Secondary SENCO – Sunmarke School - April 2025 start

Fortes Education has been a leading education provider in the UAE for over four decades with premium international schools and nurseries that have experienced outstanding success and growth. Our schools offer the most innovative and character-building education in the entire Middle East region.  

Our core ethos and philosophy of education is Positive Education (PosEd). Through PosEd, our schools foster active engagement in learning, celebrating character strengths and accomplishments. We encourage children to cultivate fulfilling relationships with others and seek meaning and purpose in their own lives. We enable children to become happy learners and develop into innovative thinkers, confident young adults, and life-long learners. Our students develop resilience, a growth mindset and deep character strengths that allow them to flourish in an ever-changing world. 

About Sunmarke School – Where Amazing Happens 

Sunmarke School provides an ambitious and inspiring, values-based education that nurtures the hearts and minds of students so that they can flourish and achieve their dreams. Powered by our unique signature programs, Sunmarke is a uniquely innovative school, transforming young lives. This was reflected in Sunmarke School winning the coveted ‘Most Innovative School’ award at the Which School Advisor ceremony in Dubai and London.  

Sunmarke is an all–through school which offers a premium education across a fantastic range of pathways for students including the National Curriculum of England, GCSE/IGCSE, ‘A’ Levels, BTEC and the IB Diploma and Career Related Programmes. We also offer a suite of Signature Programmes unrivalled in Dubai. With unique experiences in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, students learn in Forest School settings, as well as utilising cutting-edge hydroponic technology to examine how science can support sustainability in future terrains. Our world-class STEAM centre and curriculum offers students an incredible opportunity to apply their learning in solving real-world problems, from Foundation Stage through to Year 9. We run best-in-class mini-MBA programmes for our Year 10 to 13 students in conjunction with the Peter Jones Academy, to ensure their future success in business and entrepreneurship. We are technologically innovative and run comprehensive AI programmes for students in all core subjects, as well as deepening other subjects through Augmented and Virtual Reality AR/VR experiences. We have outstanding performing arts opportunities with fantastic facilities and amazing teachers to help our more creative students truly find their voice. Sunmarke School was judged by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a ‘Very Good’ school in our 3rd year of operation and ‘Outstanding’ in our British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection in 2019. 

We present an exciting opportunity to join our all through school and to play an important part in our journey to “outstanding”. Sunmarke School, Dubai is one of our flag-ship schools, located at a prime location in Jumeirah Village Triangle.  

About you: 

The core purpose of the role is to lead on the development of identification, teaching, learning and assessment of Students of Determination to secure outstanding progress and achievements. You will be actively involved in the formation of practices and procedures designed to raise attainment, together with effective monitoring of the impact of those. 

We are looking for certain qualities: 

• Skilled in the best global educational practices 
• Committed to developing and inspiring every student, to believe that they can and will succeed 
• Tech-savvy, fluent in using APPs and technology to extend and enrich each student’s learning experience 
• Outstanding role models who embody our core values 
• Passionate about providing enriched learning opportunities for children in and out of the classroom.  
• Excellent communicators who can ignite a passion for learning in our students. 
• Able to make a significant contribution to our extra-curricular activities (ECA) programme and wider campus life 
• Strong academic background, work ethic, well-organised having excellent interpersonal skills 
• The candidate should be dynamic, enthusiastic, and well-qualified, holding as a minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a SENCO qualification or equivalent is a must, and further post-graduate study in SEND and Inclusion (i.e. Master’s or NASENCo) 
• Experience with BTEC Introductory Level and AQA Entry Level in Core subjects. 
• At least 3 years of experience as a SENCO. Experience with exam access arrangements is essential. 
• The successful candidate will be someone with strong leadership and good organisational skills who can take responsibility for Inclusion Support Teachers and designated Learning Support Assistants, and who can effectively liaise with relevant staff, external agencies and parents. 

Aspiring or current Middle Leaders are encouraged to apply for middle leadership roles. When applying please indicate your: 

• Specialism in a Subject Area. 
• Past MLT experience  

Our Offer: 

• Excellent tax-free salary 
• Furnished Accommodation  
• Relocation Allowance (applicable to overseas appointments only) 
• Medical Insurance for self 
• Annual Air-Ticket and paid vacations  
• Tuition Fee Concession for up to 2 minor dependent(s) 
• State-of-the-art facilities and amenities in a newly built campus in a prime location in Dubai 
• An enthusiastic learning community of students, teachers, parents, and Board members, who are dedicated to maximise student achievement, and creating positive learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. 
• Working within a team of highly driven and supportive colleagues 
• Excellent professional development 
• Working in Dubai, one of the world’s most sought-after work and travel destinations 

Application Process: 

If you have the passion, energy, and commitment to drive accelerated outcomes for young people, we will welcome your application. In return, you will join a rapidly evolving organisation that can offer you a central role in our future growth plans. 

Candidates are invited to complete our Online Application by visiting: http://forteseducation.com/Careers/Current-Openings 

Interviews will take place either face-to-face in Dubai or by video conferencing if the applicant is not based in Dubai. 

The closing date for applications is the 30th of November 2024. Please note that due to the expected volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. The school reserves the right to make suitable appointments before the official closing date, and therefore we would encourage candidates to apply early in the process. The appointment start date will be April 2025. 

Fortes Education is committed to safeguarding children. All post holders in regulated activity are subject to vetting procedures including a satisfactory ICPC, plus resident country Police checks.