Deputy Head Of Secondary - January 2027

GEMS WESTMINSTER SCHOOL - RAK; Ras Al Khaimah; On-site; AED 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMS Westminster School - RAK in Ras al-Khaimah seeks an inspiring educational leader to guide the Secondary phase, driving teaching quality, data-informed planning, and school-wide development.

The role emphasizes strategic leadership, appraisal-driven staff development, and collaboration across departments to raise standards and ensure an inclusive, high-achieving learning environment.

Responsibilities

• Support and implement the vision, ethos, and strategic priorities of the school
• Deputies for the Head of Secondary as required
• Line manages Heads of Department and MLT, ensuring consistency in curriculum delivery, teaching quality, and use of data
• Contribute to, implement, and evaluate the School Development Plan
• Lead and support self-evaluation processes including departmental reviews, SEFs, and inspection preparation
• Ensure policies are consistently translated into effective practice
• Promote inclusive practice and high expectations across all departments
• Develop leadership capacity through coaching, mentoring, and professional development
• Act as a proactive and effective member of the Senior Leadership Team
• Lead the implementation of the school’s Teaching & Learning framework (e.g. TLAG)
• Ensure high-quality, consistent teaching across all subjects
• Lead quality assurance activities including: Learning Walks,Book looks, lesson observations
• Work with Heads of Department and MLT to improve pedagogy, differentiation, and challenge
• Promote cross-curricular approaches and innovation in teaching
• Drive continuous improvement in teaching standards (Good → Very Good → Outstanding)
• Model outstanding classroom practice
• Lead Secondary data and assessment systems, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and impact
• Oversee internal and external assessment processes (e.g. GL, CAT4, NGRT where applicable)
• Ensure data is used effectively to inform planning, intervention, and target setting
• Monitor student progress and attainment across departments
• Lead Raising Attainment Plans (RAPs) and intervention strategies
• Standardise assessment practices across departments
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to students and parents
• Act as a reviewer within the school’s appraisal process
• Identify training needs and support professional development across Secondary
• Coach and mentor Heads of Department, MLT and teaching staff
• Promote collaboration, teamwork, and continuous improvement
• Ensure staff remain up to date with current educational developments
• Lead Secondary parental engagement systems, including consultation evenings and communication protocols
• Ensure timely, transparent, and effective communication with parents
• Promote strong partnerships between school and home
• Monitor and improve parental engagement and satisfaction
• Act as a role model for high standards of professionalism, teaching, and leadership
• Initiate and lead change to improve standards and outcomes
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of educational best practice
• Support the school’s values and contribute to the wider life of the school
• Promote positive relationships with students, staff, and parents

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Curriculum & Teaching Knowledge

Staff Leadership & Management

Assessment & Data Analysis

Safeguarding & Child Protection

British Curriculum & Inspection

Inclusion, SEND & EAL

Quality Assurance

Coaching & Professional Development

Job description

The role and responsibilities:

Leadership and management

• Support and implement the vision, ethos, and strategic priorities of the school
• Deputies for the Head of Secondary as required
• Line manages Heads of Department and MLT, ensuring consistency in curriculum delivery, teaching quality, and use of data
• Contribute to, implement, and evaluate the School Development Plan
• Lead and support self-evaluation processes including departmental reviews, SEFs, and inspection preparation
• Ensure policies are consistently translated into effective practice
• Promote inclusive practice and high expectations across all departments
• Develop leadership capacity through coaching, mentoring, and professional development
• Act as a proactive and effective member of the Senior Leadership Team

Teaching and learning responsibility

• Lead the implementation of the school’s Teaching & Learning framework (e.g. TLAG)
• Ensure high-quality, consistent teaching across all subjects
• Lead quality assurance activities including: Learning Walks,Book looks, lesson observations
• Work with Heads of Department and MLT to improve pedagogy, differentiation, and challenge
• Promote cross-curricular approaches and innovation in teaching
• Drive continuous improvement in teaching standards (Good → Very Good → Outstanding)
• Model outstanding classroom practice

Monitoring and assessment

• Lead Secondary data and assessment systems, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and impact
• Oversee internal and external assessment processes (e.g. GL, CAT4, NGRT where applicable)
• Ensure data is used effectively to inform planning, intervention, and target setting
• Monitor student progress and attainment across departments
• Lead Raising Attainment Plans (RAPs) and intervention strategies
• Standardise assessment practices across departments
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to students and parents

Staff development

• Act as a reviewer within the school’s appraisal process
• Identify training needs and support professional development across Secondary
• Coach and mentor Heads of Department, MLT and teaching staff
• Promote collaboration, teamwork, and continuous improvement
• Ensure staff remain up to date with current educational developments

Parental Engagement

• Lead Secondary parental engagement systems, including consultation evenings and communication protocols
• Ensure timely, transparent, and effective communication with parents
• Promote strong partnerships between school and home
• Monitor and improve parental engagement and satisfaction

Personal and Professional Responsibilities

• Act as a role model for high standards of professionalism, teaching, and leadership
• Initiate and lead change to improve standards and outcomes
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of educational best practice
• Support the school’s values and contribute to the wider life of the school
• Promote positive relationships with students, staff, and parents

Acceptance & Approvals

Skills

• Strategic Leadership
• Strong knowledge of Curriculum & Teaching and Learning
• Excellent Staff Leadership & Management
• Excellent Assessment & Data Analysis
• Strong knowledge of Safeguarding & Child Protection
• Excellent British Curriculum & Inspection Knowledge
• Strong knowledge of Inclusion, SEND & EAL
• Strong knowledge of Quality Assuranceprocess
• ExcellentCoaching & Professional Development