Head of Upper School

Cognita; Hermigua; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff tuition remission

Local benefits

Visa support

Job summary

ELIS Murcia is seeking an exceptional and ambitious school leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Head of Upper School. Reporting directly to the Headteacher, this pivotal role provides strategic and operational leadership across Years 9–13, ensuring the highest standards of academic achievement, safeguarding, wellbeing and educational quality.

The successful candidate will lead and develop a strong team of middle and senior leaders, drive continuous school improvement through data and

Qualifications

• Ambitious, reflective, and credible school leader.
• Excellent organisational judgement and data-informed decision making.
• Ability to translate evidence into action while maintaining trust.
• Commitment to ELIS Murcia's strengths and growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a strong team of middle and senior leaders.
• Drive continuous school improvement through data and evidence.
• Foster a culture of high expectations, accountability, and inclusion.

Job description

About the School-ELIS Murcia

El Limonar International School Murcia (ELIS Murcia), part of the Cognita Schools Group, with 900 students between 3 – 18 years, is a dynamic learning community.

ELISMurcia is a growing, dual-campus school committed to continuous improvement ofall aspects of school life; CPD to ensure high-quality learning experiences forour students; and a positive work-life balance for our staff. ELIS Murcia isone of the very best international schools in terms of external examinationresults with recognition year after year as one of the top schools in Spainthrough the prestigious El Mundo ranking.

Furthermore, ELIS Murcia was named the Cognita Europe School of the Year in2022, 2023 and 2025. Students graduate from ELIS Murcia with proficiency inthree languages. Around 80% of our graduates go onto further education withinSpain, with the remaining 20% taking up offers in the UK and otherinternational destinations.

As well as our focus on academic excellence, we are committed to fosteringpositive relationships that allow our learners to develop all the necessaryskills to become the bold and resilient leaders of tomorrow. ELIS Murcia offersa programme based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales, IGCSE andIAL Level courses, as well as the Spanish Baccalaureate programme.

The school now has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Upper School to join our fantastic team.

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 20 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world".

At Cognita, we know every student is unique. We nurture their distinct personalities and strengths. We support them academically, socially, and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, wherever they’re starting from. And each and every one of our schools is unique too.

We protect what’s special about them, while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. And they get to be part of something bigger. We open their classrooms to the collective wisdom of over 90 schools in 20 countries, ensuring every child gets an education that’s, quite literally, world class.

It’s an individual approach that empowers every school, teacher and student to focus on what they do best and thrive.

About the Role

ELISMurcia is seeking an exceptional and ambitious school leader to join our SeniorLeadership Team as Head of Upper School. Reporting directly to the Headteacher,this pivotal role provides strategic and operational leadership across Years9–13, ensuring the highest standards of academic achievement, pastoral care,safeguarding, student wellbeing, and educational quality. The successfulcandidate will lead and develop a strong team of middle and senior leaders,drive continuous school improvement through the intelligent use of data andevidence, and foster a culture of high expectations, accountability, inclusion,and professional trust. Working closely with colleagues across the school, theHead of Upper School will play a key role in shaping whole-school strategy,supporting staff development, enhancing the student experience, andcontributing to the continued growth and success of ELIS Murcia as a leadingBritish international school. This is an exciting opportunity for anexperienced and reflective leader who is passionate about helping every studentthrive and achieve their full potential.

This is a permanent, full-time role.

Who We Are Looking For

Weare looking for an ambitious, reflective, and highly credible school leader whocombines educational expertise with strong organisational judgement. Thesuccessful candidate will understand that outstanding schools are built throughboth high expectations and strong relationships. They will be comfortablechallenging others and being challenged themselves while creating the trust andsupport necessary for colleagues to perform at their best. They will have theanalytical capability to understand performance in depth, the leadership skillto translate evidence into action, and the humanity to ensure that decisionsremain grounded in what quality means for each individual student and family.Above all, they will be committed to building upon the considerable strengthsof ELIS Murcia while helping to lead the school confidently through its nextphase of growth and development.

Benefits at Cognita

We offer a competitive salary and 100% remission for staff children on tuition fees for staff on 0.75+ FTE contracts, local benefits, and legal advice and financial support for obtaining essential documents, such as visas. Living & Working in Murcia: Most professionals who come to the Region of Murcia choose to stay as it offers a superb quality of life with wonderful weather, culture, sport, food, and people (something for everyone!).

Why Join ELIS Murcia?

• Work in a high-performing, values-driven school with a commitment to academic and personal excellence.
• Access to high-quality professional development and pathways for progression within the Cognita network.
• Teach in modern, well-equipped science facilities within a supportive faculty team.
• Enjoy the cultural and lifestyle benefits of living in the Murcia region of Spain.

The Closing Date for Applications is: Fri day 16th October 2026.

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.