Head of Senior School

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, CAIRO

The British International School, Cairo (BISC) is seeking a dynamic and inspirational school leader with proven leadership ability to take on the exciting role of Head of Senior School. BISC is a selective, co-educational day school with approximately 1,000 pupils aged 3-18. The School is committed to excellence in all of its activities and was established in 1976 to serve the educational needs of expatriate children in Cairo. Over time it has built its reputation on the basis of its academic record and the breadth of its educational programmes. Graduates of BISC progress to some of the finest universities in the world, and BISC is regarded as the school that makes tomorrow’s leaders. Over time, the school has grown and embraced children from the Commonwealth, the Englishspeaking Egyptian community and other nationalities tied to British-type schooling. In 1989, the School further strengthened its commitment to its international outlook by the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma course, and, in 2008, BISC opened a state of the art campus in Beverly Hills, North West of Cairo.

BISC is one of the leading schools in the Middle East, with excellent academic results and is an Accredited Member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS). It is also in membership of the British Schools of the Middle East (BSME). COBIS and IAPS are constituent members of the UK Independent Schools Council (ISC), which entitles BISC to a formal inspection from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

BISC is now a flourishing international school, with competitive pressure for places in all year groups. Academic results are strong, making the school one of the best in the Middle East. As a vibrant international school, children are accepted for admission at three main entry points: in the Junior School (FS1), in the Senior School (Y7) and in Sixth Form (Y12). The School is, nevertheless, accommodating to the needs of international families.

The diverse international student body leads to the natural development of goodwill, friendliness, tolerance and understanding among the pupils, with over nine hundred students representing over fifty nationalities.

The Senior School comprises 375 students, drawn froma diverse range of nationalities and backgrounds. Its students bring with them a wealth of cultural and educational experiences, personifying the value of diversity and difference. The Head of Senior School reports to the Principal, managing a team of academic and pastoral senior leaders (the SSLT). The senior curriculum is based on British principles, with students at Key Stage 3 studying subjects and themes drawn from the National Curriculum of England & Wales. At Key Stage 4, there is a wide subject choice of GCSE and IGCSE courses, providing students with the opportunity to acquire a broad and balanced range of qualifications.

In the Sixth Form, there are two pathways: academic and vocational. Most students will study for the renowned International Baccalaureate Diploma, where the school has over 25 years’ experience. A smaller group of students will work towards a BTEC Diploma in Business. Each pathway leads to some impressive university entry options.

The school firmly believes in a broad curriculum. To this end, it is committed to offering learning opportunities outside of the classroom, to take advantage of its excellent facilities. There is a thriving sports programme, an extensive schedule of peripatetic music lessons, as well as a broad range of extracurricular activities, such as the International Award, Model United Nations and Young Enterprise. Senior students play an active role in their Houses (Anubis, Horus or Sobek) through a range of activities and competitions - such as, the House Music, the House Sports Day and the House Quiz. The positive values promoted at BISC enhance family and community relationships and develop international perspective.

BISC was the first school in Egypt to be inspected by the ISI, most recently in February 2015, and the first to have been accredited by the IAPS. The school achieved ‘excellent’ in all aspects in its last ISI inspection. The successful candidate will take on a thriving Senior School with a strong school roll, solid academic results and a superb senior teaching staff.

Mission Statement

BISC is a selective, co-educational, academic day school committed to excellence in all of its activities in and out of the classroom. It aims to be a first-class school in which children are prepared to go on to the best local, regional and international universities and institutions of higher education and to positions of leadership in all walks of life. BISC provides a challenging and stimulating environment in which English-speaking students from diverse international backgrounds benefit from an education which is British in its principles, practices, curricular structures and assessment, and which encourages pupils’ appreciation of the host culture and ensures appropriate competence in the Arabic language. At BISC all are valued equally and encouraged to fulfil their aspirations and potential.

BISC promotes the values of a pluralist society and provides equal opportunities to all pupils to develop their full intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, physical and moral potential. It gives boys and girls a broadly based, appropriate education in which they strive for excellence and aim for the highest standards in their sporting and extra-curricular activities. BISC provides a structured and challenging academic education within a disciplined and supportive environment, which enables pupils to develop into responsible men and women of integrity who can take their place confidently in a rapidly changing world. The school will provide the best possible resources and facilities for teaching and learning.

BISC fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect, tolerance and regard for all members of society. It teaches essential human values such as honesty, trustworthiness, honour, loyalty, compassion and charity. It reaches out to all of its families, the local community and the wider world and promotes international cooperation and understanding.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Edward Clark on +44(0)1256 862840 or +44 (0)7718 588616, or email at edward@lsceducation.com. To apply for the post, please email Edward Clark at the above address, submitting your up to date CV and a formal letter addressed to the Principal, Mr Simon O’Grady. The letter should incorporate how you meet the person specification, why you are applying for the position and what particular attributes, qualities and special areas of interest or expertise you would bring to the role.

KEY DATES

Closing date: 16 September 2016
Longlist interviews: w/c 19 September 2016
Shortlist/Final interviews: 3,4 October 2016

The British International School, Cairo is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undergo relevant background checks.