Upper School Principal

Due to the promotion of our current Upper School Principal to Head of School, we are seeking a collaborative, effective and principled individual to take on this key leadership role within the school community. The successful candidate will oversee the management of the Upper School consisting of students aged 11 to 18 in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma programmes. 

Dwight School London is a long standing and leading IB World School offering the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes for students aged 3 - 18. The Dwight School community has a rich diversity of cultures, nationalities and experiences, with over 50 nationalities represented and over 40 languages spoken. We keep the core values of Personalised Learning, Community and Global Vision at the heart of all we do, and aspire to nurture students’ Sparks of Genius preparing them to become leaders in the world. We are very proud of our open-minded, caring, knowledgeable and principled students and they will be integral in selecting their next Upper School Principal. 

The Upper School Principal is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, which also includes the Lower School Principal, the Business Operations Director and the Head of School. The Upper School Principal has oversight of the Upper School Leadership Team, which comprises the Middle Years Programme coordinator, the Diploma Programme coordinator, the Head of Pastoral, the Head of Personalised Learning and the Head of Systems and Learning Technology. 

We want to hear from you if you can offer the following:  

• Have at least five years experience working in a school, including at least two years as a leader or manager 
• Have experience working in an IB World or International School 
• Hold a degree from a recognised University 
• Embody collaboration, with an enthusiasm for working alongside colleagues and building an ethos of teamwork 
• Show that they are principled, thoughtful and intentional in their decisions and actions 
• Be an excellent communicator who is not afraid to take risks 
• Show a flair for strategic thinking 
• Have a growth mindset and value innovation as a route to improvement and growth.  
• Build and foster relationships with colleagues, students and families that are characterised by kindness, care, empathy and respect

In return we can offer:  

• Excellent opportunities for professional development and growth.  
• A school that is warm, welcoming and open-minded where friendly, respectful relationships flourish between and amongst staff and students.  
• A positive learning environment with high aspirations for our students, and high expectations of our staff.  
• A committed, resourceful and dedicated team of staff. 
• A supportive parent body who are engaged with the school in a number of positive ways. 
• All the advantages of an inclusive, diverse and welcoming international community.  
• A commitment to student-led, inquiry based learning and the values of the IB learner profile. 
• An exciting and innovative family of schools located in New York, Shanghai, Dubai and Seoul with many opportunities to collaborate with these schools

How to Apply:

If you have any general enquiries about the recruitment process, or to arrange an informal discussion about this position, please do not hesitate to contact the current Upper School Principal, Chris Beddows by emailing cbeddows@dwightlondon.org

For more information and an application pack please visit the TES website. In your cover letter of no more than one A4 page outline how your skills and experience meet the job description and person specification. The deadline for applications is 14th November 2021 and first round interviews will be held in the week beginning 22nd November 2021. 

Please note that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you have been barred from working with children.

Dwight School London is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks.  

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

If you are shortlisted for this post, you will be asked to complete a declaration at interview giving you the opportunity to declare any information relevant to your suitability for working with children and young people.

We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across the school. This is in line with statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 and The Education Act 2002, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Dwight School  London aims to be a fair employer and is committed to equal opportunities. The School does not discriminate against employees on the basis of gender, ethnic origin, disability or age.

The School will endeavour to make any necessary reasonable adjustments to the job and working environment to enable access to employment opportunities for disabled job applicants.