Head of Primary

Tenby Schools; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international school in Malaysia is seeking a Head of Primary to guide a dynamic team and enhance student outcomes. The ideal candidate will empower teachers and foster a safe, inclusive environment, driving academic excellence and personal development. This role is ideal for a current Head of School or an experienced Deputy looking for a new challenge. Competitive benefits include a generous provident fund contribution and support upon arrival.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Fee discount for children of employees

Medical outpatient and insurance benefits

Generous contributions to Employee Provident Fund

Flight and shipping allowance

Accommodation support for initial weeks

Qualifications

• Proven track record of positive impact on student outcomes.
• Experience as a Head of Primary or in senior leadership.
• Willingness to learn and respect diverse experiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the primary school ensuring positive culture.
• Implement strategies for curriculum design and review.
• Support staff in achieving high-quality learning outcomes.

Skills

Experience in a primary school leadership role

Knowledge of the UK National Curriculum

Excellent interpersonal skills

Experience in a multilingual environment

Ability to engage and inspire

Leadership and management skills

Data-driven decision-making

Education

Qualified primary teacher with a relevant degree

Leadership qualification (NPQH/NPQSL or Master's)

Job description

An amazing Head of School opportunity awaits you in Malaysia!

Tenby International School Penang

Located in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Tenby Schools Penang stands out for its state‑of‑the‑art STEAM Engine building, bringing Robotics, Virtual Reality, Music and Technologies into everyday learning, making it one of the leading schools in Malaysia for STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics‑focused education. Students work together in learning spaces such as the Robotics and Coding Lab, Makerspace, Black Box Theatre, Food Technology Kitchen and more. This ensures that they develop creativity, problem‑solving, and practical skills, preparing them for an evolving world. Every learner is empowered to innovate and take on challenges with confidence.

Tenby Schools Penang is proud to be part of the International Schools Partnership, iSP – a global community of over 112 schools across 25 countries dedicated to growing the world’s most curious, confident minds. Our holistic approach fosters both academic excellence and character development. This commitment is reflected in our Learning.First™ approach, which places students at the centre of their learning journey.

If you’re looking for a vibrant, progressive, and supportive school community, we encourage you to explore more about Tenby Schools Penang. Visit our website at http://www.tenby.edu.my/penang or follow us on social media to stay updated.

We look forward to welcoming talented individuals who share our commitment to excellence in education.

Role Head of Primary

At Tenby Penang, every student is valued, and we want them all to experience amazing learning and outstanding success. By the time they leave us, we want them to be confident and ready to shape their futures. We are looking for someone who shares our vision for our young people and who is ready to work with us as part of our campus leadership team and in leading their school as we deliver that vision together.

As the Head of International Primary, you will need to be passionate about achieving the best for every young person in your school. You will be knowledgeable about learning and how to guide staff in achieving amazing learning outcomes for students. You will be good at working with and inspiring your colleagues, our students, and their parents.

If you are an existing Head of School looking for a new challenge or an experienced Deputy Head of School ready to lead your school, then we have a community of passionate staff, students, and parents eagerly looking forward to working with you!

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Experience as a Head of Primary School or in senior school leadership in a primary school setting.
• Experience in an international setting is advantageous but not essential – more important is a willingness to listen and learn, to be open to diversity and to respect people’s different experiences.
• A qualified primary teacher with a relevant degree (essential) and has achieved or is working towards a recognised leadership qualification e.g., NPQH/NPQSL or Master’s Degree in Education (desirable).
• Experience leading or in senior leadership role at a school that follows the UK National Curriculum, with a track record of positive impact on student outcomes.
• Experience of working within a multilingual learning environment and knowledge of EAL provision (desirable).
• Has excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage and inspire staff, students, parents, and the wider school community.
• Can lead and manage a safe and caring school, ensuring clarity of culture and a positive ethos.
• Able to implement, monitor, and review practices that are clear and consistent and lead to successful outcomes for students.
• Able to combine professional intelligence and insight with the use of data to assure the effectiveness of school practice.
• Empower teachers in continually improving the quality of learning happening in their classroom.
• Can lead on whole‑school curriculum implementation, review, and design so we continue to deliver amazing learning opportunities and experiences for all students.
• Prioritises the safeguarding and safety of students and staff, with an awareness of appropriate behaviours, policies, and procedures including the principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education and Safer Recruitment.

We offer:

This is a two‑year contract with an option to renew at the end.

• Competitive salary
• Fee discount for children of employees
• Medical outpatient and insurance benefits
• Personal Accident insurance coverage
• Generous contributions to an Employee Provident Fund (EPF) up to 23% of salary per annum (11% employee contribution + 12% employer contribution) payable as a lump sum on leaving Malaysia.
• Fee reduction for children of employees
• Flight and shipping allowance at the beginning and end of the contract
• Support with accommodation for the first two weeks after your arrival

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high‑performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio‑economic background, or other demographic characteristics.

Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to send in a letter of application including the reasons for applying together with a comprehensive CV, a recent passport‑size photograph, and contact details of three referees (one of which must be from your current school).

For more information about Tenby schools please visit our website at www.tenby.edu.my

Early application is encouraged as we reserve the right to appoint before the closing date of 24th February 2026. Shortlisted candidates should be available for interview from the first week of March 2026.