Head of Secondary

Job Title: Head of Secondary

Start date: August 2024

Hours: Full time

Contract: Permanent (subject to 6-month probation as per Qatar Labour Law)

Salary: Competitive

This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding leader to join our highly successful team and bring new energy and ideas to our learning journey. You will work closely with the Executive & Academic Principals to lead the Secondary School through the next phase of its strategic development.

As well as heading up the Secondary Leadership Team and having full responsibility for your school you will also join the Head of Primary and other senior colleagues in shaping the future strategic direction of the whole of QIS, its expansion and developments. 

Our new Head of Secondary will be learning focussed and ready to collaborate, grow and flourish in our successful and friendly team. The right person might be an experienced Headteacher or an aspirational Deputy seeking their first headship. Either way, you will need to:

•Lead by example and inspire the confidence of all stakeholders through enthusiasm and commitment to the role.

•Offer a clear vision for the school and role model outstanding leadership to secure continued improvement and further success for all.

•Ensure high quality learning comes first in a caring and supportive environment

·Enjoy what you do and help others to do the same

If you feel you share our values, have the vision and drive for excellence and want to be part of an enthusiastic and committed team then we would like to hear from you.

About Qatar International School

QIS was founded by Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed bin Thani Al Thani in 1977, making us one of the first British International Schools in Qatar.

Since then, we have changed and grown significantly – including a move to our current location of Al Dafna in 2001. Indeed, from very small beginnings almost 50 years ago, QIS has now grown into one of the largest and most prestigious schools in the country, with more than 2,000 students on role.

In 2015, the school received the highest possible grading from the Qatar National Schools Accreditation programme, when inspected by the country’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Then, in 2020, QIS achieved two highly prestigious international accreditations:

Firstly, QIS was judged to be ‘outstanding’ in every category of the UK government’s British School Overseas (BSO) inspection framework – only the third school, at the time, in the world ever to have achieved this.

Secondly, in the same year, QIS became the first school in the world to be awarded Council for International Schools (CIS) accreditation by a new fast-track process for outstanding schools. The final CIS report included over 100 individual commendations and helps to make us one of the most highly regarded educational establishments in the region.

QIS is also the only school in the Middle East accredited to deliver OLEVI training courses straight from the UK, such as The Outstanding Teacher’s Programme. The school also partners with many other world-renowned training providers to ensure cutting-edge best practice. We are proud to say that quality training for staff is part of the QIS culture.

Safeguarding

Qatar International School is committed to equal opportunities, safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Qatar International School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants must be willing to undergo recruitment screening processes including an interview, references from past employers, and a Criminal Background check from all countries of adult residence. Please note that the school will also carry out an online search, inclusive of social media, for shortlisted candidates.

 We require applicants to declare all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as 'spent'. All information provided will be treated as confidential. All applicants, (regardless of position) are requested to read QIS’s safeguarding policy, available on the school website, of our commitment to safeguarding children.

Secondary School

The secondary school has approximately 972 students from year 7 – 13. The 6th Form has 190 students.

All English Curriculum staff in secondary are UK trained. 

The curriculum that is offered is based on the English National Curriculum. The students study a broad and balanced curriculum in Key Stage 3 (Year 7 – 9) before they begin to specialise in Key Stage 4 (Year 10 & 11) and Key Stage 5 (Year 12 & 13) to match their personal interests and future career aspirations. The students will take International GCSEs in Key Stage 4 and A level and International A Levels in Key Stage 5. We also offer BTEC qualifications in Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. 

Application

For an informal and confidential conversation regarding this post please contact Mr Deane Baker or Mr Andy Dunlop via recruitment@qis.org

Visits to the school, for those potential applicants who are already in Qatar, are welcomed. Please contact Narine Malakian (malakiann@qis.org ), HR Department, if you would like to arrange a tour of the school.

Applicants should send a letter of no more than two sides of A4, clearly stating how they would fit into our team and ensure outstanding education in our secondary school. You should also forward your most recent CV. Please ensure that within your application you provide the names, addresses, and contact details for two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent Headteacher / Chair of Governors.

Deadline of the application: 21st April 2024 - should we receive a strong application before the deadline date we will interview and potentially offer.