Vice Principal (Primary)

This is an outstanding opportunity to take up one of three new Vice-Principal positions within a revitalised leadership team. This new leadership team will guide a highly distinctive school into the next phase of its development.

Since opening in 2019, Durham School for Girls Doha has established itself as a vital addition to the Qatar school landscape and as the school of choice for girls in Qatar. Founded in partnership with Durham School in the UK and guided by the Durham motto of ‘Confidence for Life’, DSGD aims to be a caring, supportive community that can unlock and fulfil each student’s full potential. An emphasis on Qatari culture and values is supported by a strong British Curriculum offer and shaped by Durham School’s 600 years of tradition and its MARK values (Moral Integrity, Ambition, Responsibility, Kindness) – values that resonate with Qatar’s national values.

DSGD’s first four years exceeded expectations in terms of numbers – which now stand at 1,300 – and the school has helped to redefine girls’ education in a way that supports The Qatar National Vision 2030 and its emphasis on empowering women to participate fully in the political, economic and social life of the country. DSGD seeks to build the emotional, moral and spiritual strength that will be essential to future leadership. The school is QNSA and BSO-accredited and was the first all-girls international school to become a High-Performance Learning World Class School.

These remarkable achievements have required a fine balance between the needs of Qatar, an emphasis on local culture, traditions and beliefs, outstanding British curriculum delivery, a genuinely holistic approach, and close attention to the girls’ academic and pastoral development. The challenge now is to consolidate this success, to sharpen and embed the school’s identity and ambitions, and to understand what this means for DSGD’s next stage of development.

To meet the challenge of steering the school into this next, exciting period, a new leadership team is being established to work with the Principal, Vanessa Whay. The Vice-Principal (Primary) and Vice-Principal (Secondary) – previously these have been the Head of Primary and Head of Secondary roles – will become increasingly important not only in leading their respective divisions but in providing cross-school operational and strategic leadership. The Vice-Principal (Arabic and Islamic Studies) is a new position, unique in a British school context, which recognises the importance of this remit given how the school has been established.

DSGD is seeking three outstanding and experienced leaders. These are rare opportunities in a unique school – a chance to be part of taking the leadership of the school to a new level, consolidating all that the school has achieved so rapidly, further developing its identity and strategic direction, and raising standards across the school so that it can become a transformational force in girls’ education in Qatar and the region.

Candidates will combine leadership experience with energy and dynamism and a conviction about the school’s values and the idea of ‘Confidence for Life’. They will want to be part of an international school that is contributing to a national agenda and will understand how a British education can be a vehicle for this.

The school is seeking candidates who see this as a medium-long-term commitment. This will be an outstanding opportunity for the right candidate.

The Vice-Principal (Primary) role is available for August 2024.

RSAcademics is supporting DSGD in making this appointment. For a preliminary, confidential conversation about the role with Jean Sullivan, Head of International Search or Keith Clark, Head of International Leadership Appointments, please contact jeansullivan@rsacademics.com. Please note that RSAcademics will be closed for the holiday period until 2 January, but all expressions of interest and requests for preliminary conversations will be picked up in the first week of January.

Further, detailed candidate information about this, including information on how to apply, is available at www.rsacademics.com

Closing date: Thursday 25 January 2024 at 10:00 (UK)/13:00 (Qatar)

Durham School for Girls Doha is a female-only campus.

Durham School for Girls Doha is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The appointee will undertake their role and responsibilities in accordance with the safeguarding policy and guidelines, which are available on the school’s website. Candidates can expect that safeguarding issues will be discussed throughout the appointment process. The successful applicant will be required to undergo all checks relevant to the post; references will be taken up both in writing and verbally.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and

RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.