Head of Department English

Asia Pacific Schools; Subang Jaya; On-site; MYR 20,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Subang Jaya is seeking a Head of Department for English. This role includes providing strategic leadership, enhancing teaching quality, and ensuring student success in IGCSE English. The ideal candidate will have significant teaching experience, strong leadership abilities, and a commitment to professional development. This position offers a competitive package and opportunities for professional growth within an international context.

Benefits

Pension fund contribution

Fee discount for children of employees

Outpatient and inpatient medical benefits

Paid leaves including medical and maternity

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-8 years of teaching experience, especially in IGCSE and A-Level.
• At least 2 years in department leadership roles.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the English Department, ensuring high-quality teaching.
• Monitor student progress and implement timely interventions.
• Manage the department budget effectively.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum development

Data analysis

Teaching English

Interpersonal communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English or related field

Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

Job description

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The Asia Pacific Schools, in partnership with The International Schools Partnership (ISP), equips students for local and global success by delivering Amazing Learning and offers both the international and Malaysian National curricula in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.

The Asia Pacific Schools promotes equality and is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, as well as providing employees with a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

A culture of engagement and trust, where staff contributions are recognized and valued.

A passionate and motivated team of professionals who put children at the heart of decision-making.

An embedded whole campus commitment to professional development and a commitment to serving others.

A peer network of like-minded teaching colleagues and support from operations’ staff.

Access to expertise, best practice sharing and learning opportunities across countries and cultures.

A commitment to employee well-being.

We also offer:

Pension fund contribution to an Employee Provident Fund (EPF)

Fee discount for children of employees

Outpatient and inpatient medical benefits

Paid leaves: medical, hospitalization, annual leaves, maternity, compassionate, etc.

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ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

We are seeking to hire a Head of Department: English with experience of working in an International School for commencement April 2026.

Purpose of Role

To provide strategic and operational leadership of the English Department, ensuring consistently high-quality teaching, strong student progress and outstanding outcomes in IGCSE English First Language and English as a Second Language. The Head of English will build a culture of high expectations, professional learning and continuous improvement aligned to ISP and inspection standards.

We begin with our students. Our children and students are at the heart of our business. Simply, their success is our success.

We treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the wellbeing of each other.

We operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference.

We are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of our children, students and schools.

We learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Main Responsibilities:

Lead, manage and develop all English teachers, holding them accountable for the quality of teaching, student progress and professional conduct.

Monitor and improve the quality of teaching and learning through lesson visits, work scrutiny, data analysis and professional dialogue.

Ensure curriculum coherence and progression from Key Stage 3 through to IGCSE.

Lead professional development within the department, including coaching, mentoring and targeted training.

Use attainment and progress data to identify underachievement and implement timely intervention.

Manage the department budget and resources to maximise learning impact.

Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing and positive behaviour systems are embedded across the department.

IGCSE English Leadership: The Head of English is accountable for the strategic leadership, delivery and outcomes of IGCSE English First Language and English as a Second Language.

Ensure schemes of work, assessment and teaching align with examination board specifications.

Lead staff training on mark schemes, grade descriptors and exam standards.

Monitor student progress and outcomes, comparing against targets and international benchmarks.

Ensure appropriate support and challenge for all learners.

Lead internal moderation and standardisation to ensure accurate and consistent grading.

Manage exam-related resources and revision provision.

Report to senior leadership on department performance and improvement priorities.

Key Performance Indicators

Positive trends in IGCSE English progress and outcomes.

Consistently high-quality teaching across the department.

Accurate and reliable assessment and reporting.

Effective intervention and support for underachieving students.

Strong staff performance and professional growth.

Other Duties

Fully and positively participate in the school’s performance appraisal scheme to enhance personal and departmental performance.

Undertake any other reasonable duties assigned by SLT or the line manager, particularly with regard to the school’s wider administrative function.

Follow all school policies and procedures at all times.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in mathematics is essential, and many schools prefer or require a postgraduate teaching qualification, such as a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). A master’s in education or a related field can also be a significant advantage.

Minimum 5-8 years of teaching experience. This should include a proven track record of teaching mathematics across a range of ages and abilities, particularly at the IGCSE and A-Level.

Minimum 2 years of experience in an academic or departmental leadership capacity. This could be as a Head of a key stage, a subject coordinator, or a similar middle management position.

Computer literate with good interpersonal communication skills

Fluency in written and spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Person specification

Patient, responsible, and passionate about teaching

A team player and flexible to meet the needs of the department

Must be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people they are responsible for or come into contact with

You consistently demonstrate and role-model the ISP Leadership Competencies in all that you do.

Cognitive

Strategic, commercial and financial acumen

Understands education sector and what drives success

Outcome-driven with strong a strong focus on results

Shares our ambition and goals and champions desired change

Delivers strategic outcomes by inspiring and motivating their team to work towards shared goals

Demonstrates financial understanding when making decisions and taking action

Keeps self and team organised and on track

Tackles challenges in an organized and systematic way and finds solutions

Sees problems as opportunities to improve and better deliver against organisational priorities

Creates a safe environment within team to encourage innovation and problem-solving

Empowers team to apply creativity and flexibility to overcome challenges

Identifies risks and creates and implements mitigation plans

Interpersonal

Intentionally connects

Supports, enables and inspires others to give their best

Takes time to understand their team and personalise individual experiences

A skilled identifier of talent who recognises the value of soft skills (emotional intelligence, drive, learnability etc.) as predictors of potential

Focuses on people development through coaching and mentoring, sharing their experiences and insight

Recognises and celebrates successes

Develops and shares our collective vision

Encourages collaboration and teamwork, making people feel like they are working and succeeding together

Open-minded; actively listening and seeking and welcoming feedback

Communicates honestly, transparently and with genuine care and empathy

Articulates thoughts and ideas clearly and adjusts how they communicate to the person or situation

Self-Leadership

Amazing learner

Self-aware, humble and a good listener

Manages their own personal development, focusing on continuous learning and getting better

Is open about their own areas for development and encourages their team to be the same

Builds a team with complementary skillsets to support them in areas where they are not so naturally suited

Curious; asks questions, explores and builds on ideas

Resilient

Practices self-care and encourages their team to do the same

Uses inner strength when times are challenging or when working outside of their comfort zone

Understands their own qualities, skills, emotions and triggers and uses this understanding to remain composed and confident in uncertainty

Recovers positively from setbacks, using them as an opportunity

Digital

Technologically literate

Digital collaborator, who works effectively with technical specialists

Stays up to date with the latest technology and trends and knows how these can be applied in their role

Demonstrates an adaptive techmindset, constantly evolving their understanding and application of what is possible using tech

Assesses the impact of new technologies for their role and the organisation

Effectively interprets digital data and uses it in decision-making

Collects, shares and analyses evidence to demonstrate impact, make connections and set improvement targets

Connects data from different digital sources to design, develop and implement action

Simplifies complex digital data into clear and understandable information for different audiences

Uses a mix of digital data, experiences, instinct and context to make decisions

Global

Values-driven

Role models the ISP Principles

Prioritises wellbeing, inclusion and belonging and is caring, considerate and supportive of their team

Demonstrates a multi-cultural mindset and respects the different values, behaviours, attitudes and practices across cultures

Seeks different perspectives and integrates diversity of thought from team

Sustainability-focused

Considers the environmental and social impact of their decisions and finds ways to minimise these

Uses their passion and credibility to challenge ways of thinking

Advocates for policies and practices that support a more sustainable future

Identifies inefficiencies and wastefulness and prioritises productive and balanced use of resources.

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 postholders 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 of 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.

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Your application will include the following questions:

• What’s your expected monthly basic salary?
• Are you willing to undergo a pre-employment background check?

As part of International Schools Partnership - iSP, we belong to a global family dedicated to growing curious, confident minds. Every person in our community is a lifelong learner be it a student, teacher or a member of staff.

Asia Pacific Schools comprises two diverse yet closely aligned schools - Asia Pacific Smart School (APSS) and Asia Pacific International School (APIS), and it fosters strong collaboration among educators from diverse countries and cultures. Both schools share a unified vision - to value respect, integrity, and excellence, and recognise each student's uniqueness to support their academic and personal growth.

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