Head of Upper School

Job Description

About the Role This position is a fantastic opportunity to make an impact in the growth and development of the Upper School at GEMS Wellington International School. You will work as part of the Student Culture and Experience Team to ensure the students at receive a world class education and excellent pastoral care.

The UAE is determined to become an inclusive, barrier-free, rights-based society that promotes, protects, and ensures the success of all groups of students. As a non-selective school with a reputation for producing high achieving students, through academic rigor and a strong pastoral focus, the role will require you to build and promote opportunities to empower students to aspire, create and excel in the world beyond the school.

To do this, the Head of Upper School will be accountable for providing outstanding care, guidance, support and development for all students. The Head of Upper School will also actively participate in whole-school self-evaluation and school improvement planning and will be responsible for the coaching, mentoring and development of staff.


Key responsibilities include:

Driving the improvement of the school through providing strategic leadership of the Upper School (Years 10 through to 13)
Ensuring students in the Upper school are given every opportunity to succeed through outstanding pastoral care with student wellbeing at the forefront of initiatives and practice
Working closely with whole school leads for Curriculum, Assessment and Learning & Teaching to ensure students within the phase are receiving the highest standard of education that will enable them to thrive and make accelerated progress
Developing excellent professional relationships with colleagues, students and parents. Parental relationships and communication is a key part of the role, ensuring all parents are confident in the care and education provided for their child
Working in collaboration with the Head of Lower School and the Head of Middle School to ensure consistency in the high quality practice and initiatives
Ensuring effective performance management and line management of staff within the pastoral and wellbeing team, such as AHTs responsible for this area and the Heads of Year
Sharing the responsibility for the management of the school and contributing to the consultative and decision-making processes.

Staff Development:

To support the school PD framework and lead the strategic development of staff at all levels
To lead on the Performance Management Review cycles for staff members
Lead on researching best practice and keeping up-to-date with the latest developments in care, guidance, support and development of students
Monitor and provide guidance and support for Senior and Middle Leaders when planning Professional Learning opportunities to staff
Coordinate, prepare and deliver training courses across the school to improve teachers practice
Share knowledge with staff and offer support to implement research into their own practice
Build a network across the sector to seek out best practice that will ensure that the school is at the forefront of development in high quality care and guidance.

Organisational Management and School Improvement:

Lead and contribute to the schools improvement cycle and the development of staff skills in self-review and self-evaluation
Support the Executive Leadership Team in preparing all documentation in respect of the KHDA Inspection processes drawing upon the work of senior and middle leaders
Ensure that all staff are kept up to date with the requirements and processes of both internal and external review and accreditation
Be a part of all aspects of staff recruitment within agreed policies and procedures
Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate effectively
Manage staff well with due attention to workload

Governance, accountability and working in partnership:

Understand and welcome the role of effective governance, including accepting responsibility
Ensure that staff understand their professional responsibilities and are held to account
Ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the required regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
Work successfully with other schools and organisations both within and beyond the Wellington network

• Industry Education, Training Institutes & Academic Research (Schools)