Head of Arabic & Islamic - Sept 2025

We are looking for an outstanding Head of Arabic and Islamic to join our team at GEMS Wellington Academy, Silicon Oasis from September 2025.

Are you ready to make a profound impact on education?

At GEMS Wellington Silicon Oasis (WSO), we are not just a school; we are a thriving community that lives and breathes our core values every day. We are 

Unified, Aspirational, and uphold the highest standards of Integrity. We are looking for a Head of Arabic and Islamic who embody these values to join our dynamic team.

We are a fully inclusive, high-performing school that places a strong emphasis on the wellbeing of both staff and students. Our success is reflected in our performance in rigorous inspection and accreditation frameworks, and we take great pride in our achievements.

Our Mission and Vision:

Our mission is to develop students who are "World Class and World Ready". We aim to prepare our students not only for exams but for life beyond the classroom, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our vision is to empower every student to pursue their own pathways and opportunities within our diverse environment.

Do you align with this philosophy, and can you contribute to our ongoing educational mission?

Recognition and Accolades:

We are proud to be recognised by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a school that upholds the highest standards of education. Among our many accolades, our Foundation Stage has earned an 'Outstanding' rating for over a decade, setting the tone for exceptional early education. This excellence extends throughout our Primary School, which has also been rated ‘Outstanding’ by British Schools Overseas.

As a High Performance Learning (HPL) School, we are thrilled to hold the status of a 

'World Class School', where innovative teaching methods and personalised learning pathways are the norm.

Do you have the experience and enthusiasm to help drive WSO's continued success?

Our Teaching DNA:

At GEMS WSO, our teaching philosophy is built on the core principles we believe are essential for educators working with our wonderful students. These principles form the foundation of everything we do in the classroom:

• Building positive relationships
•  with students
• Adapting learning
•  to meet the needs of all learners
• Bringing 
• creativity and fun
•  into lessons
• Strong, evidence-based 
• teaching pedagogy

Do these values align with your approach to teaching?

Join a Team Committed to Excellence:

If you are an educator who thrives on working with extraordinary students and is fully invested in nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators, we invite you to join us at GEMS Wellington Silicon Oasis.

Job Purpose:

We are currently recruiting for a Director of Arabic and Islamic to lead and develop high standards of pedagogy and practice across all departments. The successful candidate will support Subject Leaders in decision-making for curriculum, assessment, and resource development, and will lead intervention and development plans for individual teachers as required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and guidance to Arabic and Islamic teachers and curriculum support staff, ensuring high standards of teaching, learning, and the integration of educational technology across all phases.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the Arabic and Islamic teaching programmes, ensuring they are innovative and deliver the appropriate standards, key concepts, and knowledge.
• Set and deliver targets for improvement for students, ensuring staff are fully conversant in the effective use of data to raise attainment and accelerate progress.
• Analyse department data with the team to identify students at risk of underachieving and target intervention effectively to ensure success.
• Identify the training needs for all staff within the team, devise appropriate professional development opportunities, and share best practices.
• Lead the Performance Management process for the team, identifying areas for improvement and producing appropriate staff development plans where necessary.
• Promote the subject area through Open Days, Options Evenings, and develop opportunities to raise the profile of Arabic throughout the year.

Person Specification:

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Honors degree and/or post-graduate qualification
• Evidence of ongoing personal professional development as both a teacher and/or leader
• At least 2 years’ experience of middle/senior leadership with Arabic and Islamic
• Experience in teaching and leading across at least two phases
• A successful track record of planning, implementing, and managing change
• Experience in working in an International setting, with thorough knowledge and understanding of the DSIB inspection framework and UAE National Agenda
• A clear drive and motivation for all students to achieve and exceed their potential

We reserve the right to make appointments before the closing date of this advertisement, therefore early applications are recommended.

 Join us in shaping the future of education. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our students and help them become truly world-class and world-ready individuals. 

About Your Benefits

All positions attract an excellent remuneration package including:

Competitive tax-free salary, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling, private medical insurance, annual airfares to country of residence and end of Service Gratuity.

GEMS Teachers also have free access to our loyalty app GEMS rewards www.gemsrewards.com which provides significant savings on day-to-day life in the UAE. We offer thousands of discounts and 2 for 1 offers on everything from flights, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, making your salary go further and enhancing the opportunity to save whilst working overseas.

About GEMS

Trusted for over 60 years and now a third generation education family, GEMS Education began in a single school room in Dubai. Today, we have the privilege of educating over 170,000 students from over 176 countries through GEMS owned and managed schools globally; over 270,000 students access resources through our services division.