Assistant Headteacher - Primary - August 2026

Fortes Education; Dubai; On-site; AED 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education provider in Dubai is seeking an experienced Assistant Headteacher – Primary to guide curriculum design and enhance student wellbeing. This role requires strategic thinking and proven leadership in a dynamic primary setting. Candidates should hold a relevant degree and have middle leadership experience, ideally within the UAE. The offer includes an excellent salary and benefits, alongside an enthusiastic community dedicated to student achievement, providing a unique opportunity to drive educational excellence.

Benefits

Excellent tax-free salary

Furnished accommodation

Relocation allowance

Medical insurance for self, spouse & 2 dependents

Annual flights for self, spouse & 2 dependents

Annual paid vacation

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 3-5 years’ middle leadership experience, ideally in the UAE.
• Proven record of designing and evaluating curriculum.
• Commitment to student wellbeing and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead curriculum strategy and ensure coherence across phases.
• Oversee pastoral provision and safeguarding practices.
• Collaborate to implement strategic direction for the Primary phase.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Curriculum design

Leadership

Communication

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor's degree in education with a PGCE or equivalent

Job description

About us:

Fortes Education has been a leading education provider in the UAE for over four decades with premium international schools and nurseries that have experienced outstanding success and growth. Our schools offer the most innovative and character‑building education in the entire Middle East region. Our core ethos and philosophy of education is Positive Education (PosEd). Through PosEd, our schools foster active engagement in learning, celebrating character strengths and accomplishments. We encourage children to cultivate fulfilling relationships with others and seek meaning and purpose in their own lives.?We enable children to become happy learners and develop into innovative thinkers, confident young adults, and life‑long learners. Our students develop resilience, a growth mindset and deep character strengths that allow them to flourish in an ever‑changing world.?

About Sunmarke School –

Sunmarke School provides an ambitious and inspiring, values‑based education that nurtures the hearts and minds of students so that they can flourish and achieve their dreams. Powered by our unique signature programmes, Sunmarke is a uniquely innovative school, transforming young lives. This was reflected in Sunmarke School winning the coveted ‘Most Innovative School’ award at the Which School Advisor ceremony in Dubai and London and by our world class IB results ranking in the Top 68 schools globally and twice in the Top 3 in Dubai. These are matched by our A Level and GCSE results which place us in the top 10 schools in Dubai.

Sunmarke is an all‑through school which offers a premium education across a fantastic range of pathways for students including the National Curriculum of England, GCSE/IGCSE, ‘A’Levels, BTEC and the IB Diploma Programme. We also offer a suite of Signature Programmes unrivalled in Dubai. With unique experiences in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, students learn in Forest School settings, as well as utilising cutting‑edge hydroponic technology to examine how science can support sustainability in future terrains. Our world‑class STEAM centre and curriculum offers students an incredible opportunity to apply their learning in solving real‑world problems, from Foundation Stage through to Year 9. We run best‑in‑class mini‑MBA programmes for our Year 10 to 13 students in conjunction with the Peter Jones Academy and Wharton Investors programme, to ensure their future success in business and entrepreneurship. We are technologically very innovative and have a world‑class AI and Robotics lab that offers unrivalled experiences in these fast‑changing areas. Additionally we run comprehensive AI programmes for students in all core subjects, as well as deepening other subjects through Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) experiences. We have outstanding performing arts opportunities with fantastic facilities and amazing teachers to help our more creative students truly find their voice. We are home to the Fortes Pro Sports Academy where international professional sports coaches work exclusively with our students to reach new heights of performance and to elevate our students to national and international titles.

Sunmarke School was judged by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a ‘Very Good’ school in our 3rd year of operation and ‘Outstanding’ in our British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection in 2019.

We present an exciting opportunity to join our all‑through school and to play an important part in our journey to “outstanding”. Sunmarke School, Dubai is one of our flagship schools, located at a prime location in Jumeirah Village Triangle.

About you:

Due to an expansion of our primary leadership structure for August 2026, we are seeking an experienced, visionary and dynamic Assistant Headteacher – Primary. This is a pivotal leadership post for a large and diverse Primary phase within a premium British school. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker and an exceptional practitioner with deep expertise in:

Curriculum Design & Development

• Leading whole‑school curriculum strategy, review cycles and redesign
• Ensuring curriculum coherence, progression and stretch across all phases
• Embedding innovation, interdisciplinary learning and 21st‑century competencies

Measuring and Evidencing Impact

• Using assessment and data intelligently to evaluate curriculum effectiveness
• Leading teams to raise attainment and close achievement gaps
• Demonstrating measurable impact on teaching quality, learning outcomes and student experience

Pastoral Leadership & Safeguarding

• Overseeing high‑quality pastoral provision and wellbeing programmes
• Ensuring robust safeguarding practice and culture across the Primary phase
• Working closely with pastoral, inclusion and safeguarding leads to support all students

You will work alongside the Head of Primary and the Primary Leadership Team to co‑create and implement the strategic direction of the phase, shaping a learning environment where every child thrives. The role includes a teaching commitment.

If you think you have got what it takes for this role, then Sunmarke School may be just the challenge for you.

We are looking for an Assistant Headteacher who:

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in education with a PGCE or equivalent (NPQSL is desirable).
• Has 3–5 years’ middle leadership experience, ideally with experience in the UAE.
• Has a proven record of designing, implementing and evaluating curriculum that raises standards and improves student outcomes.
• Is an innovative practitioner who can drive pedagogical development and inspire excellence through coaching and mentoring.
• Is confident in leading change, building strong teams and establishing effective systems.
• Demonstrates excellent communication, relationship‑building and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Shows unwavering commitment to student wellbeing, inclusion, and safeguarding.
• Thrives under pressure and models positivity, collaboration and professional integrity.

Our Offer:

• Excellent tax‑free salary
• Furnished Accommodation
• Relocation Allowance
• Medical Insurance for self, spouse & 2 dependents
• Annual flights for self, spouse & 2 dependents
• Annual paid vacation
• An enthusiastic learning community of students, teachers, parents, and Board members, who are dedicated to maximising student achievement, and creating positive learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.
• Working within a team of highly driven and supportive colleagues
• Excellent professional development
• Working in Dubai, one of the world’s most sought‑after work and travel destinations

Application Process:

If you have the passion, energy, and commitment to drive accelerated outcomes for young people, we will welcome your application. In return, you will join a rapidly evolving organisation that can offer you a central role in our future growth plans.

Interested candidates are invited to complete our Online Application by visiting:

http://forteseducation.com/Careers/Current-Openings?

Please follow the instructions provided to complete and submit your application?

You should submit:

• A copy of your curriculum vitae/résumé.