Assistant Head - Secondary - Virginia American School (AY26/27)

Job Description

Main Duties

• Assist the Assistant Principal Secondary in maintaining a safe, orderly, and positive learning environment.
• Support the administration and monitoring of assessments, schedules, and academic programs in coordination with SLT and department heads
• Line-manage grade-level leaders, providing guidance, support, and performance feedback.
• Organize staff coverage and assign duties for absent personnel to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Support student achievement initiatives, including standardized testing, interventions, progress tracking, and data collection.
• Contribute to pastoral care by monitoring student welfare, supporting wellbeing programs, and fostering a nurturing school environment.
• Collaborate with SLT on curriculum, instructional strategies, and school improvement initiatives.
• Assist in planning and coordinating staff professional development to enhance teaching quality.
• Support timely completion of reports, forms, and data submissions.
• Perform other duties as delegated by the Principal, Vice Principal, or Assistant Principal Secondary.

Academic Leadership & Student Achievement

• Assist the Assistant Principal of Secondary in guiding academic programs and ensuring high-quality instruction across all grades.
• Support monitoring student progress through assessments, reports, and feedback systems.
• Help ensure academic standards align with national and international benchmarks, including UAE National Agenda initiatives.
• Assist in curriculum development and review, collaborating with Middle Leaders and teachers to implement effective teaching strategies.

Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and Curriculum

• Lead and oversee teaching and learning monitoring systems.
• Lead and support programs designed to develop and grow teachers for optimal student academic outcomes.
• Collaborate with academic teams and SLT to ensure assessment practices in secondary are robust, reliable, and valid.
• Collaborate with academic teams and SLT to ensure curriculum review mechanisms are established and that processes are in place to enhance and enrich secondary curriculum across all subjects.
• Manage the structure and execution of assemblies, thematic events, activities, and academic enrichment opportunities.

Staff Leadership & Management

• Line-manage grade-level leaders, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback.
• Assist in supporting and developing teaching staff through professional development and coaching.
• Promote collaboration, teamwork, and continuous learning among faculty.
• Support staff coverage and allocation of duties for absent teachers to maintain smooth school operations.

School Vision, Mission & Values

• Assist in promoting the school’s vision, mission, and values across the Secondary school.
• Support fostering a positive, inclusive, and collaborative school climate aligned with the school’s ethos.
• Ensure Secondary goals align with the wider strategic aims of the school.

Parental Engagement & Community Collaboration

• Assist in establishing strong communication with parents and families regarding student learning and wellbeing.
• Support organizing parent-teacher conferences, workshops, and community events.
• Help address parent concerns professionally and empathetically.

Operational & Administrative Support

• Support the day-to-day operations of the Secondary school, including timetabling, resource allocation, and staff coverage.
• Ensure effective use of educational technologies, teaching tools, and classroom resources.
• Help maintain a safe, orderly, and well-organized learning environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Experience

• At least 6 years’ experience, including 4 consecutive years teaching performance exceeds standards and expectations as evidenced by performance appraisal
• At least 2 years’ experience in middle leadership role
• Experience of leading school initiatives that have led to improvement in standards and achievement.
• Experience working with parents and external agencies.

Job Specific Knowledge & Skills

• With secure knowledge of teaching and learning, and a track record of implementing effective strategies to raise standards and plug gaps in learning.
• ability to work with data and be effective in using data to diagnose, intervene and evaluate impact upon learning.
• ability to organize tasks
• ability to handle multiple tasks
• ability to exercise good judgment
• must possess leadership skills
• must appropriately handle confidential information
• Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.
• Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance. ­­­­­­­­