HOD - KG - West Yas Academy (AY 2023/24)

Aldar Academies is currently seeking a Head of Department for KG at West Yas Academy on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

West Yas Academy opened in September 2016 providing high quality education to the Emirate. The children are taught the Massachusetts Common Core Curriculum – tailored to be meaningful to children attending the school, alongside the local curriculum of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies. Facilities at the school are excellent and include a large astro-turf field, two swimming pools, well stocked library, a large multi-purpose sports hall, an auditorium and outdoor play areas.

We provide a warm, friendly and supportive environment where students enjoy learning and achieving in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.

In a short period of time the school has achieved outstanding levels of progress and attainment, supported by rigorous tracking of assessment data. We have highly dedicated and talented staff, mainly from the USA/UK, who work in partnership with parents to ensure success for all.

The successful candidates will be closely aligned with our core values and ethos and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region.

The following key functions and duties are central to this role:

Leading the Curriculum:

• Establish a clear, shared understanding of the importance and role of all subjects in contributing to students’ personal development and to best prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life. This is done in collaboration with the Grade Level leads/SLT.
• Develop the curriculum programs of study to ensure that they focus on consistent and outstanding teaching and learning. The program of study, in collaboration with the grade levels, will be reviewed each year to ensure that it still aligns with effective learning and instruction of the needs of the students.
• Ensure that the appropriate curriculum components are developed, programs of study and assessment requirements are written, regularly reviewed and updated as the school continues to expand.
• Continuously evaluate the KG/Elementary Programs of study so that they are suitably matched to the needs of all learners and the needs of the Academy.
• Establish and implement clear policies and practices for assessing, recording and reporting on student achievement.

Raising Achievement:

• Responsible for the standards of student attainment and progress across the department by providing clear training so that staff understand what is expected of them with regards to student attainment.
• To ensure that the data collected from their team is sufficiently accurate, reliable and in line with expected standards by communicating continuously with the Grade Level Lead and being involved in the moderation of data.
• To regularly meet with teachers in their team(s) to develop and implement raising achievement strategies. Of particular importance will be the consideration of how to raise MAP attainment in both English, Math and Science tests.
• To analyze data across the department and subjects and find the areas of strength and the weaker areas for development.
• To rigorously follow up on each data collection in order to raise levels of attainment in the subject. This will include working closely alongside the SEN and Literacy Leaders in order to ensure accurate data capture of a wide range of curriculum components.
• Develop suitable intervention strategies to address underachievement and extend learners. Work closely with the Grade Level Lead in implementing this across the grade level, for example, streaming classes based on student ability levels or setting up focused interventions to support various groups of learners needs.
• Work closely with the academy’s SEN Lead to ensure that IEPs and ALPs are developed to set specific subject targets and that work is matched to student needs.
• To report on data to SLT and ADEK/Aldar as requested.
• Maintain personal CPD to support West Yas Academy.
• Plan, deliver and lead CPD to support staff at West Yas Academy.

Leading Teaching and Learning:

• Responsible for ensuring the highest quality of teaching and learning within the department.
• Support Professional Development for curriculum delivery.
• Monitor and review the quality of teaching and learning within the department. Conducting formal and informal observations (lesson observations, book scrutiny and environmental walks) and recording the data thereof and reporting to the SLT any concerns that there may be.
• Set high expectations for staff in relation to the standards of achievement and the quality of teaching and learning and behaviour.
• Observe teaching and learning, providing feedback to ensure that ongoing support and professional development needs for staff are identified. Following up with staff to ensure that professional development needs are met and are being implemented in their teaching practices.
• Support teaching and learning by Team teaching and modelling good practice
• Line-manage and appraise the performance of all teaching staff within the department. Liaise with principals about any concerns of teaching staff and requesting and implementing a performance management plan in line with your collective concerns.
• Attend once a week each grade’s planning meeting.
• Attend minimum once a week Team meeting with SLT and a one-on-one meeting every two weeks.

Management of Resources and Budget:

• Maintain efficient and effective control of the Department’s resources budget.
• Accept new resource orders and distribute them accordingly as per the allocated budget and order.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Minimum of a Bachelor degree in the relevant subject and B.Ed or PGCE Education 
• Experience in an international school is an advantage
• US curriculum experience is an advantage

Minimum Experience: 

• Minimum of 6 years teaching
• Previous experience working with students whom English is not their first language

Job specific knowledge and skills: 

• Passion for teaching and commitment to educating the whole child
• A high level of professionalism and consideration of the well-being of children
• Recent and consistent involvement in extracurricular activities
• Respect for all members of a school community, irrespective of position, gender, age and ethnic background
• A positive and solution-focused attitude to working life
• A clean enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check or police check

This job description is not all inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are also mindful of our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application at our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.