issues in relation to local UAE regulations.

• Play a leading role in cultivating a positive and enriching school ethos.

• Lead the strategic development of key aspects of school life, and embed change which impacts positively on standards across the school over time, and builds support among the wider community for such change. 

• Promote a climate which enables staff to develop their own practice, while maintaining a passion for their own subject. 

• Develop the capacity for leadership across the school, especially by empowering and mentoring middle leaders. 

• Line manage staff through a combination of challenge, accountability and support. 

• Develop effective collaboration between the school, the individual student and home to encourage and promote learning and social development. 

• Develop partnerships with outside organisations and agencies which positively influence the provision in the school, and its reputation and ‘brand’ within the wider community. 

• Promote a positive ethos across the school, based on the school vision and understanding of our community.

Teachers with Leadership posts at any level are expected to demonstrate 10 Qualities of Leadership: 

1. Show vision, conviction and authority and lead by example. 

2. Build a team through a clever combination of dynamism, sensitivity, innovating, communicating, managing, monitoring, evaluating, praising and supporting staff. 

3. Be very organised. 

4. Fulfil a role in whole school leadership by positively upholding our procedures and school development plans. 

5. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant curricula and developments in UK education. 

6. Lead learning by demonstrating high quality work with excellent outcomes. 

7. Develop colleagues through encouragement, performance management and providing opportunities. 

8. Communicate effectively with your team on challenges, achievements and operations, ensuring a coherent fit with other teams and the whole school. 

9. Work with others by building links with other schools in the region and Higher Education establishments across the world. 

10. Reflect critically and rigorously on their own work, and the work of others. 

The purpose of these qualities is to provide us with a common foundation from which our authority as leaders stems, but also to which we are accountable. It is our collective responsibility as a leadership team to support and develop leaders at all levels of the school in meeting these expectations.