Director of Studies - Secondary Department

The Director of Studies is a key member of the leadership team and has responsibility for the quality of academic life in the school, ensuring each student achieves their potential, as well as involvement in whole school management. The post holder’s work will focus on overall academic quality and academic administration.

Key areas will include quality of teaching and learning, teacher performance, academic performance targets, assessment data analysis and monitoring, administration and running of exams, inspections, timetabling, absence cover, allocation of space, school reports, running options evenings and parent consultation evenings.

The Director of Studies is a key academic role model for all staff; they will teach a reduced timetable in their specialist subject and be able to demonstrate excellent practice in their own teaching, as a benchmark for others.

Duties and Responsibilities

●       Line manager and act as mentor to all heads of academic departments.

●       Participate in appointing academic staff.

●       Run the appraisal and observation systems for teachers, putting in place appropriate support to ensure the highest standards are set and maintained.

●       Together with the Head of Secondary, be responsible for curriculum policy and development.

●       Create, adapt and oversee the academic timetable.

●       Manage the options process, working with students and parents to finalize choices.

●       Manage absence cover and room allocations.

●       Manage staff allocation to invigilation for internal and external exams.

●       Manage parents’ evenings.

●       Oversee and manage assessment data to inform school strategic thinking and to ensure effective student progress and expect each student to achieve its potential.

●       Oversee the reporting process.

●       Support the management and distribution of public exam results.

●       Lead and support the process for inspection preparation.

●       Work closely with the IT and data team on academic systems.

●       Keep abreast of curriculum and academic developments and share information, accordingly, participating in and leading staff training as appropriate.

●       Seek to demonstrate and encourage the school’s key purpose in all ways: to equip students to live with confidence, purpose and joy.

●       Demonstrate and represent the school’s values and foster a collaborative managerial approach.

●       Drive the school innovation, including integrating technology and AI to teaching and learning to improve results and be adapt learning and teaching practices to taking opportunity of the technology available and utilized by students.

Candidate criteria

●       Strong academic record, including a good degree in the specialist academic discipline.

●       Experience in leading and managing teams of academic colleagues.

●       Passion about inspiring both educators and learners and enjoy the challenge of leading innovative educational initiatives in an environment in which our students can thrive and excel.

●       Ability, and genuine desire, to develop pupils and colleagues to their fullest potential and stimulate their knowledge and critical thinking.

●       Ability to build teams that work together.

●       Able to build relationships between stakeholders and drive projects to completion.

●       Able to understand problems and develop creative solutions.

●       Able to meet deadlines under pressure.

●       Attention to detail and accuracy.

●       Think strategically and analytically and continuously look for improvement.

●       Communicate clearly and sensitively under pressure.

Our School

Xabia International College is an international, coeducational school for students from pre-nursery to sixth form, that offers the British National and the Spanish Curriculum. XIC is a happy place with the focus on Learning through innovative and inspiring teaching. We strive to give each child a thirst for life-long learning through a stimulating and innovative curriculum which pursues excellence. We lay the foundation stones from which the children can grow. A priority in XIC is for our students to be happy in school, for them to look forward to each day with us, and for them to flourish as a result of the confidence we encourage in them.

We are extremely proud of our staff in school and for the amazing work they do, and we take great care to recruit positive and inspiring colleagues who fit with our philosophy. There is a real feeling of a strong team in school, and we are delighted that XIC has a very low turnover in staffing as a result.

Affinitas Education

Affinitas Education is an international group of schools, empowering each school to be great. We use our expertise and experience to help schools achieve more.

For Affinitas each school is unique, and we celebrate their individual character, working in partnership with them. Our Schools know how to unlock the unique talents in their students, and we provide the tools to help them make that impact while respecting their ethos.

We collaborate with the schools on an individual level. We trust their expertise and offer support where it matters most, instead of imposing a rigid approach. We offer targeted support to help our schools achieve more for their students, always driving for excellence in everything they do.

The common denominator of our schools is an unwavering passion for delivering great education to our students. 

Safer Recruitment

XIC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults, and expects all staff, service contractors and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo relevant background screening checks, appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to, reference checks with past employers, online search, criminal background (or equivalent) and social media checks. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to agree to our procedures.

The school is responsible for ensuring the welfare, health and well-being of all children, young adults and staff. We create a vigilant organizational culture which monitors and prioritizes the safeguarding and well-being of all.