Senior Leader in the Secondary Campus (This position is equivalent to a UK Deputy Head position and reports directly to the Head of Secondary)

Job Overview

Following an internal promotion, Mesaieed International School (Secondary Campus) is seeking an exceptional individual and dynamic leader who has the vision, ambition, and energy to take key responsibility for pastoral leadership in a secondary school of over 600 students.

Our School

Mesaieed International School is a not-for-profit, non-selective, community school owned and operated by QatarEnergy. It offers a thriving, happy, and vibrant community school with high aspirations for its students, staff, and the diverse community it serves. Our school is at the heart of a kind and welcoming community, situated across three individual campuses: Secondary, Primary, and EYFS. As a through-school, we follow the National Curriculum for England for approximately 1200 students, aged 3 - 18 years, representing more than 30 different nationalities.

Our vision is for our students to be high-achieving, healthy, and happy individuals, well-prepared to take their place as global citizens and leaders of the future. Our mission is to achieve this through inspirational teaching that places high value on learning, enjoyment, and the well-being of all our students. We place a high value on learning and the well-being of all our students.

We are committed to developing a culture of excellence in which our pupils and staff can flourish. The time and dedication given for refining our teaching practice to be the very best for our students is at the core of everything we do at MIS. All of us are passionate about growing, through our commitment to continued learning and careful reflection and working well together as a team. For this reason, it is a very special place to work, where both students and staff are happy.

The Role

You will have a key role in driving forward the school’s culture, well-being, personal development, and community engagement as we embark on an exciting development plan and strive to provide a world-class pastoral education for every student in every lesson, every day.

In this pivotal position, you will lead our strategic vision and efforts to nurture a culture of care, well-being, and community connection within our school as we aim to set new benchmarks in pastoral care. This includes the exciting opportunity to lead our strategy for positive education, ensuring high standards and expectations in every classroom, and enriching and empowering our community.

Our community needs and deserves an empathetic and dynamic leader who is deeply committed to enriching and unlocking the potential of our dedicated staff, inspiring our wonderful students, and engaging with our families to create a holistic and inclusive educational experience. You will have the highest standards for yourself and others and will be skilled in creating and developing teams of people. You will display an authenticity that builds trust and maintains excellent relationships with others. You will strike a very careful balance between offering highly effective support and development to those you lead, alongside providing rigorous challenge and accountability. Working alongside our highly effective leadership team, you will foster an atmosphere of collaboration, communication, and mutual respect across all three campuses, ensuring that every member of our community feels valued and supported.

You will be persistent in your pursuit of excellence. Mesaieed International School is bursting with potential, and this post is perfect for a leader who wants to make a real difference in a supportive and forward-thinking school, and lead within an environment of professional autonomy and trust.

 Key Responsibilities

· Provide strategic direction and leadership to the pastoral and inclusion team, through phase leaders, promoting a positive culture that nurtures personal development, positive behaviour, a strong sense of community, and academic success

· Safeguard children and young people as designated safeguarding lead in the secondary campus

· Design and implement comprehensive personal development programs that empower students to develop life skills, resilience, and a positive self-image

· Oversee the development and implementation of effective behaviour management systems, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel safe, respected, and engaged

· Oversee and strategically lead student leadership programs to cultivate empowerment, leadership skills, and culture of student-driven initiatives within the school

· Oversee the house system to promote a vibrant spirit of house competition

· Work with relevant academic staff to design and offer high-quality extracurricular activities programmes and visits

· Supervise guidance and support for students' career aspirations, ensuring they are well-prepared for future challenges

· Actively engage with local stakeholders and organisations to enhance students' personal development opportunities

· Collaborate with the senior leadership team to develop and implement procedures and initiatives that enhance students' personal growth and well-being, such as the Positive Education strategy

· Line-manage four middle leaders to ensure continual improvements for provision and student outcomes and develop staff confidence and professional growth

· Lead key stage transitions to ensure a smooth and timely transition.  Support the processes that ensure staff understand the academic and personal profile of each student

· Role model excellent practice and QatarEnergy values with a clear understanding and implementation of our shared vision and mission

· Keep abreast of research and developments of the areas of responsibility and use this to inform changes and developments in whole school practices and procedures

· Work with the community to develop good relationships and parent-school partnerships

 Essential:

· Qualified Teacher Status

· Recent and up-to-date knowledge of the National Curriculum for England

· At least three years’ experience in a leadership capacity, preferably in a high-performing UK or international school

· Highly effective leader, able to communicate, motivate, and engage colleagues through change

· A team player able to foster trust and offer challenge when needed

· L3 safeguarding qualification

· Experience with school management systems to support stakeholder engagement e.g., Classcharts, Evolve & Komodo

· Good understanding of systems and processes to support the academic and social development of vulnerable children and those with SEND

· A secure understanding of an evidence-based, contextually driven school improvement cycle

Desirable:

· NPQSL

· EVC trained

· Knowledge, understanding, and experience of concept-led curricula at KS3

We are keen to hear from any strong leaders excited by the challenge of joining our school. If you would like to join our team and make a real difference in the education of our children, please apply immediately with a one-page letter of application, detailing how you meet the above criteria, a full CV, and a recent photograph.

Please ensure that you include your current headteacher/principal as one of your referees.

Disclaimer: Mesaieed International School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be expected to have undertaken relevant safeguarding checks.