Head of Secondary

International Schools Partnership; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education provider in Dubai seeks a Head of Secondary to inspire and lead a dynamic team starting August 2026. You'll be responsible for ensuring a high-quality educational experience, managing the Secondary Leadership team, and fostering a culture of learning and respect. The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership experience, proven excellence in raising academic standards, and a commitment to nurturing a supportive school environment. This role offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to significantly impact secondary education.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of prior senior leadership experience in a secondary or through-school setting.
• Proven experience of raising academic standards and achieving high outcomes.
• Willingness to contribute beyond standard expectations.

Responsibilities

• Directly manage the Secondary Leadership team.
• Maintain high standards of teaching and learning.
• Implement and oversee a high-quality extracurricular program.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Curriculum Development

Teaching and Learning

Communication

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent

Educational leadership qualifications (e.g., MA in Education)

Job description

Description

Position at Star International School (Branch) - SIQ

Star International School Al Twar is a rapidly growing British curriculum school in Dubai. We are seeking a kind, ambitious, and dynamic Head of Secondary to join our team in August 2026.

The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader who is eager to grow alongside the school and understands that true success comes from building and empowering a team of exceptional educators and leaders. You will be deeply passionate about teaching and learning and committed to evidence-informed practice.

You will set and maintain high expectations for purposeful student learning behaviours and foster a culture of accountability, where every member of the community takes ownership and pride in their work—yourself included.

ISP Principles

• Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
• Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well‑being of self and others.
• Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
• Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
• Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

Core purposes

• To confidently and consistently embody the school’s Vision, Mission, and Values, ensuring they are reflected in every aspect of leadership and practice.
• To serve as an exemplary and visible role model for staff, students, and parents — demonstrating professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to excellence in all interactions.
• To contribute actively to the school’s strategic direction and ethos, ensuring the highest possible standards of achievement, wellbeing, and professional practice for both pupils and staff.

Head of Secondary Key Responsibilities

• Directly line manage the Secondary Leadership team
• Ensure that learning and teaching at Star Al Twar is research informed, wellbeing aware.
• Create and embed a culture of community and kindness throughout the school that is embraced and adopted by all stakeholders and evident in every decision made.
• Be responsible for internal and external assessment in the Secondary school and the tracking of student progress
• Oversee the setting up, writing and production of high‑quality Secondary School reports to parents according to the timetabled schedule.
• Directly monitor standards through: work scrutiny’s, department reviews, observations, teacher and student feedback, and individual appraisal of staff
• Produce and maintain the secondary school timetable, including the creation of option blocks for examination year groups.
• Ensure adequate cover supervision is provided for absent colleagues
• Be responsible for, in liaison with Student Enrichment coordinators, a high quality extra‑curricular programme

Student support in the Secondary School

• Ensure that all students receive appropriate pastoral care.
• Be responsible for discipline in the Secondary School, in particular for dealing with serious behavioural issues, suspending students where necessary, or recommending stronger action (expulsion) to the principal.
• Be responsible for the setting up and monitoring of an effective student profiling system
• Monitor the support programmes for those with special needs and language difficulties
• Be responsible for all health and safety matters in the Secondary School both on and off campus including overseeing school trips according to school policies
• Manage regular fire drills and duck‑and‑cover exercises
• Lead assemblies in the Secondary School
• Be responsible for monitoring admissions into the Secondary School
• Be responsible for ensuring the highest standards when Secondary students are involved in performances, whether inside or outside school.

Provision and efficient use of educational resources

• In cooperation with the principal, oversee the purchasing and inventory process
• Ensure that all departments are adequately resourced to provide high quality curriculum delivery

Teacher support

• Be responsible for monitoring and raising the quality of teaching and learning in the secondary school
• Be responsible for the running of a rigorous performance management process for Secondary staff that takes account of both personal and school developmental needs.
• Oversee a programme of professional development opportunities, both internal and external, which links to school needs and the performance management process.
• Be responsible for the induction of new staff

Links

• Develop authentic connections across the curriculum in the Secondary School
• Liaise on a regular basis with the various school administration departments supporting staff and student well‑being
• Liaise with the marketing department in promoting the school
• Ensure that connectivity between the Secondary School and Primary school is developed at every opportunity
• Develop opportunities for connectivity between SIS Al Twar, its sister campus and other similar ISP schools
• Take every opportunity to develop links with the local community

Communication

• Run Secondary School Briefings
• Be responsible for the organisation of Parent Teacher conferences according to the calendar
• Be responsible, in collaboration with other senior leaders, for the production and updating of a school calendar, which includes meeting schedules and events.
• Be responsible for the production of a duty rota for secondary staff
• Be responsible for monitoring staff communication to parents
• Be responsible for the Secondary School content in the website, publications and advertisements.
• Other whole‑school duties and tasks will be assigned and agreed upon as appropriate.

Wider Responsibilities

• To embody the Star Al Twar Leadership Qualities at all times
• Ensure that we present a united front once decisions have been made, and promote the school's position at all levels
• To be highly visible across the school in order to support colleagues and young people.
• To work closely with the Head of Primary and Principal to ensure all decisions reflect the wider strategic priorities of the school
• To be a role model for the work‑life balance of our profession and the future of school leadership by making sustainable choices not modelling, promoting or expecting a damaging long hours culture. Wherever possible, reducing demands and encouraging professional freedom while monitoring success.
• To seek the support of other senior colleagues and not try to make decisions in isolation if they are challenging or difficult. We are a team and need to support each other

To be line managed by the school principal

Hours of work
- 7.15am-4.30pm Monday to Thursday; 7:15am to 12noon on Fridays, plus occasional evening and weekend work

Holidays
- as per the school KHDA approved calendar – with 10 days worked during the school holidays/breaks. Early return from summer break in line with new staff arrivals into the country

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Recognised qualified teacher status (QTS) or equivalent in a UK curriculum school.
• 5 Years Prior senior leadership experience in a secondary or through-school setting (e.g., AHT, Deputy Head, Vice Principal, Headship).
• Proven experience raising academic standards and achieving high outcomes in external assessments.
• Expertise in developing secondary curriculums and preparing students to achieve their personal best and change the world for the better.
• Experience in growing a school, including enhancing enrolment and retention rates.
• Demonstrated ability to lead learning communities and maintain professional relationships with all stakeholders.
• Willingness to go beyond standard expectations to contribute to school success.

Desirable

• Experience working in an international school setting, particularly in the UAE.
• Educational leadership qualifications (e.g., MA in Education, NPQH/NPQSL).
• Experience with A Level and BTEC programs at KS5.
• Inspection experience with agencies such as DSIB, ADEK and BSO.

Personal Attributes

• A principled and accountable leader who sets high expectations for self and others while fostering a culture of respect and collaboration.
• Demonstrates empathy and professionalism, assuming positive intent and addressing challenges constructively.
• A lifelong learner committed to developing an inclusive, aspirational, and high‑performing school community.
• A deep understanding of the ethos and standards of the British curriculum, with the ability to uphold and evolve them effectively.
• Visionary leadership with the capacity to inspire, motivate, and hold staff and students to ambitious goals.
• Exceptional communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills that build trust and clarity across the school community.
• Passionate about contributing to a dynamic, forward‑thinking, and inclusive learning environment.
• This role offers the opportunity to lead and shape the future of secondary education within a vibrant, diverse school community.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

ISP Leadership Competencies

• Collaboration. Takes an active part in leading their school or region; is cooperative and a genuine team player, developing positive, supportive relationships with colleagues to solve problems and maximise opportunities.
• Learning & Getting Better. Continually demonstrates personal commitment and passion for learning and getting better using evidence and feedback; supporting others in their continual learning, development and growth.
• Innovation Leadership. Is good at creating an environment where ideas for learning initiatives and services are generated and is able to motivate and inspire others through the process of creation through to completion.
• Outcome driven. Can be counted on to find solutions. Is consistently looking to exceed goals and is focused on KPIs.