Corporate Head of Inclusion

Job description / Role

About the Role
We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Head of Inclusion to join our team in Dubai. As the Head of Inclusion, you will play a vital role in creating a culture of inclusion and promoting diversity across our network of schools. You will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive inclusion strategies and initiatives to ensure all students, regardless of their background or abilities, have equal opportunities for success.

Primary Accountabilities:
- Provide the leadership and direction for the Inclusion/SEND strategies for the organisation and its schools, working in conjunction with the Chief Education Officer (CEdO), SVPs Education and Cluster/School Inclusion/SEND leads. Ensure the schools articulate and consistently apply the GEMS philosophy and Core Values.
- Responsible for the SEND strategy, its development as well as the formulation of an organisation wide action plan, taking into account the relevant Inclusion Frameworks.
- Monitoring and evaluating individual school action plans and their implementation.
- Provide the strategic direction, development and dissemination of all policies and protocols relating to SEND/Inclusion ensuring that GEMS is at the forefront of best practice and is the leading light on Inclusion.
- Co-construct a systematic and consistent approach to the collation and analysis of Inclusion data and a rigorous monitoring of attainment and progress ensuring appropriate intervention and action where necessary.
- Build the capability and infrastructure of School/Cluster Inclusion leads to meet current and future challenges.
- Develop and deliver high quality professional development, briefings, projects and activities for Principals, SENDCo networks and individual schools, where appropriate.
- Support the improvement of student outcomes and narrow the student attainment gap for all (identified) students, across all phases, ensuring students fulfil their highest potential.
- Provide advice, guidance and practical strategies to teachers, SENCO's and leaders across the organisation
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory authorities and external agencies and foster positive relationships with all stakeholders.

Strategic leadership and management
- Establish a robust organisational structure for the delivery of inclusion, in agreement with the CEdO in order to deliver the overarching strategy.
- Develop the Inclusion Strategy to ensure that it remains at the forefront of inclusive practises and ensures it adheres to the overall GEMS mission, strategic plan, and targets.
- Lead Professional dialogue and appraisal for relevant staff members and identify key talent in the Inclusion networks, creating advanced SEND leads who can share best practise across the network.
- Develop and broker relevant school-to-school support and professional development opportunities across the whole network of schools.
- Support the development of inclusion practises and requirements for new schools and existing schools.
Work with colleagues to recruit appropriately qualified SEND staff in new and existing schools while keeping in mind the need for succession planning and talent management.

Working with GEMS Governance
- Provide the CEdO with appropriate, timely and relevant data, information and advice to inform the board and its committees and to enable them to exercise their responsibilities ensuring decisions are well informed, clear and implemented.
- Ensure that GEMS meets all of its legal and regulatory responsibilities and requirements, ensuring its schools are compliant and undertakes SEND audits and health checks to validate.
- Continue to keep abreast and drive high quality inclusion practises and systems to ensure that GEMS policies, proposals and initiatives are developed and are best in class.
- Attend and lead meetings as required by your line manager.

Education Leadership
- Ensure there is a consistent focus on high standards of student achievement and outcomes especially in relation to SEND.
- Working closely with SVPs Education, Clusters and schools to ensure that all schools have inclusive practises and that all children achieve their full potential.
- Ensure effective implementation (and ongoing review) of GEMS learning and assessment frameworks for inclusion, using benchmarking and value-add data, to monitor and report on student progress and achievement in relation to SEND.
- Ensure that schools are providing relevant, flexible, inclusive curriculum supported by creative, responsive approaches to teaching and learning, with appropriate teacher intervention as part of a positive and constructive learning environment.
- Develop educational strategies to secure equity of educational opportunities to enrich the GEMS schools as holistic learning environments for its students, families and the wider community.

Financial Planning and management
- Be responsible to the CEdO for the inclusion budget; ensuring that expenditure is controlled in line with approved budgets.
- Work closely with the CEdO to provide comprehensive, regular reports on the revenues and expenditure for the SEND/Inclusion streams.

Risk management
- Identify and evaluate risks for SEND/Inclusion to inform the CEdO, Board and its Committees. Ensure mitigation is in place to reduce potential risk.

Promotion and representation of GEMS
- Promote GEMS; representing it effectively and positively to all internal and external stakeholders and seek opportunities to expand its reach.
- Support the growth of new schools and identify talent to work within and develop inclusive practises.
- Maintain effective networks with partners and services that support the Inclusion agenda.
- Work with schools, in an entrepreneurial, collaborative and flexible way.
- Ensure GEMS (organisation, values, and achievements) is presented in an appropriate and professional manner to its customers and stakeholders.

Requirements

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential:
- Relevant subject and/or education degree at Bachelor level, and evidence of continued professional learning.
- Outstanding practical and personal knowledge of inclusion and SEND in schools, education systems and educational leadership.
- Outstanding expertise, experience and philosophy in further developing the culture and ethos of the organisation in sustaining high standards, and a clear understanding of strategies for improving these in Inclusion.
- A genuine understanding of pedagogy linked to new technologies within C21st learning environments.
- Up to date knowledge in SEND, including policy, pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, behaviour management strategies, inspection and statutory/regulatory requirements.
- Knowledge and understanding of key partnerships and processes that meet the needs of children and young people with SEND.

Desirable:
- Masters Degree.
- Professional SENDCo qualification.
- International collaboration or have worked internationally.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:
- Currently working as an inclusion leader across multiple schools in a Multi Academy Trust, Local Authority or other SEND provision.
- Excellent communication skills and strategies that will motivate and inspire experienced Inclusion/SEND colleagues and Principals.

Desirable
- To have led specialist provision or school as a Headteacher/Principal

SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- A global mind-set, sound cultural understanding, and ethos to lead both staff and students to continually strive for excellence within a diverse multi-cultural setting.
- Outstanding ability to think and act at a strategic level whilst maintaining a focus on academic rigour and quality.
- Skilled in networking and able to motivate other leaders.
- Outstanding analytical skills and ability to synthesise complex information, summarise and draw appropriate conclusions and make decisions.
- An inspiring leader with personal drive and tenacity to motivate, empower and support individuals.
- Politically sensitive in the complex environment of safeguarding.
- A strong commitment to supporting and promoting safeguarding, equality and diversity and inclusion.
About Your Benefits An attractive remuneration package is on offer to the successful candidate including tax-free salary, medical cover, tuition fee concessions, annual leave, and end-of-service benefits.

About the Company

GEMS Education is a pioneering education company with an international network of award winning K-12 schools. Over the past 55 years GEMS has grown from one school to being a truly global company with one incredible mission – to make quality education available to every student. Over 20,000 education professionals unlock the potential of over 250,000 students across 14 countries each and every day, preparing children of all ages for real world success.