Head Of Secondary - January 2027

GEMS Education; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMS Al Barsha National School in Dubai seeks an outstanding Head of Secondary to lead the school from January 2027, guiding strategic development and ensuring academic excellence, student achievement, behaviour, wellbeing and pastoral care.

The role requires visionary, inspirational and operational leadership across all aspects of the Secondary School, with a strong focus on data-informed improvement, safeguarding and collaborative school culture.

Qualifications

• Hold a BEd or Bachelors degree with PGCE / PGDE or equivalent, and a proven record of outstanding teaching.
• A Master’s in Education (leadership) and/or NPQH preferred but not essential.
• Significant experience in a leadership role within a secondary school.
• Evidence of ongoing professional learning in education, teaching and leadership.
• A demonstrable track record in sustained school improvement and raising standards.
• An in-depth knowledge of the National Curriculum for England and its implementation.

Responsibilities

• Full operational, financial, and educational oversight of the secondary school.
• Contributing to the strategic direction of the academy.
• Providing inspiring, empathetic leadership.
• Maintaining the highest standards of student achievement and student behaviour to ensure exceptional outcomes for all.
• Ensuring robust quality assurance procedures are in place for all performance areas of the secondary school.
• Using rigorous, data-informed self-evaluation and self-reflection processes for continuous school improvement.
• Promoting the school to ensure its significant achievements are recognised both locally and internationally.
• Ensuring the highest quality of professional learning is in place for all staff and has impact on school improvement and student outcomes.
• Developing a culture of high challenge and high support where all staff and students feel empowered to thrive and succeed.
• Embedding, and building on, the evidence-informed and research driven approach already established.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Data-informed decision making

Educational leadership

Change management

Education

Bachelor degree with PGCE/PGDE

Master’s in Education leadership (preferred)

Job description

Job Description:

Job Description

We are seeking to appoint an outstanding and visionary Head of Secondary to join our school in January 2027 and provide strategic leadership for the continued development and success of our Secondary School.

This is an exciting leadership succession opportunity following the relocation of our current Head of Secondary. The successful candidate will build upon the strong foundations and achievements already established, while bringing the vision, experience and leadership required to guide the Secondary School through its next phase of growth and development.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing the school’s vision and mission, providing strategic, inspirational and operational leadership across all aspects of the Secondary School. This will include ensuring the highest standards of academic excellence, student achievement, behaviour, wellbeing and pastoral care, while fostering a culture in which both students and staff are supported and empowered to achieve their full potential.

Key responsibilities include, however not limited to:

• Full operational, financial, and educational oversight of the secondary school.
• Contributing to the strategic direction of the academy.
• Providing inspiring, empathetic leadership.
• Maintaining the highest standards of student achievement and student behaviour to ensure exceptional outcomes for all.
• Ensuring robust quality assurance procedures are in place for all performance areas of the secondary school.
• Using rigorous, data-informed self-evaluation and self-reflection processes for continuous school improvement.
• Promoting the school to ensure its significant achievements are recognised both locally and internationally.
• Ensuring the highest quality of professional learning is in place for all staff and has impact on school improvement and student outcomes.
• Developing a culture of high challenge and high support where all staff and students feel empowered to thrive and succeed.
• Embedding, and building on, the evidence-informed and research driven approach already established.

Skills Description

• Hold a BEd of Bachelors degree with PGCE / PGDE or equivalent, and a proven record of outstanding teaching.
• A Master’s in Education (leadership) and/or NPQH preferred but not essential.
• Significant experience in a leadership role within a secondary school.
• Evidence of ongoing professional learning in education, teaching and learning, and leadership.
• A demonstrable track record in sustained school improvement and raising standards.
• An in-depth knowledge of the National Curriculum for England and its implementation.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships whilst developing a high challenge high support environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with a diverse school community and establish strong partnerships.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and embrace innovative educational practices.
• Have a willingness to collaborate and share their outstanding practice
• Have a growth mindset, whereby they are reflective and solution focussed
• Be creative and enthusiastic in their approach to teaching
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills to work closely with colleagues, students and parents
• Have a proven track record of providing outstanding learning & teaching
• Have aspiration to work in a world-class school with real prospects for enhancing their career
• Be willing to make a positive contribution to our school community and culture through active engagement in our extra-curricular programme and community-based events.

As a GEMS school, GEMS Al Barsha National School is committed to the highest standards of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All staff are expected to share this commitment. An offer of employment will be subject to rigorous safeguarding checks.

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.