Founding Head of Senior School

Job description / Role

Job overview

The school
At Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, we proudly extend the distinguished legacy of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet—one of the United Kingdom’s most celebrated academic institutions. Founded on centuries of tradition and intellectual rigour, our branch schools uphold an uncompromising commitment to academic excellence, character formation, and cultural enrichment. Our vision is to cultivate dynamic, world class learning environments where the next generation of confident, able, and responsible young people are shaped. We challenge our students to think independently, lead with purpose, and embrace a global perspective—all within a community that values tradition, discipline, and innovation. By blending the timeless values of our founding school with the opportunities of a rapidly evolving world, we ignite curiosity, inspire ambition, and prepare our students to make meaningful contributions to society—as scholars, leaders, and changemakers.

The opportunity
We are seeking an exceptional Founding Head of Senior School to lead the strategic and operational delivery of the Senior School at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City. This is a unique opportunity to shape a world-class Senior School from the ground up within a prestigious British international school group. The ideal candidate will be an inspiring and experienced school leader with a proven track record of delivering academic excellence, fostering holistic student development, and building high-performing teams. You will be responsible for leading all aspects of the Senior School—academic outcomes, pastoral care, co-curricular provision, and staff development—ensuring a rich, rigorous, and inclusive educational experience. As a key member of the founding leadership team, you will play a pivotal role in aligning the Senior School’s vision with the overarching mission of Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools, upholding the values and legacy of our founding school, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet. If you are a dynamic and forward-thinking leader who thrives in high-performance environments and is passionate about delivering exceptional education, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The role

Strategic leadership

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership to establish the Senior School as a benchmark of excellence, rooted in the values and academic ethos of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet. Shape and implement an inclusive ambitious long-term vision for the Senior phase, ensuring alignment with whole-school strategy and the global standards of the Queen Elizabeth’s brand.
• Lead the development of a high-performance culture characterised by innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement in both academic and pastoral domains, underpinned by a rigorous and responsive school improvement planning cycle.
• Ensure full compliance with KHDA regulations and support the school’s alignment with the standards required for British Schools Overseas (BSO) and Council of British International Schools (COBIS) accreditation.
• Serve as a strategic partner in the school’s founding leadership team, contributing to whole-school decision-making and representing the Senior School with distinction to internal and external stakeholders.
• Promote and respect the heritage, traditions, and values of Emirati culture, fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the national identity and cultural expectations of the UAE.

Academic excellence & curriculum development

• Lead the design and delivery of an ambitious and intellectually rigorous curriculum based on the National Curriculum for England (Key Stages 3, 4 & 5), ensuring alignment with the academic ethos of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet and adapting provision to meet UAE statutory requirements for Islamic Education, Arabic, and Social Studies, in line with regulatory expectations.
• Drive exceptional teaching and learning through the implementation of evidence-informed pedagogical approaches, integrating innovation and educational technology to enrich the learning experience.
• Champion inclusive, student-centred learning that recognises the needs of every child, ensuring appropriate challenge, support, and differentiation for a diverse and high-achieving student body.
• Curate a vibrant and holistic enrichment programme that cultivates curiosity, creativity, and character—extending learning well beyond the classroom through co-curricular and cross-disciplinary opportunities.
• Embed the school’s vision of nurturing confident, able, and responsible young people, ensuring that academic, personal, and social development are equally prioritised within the Senior School.

Staff leadership & development

• Attract, recruit, and retain outstanding educators with the passion, expertise, and ambition to deliver a world-class British Senior School education as well as the ambitious UAE statutory requirements for Islamic Education, Arabic, and Social Studies.
• Inspire and develop a high-performing teaching team through strategic mentoring, clear goal setting, and a culture of continuous reflection and professional growth.
• Implement a robust and developmental performance management framework, including regular lesson observations, coaching conversations, and evidence-informed feedback.
• Design and lead a professional development programme that reflects the latest in pedagogical research, curriculum innovation, and leadership progression.
• Model exemplary leadership by cultivating a collaborative, respectful, and intellectually curious staff culture grounded in trust, shared values, and a commitment to excellence.

Pastoral care & well-being

• Create and sustain a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child feels known, valued, and empowered to flourish both academically and personally.
• Champion a whole-school approach to wellbeing, working collaboratively with staff, parents, and specialist teams to support students’ emotional, social, and behavioural development.
• Ensure the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection, embedding a culture of vigilance, accountability, and care in line with UAE, UK, KHDA, COBIS & BSO requirements.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with families, serving as a visible and approachable presence and as a key liaison in matters relating to student welfare, behaviour, and pastoral support.
• Embed the school’s commitment to developing confident, able, and responsible young people, ensuring that wellbeing and character development are integral to the Senior School experience.

The person

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Education (BEd), PGCE, or equivalent teaching qualification; a Master’s degree in Education or Educational Leadership is strongly preferred.
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent international certification.
• A minimum of five years’ successful senior leadership experience within a British curriculum school, ideally in a premium senior school setting.
• Demonstrable expertise in curriculum design, staff development, and the successful implementation of whole-school improvement strategies.
• In-depth knowledge of KHDA regulations, BSO (British Schools Overseas) and COBIS (Council of British International Schools) inspection standards and current UK educational best practice within an international context.

Personal qualities

• Deeply committed to educational excellence and the holistic development of students, aligned with the school’s vision of developing confident, able, and responsible young people.
• Upholds the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection, with a demonstrable commitment to the welfare and safety of all students.
• Maintains appropriate personal and professional boundaries, modelling exemplary conduct at all times. Aligned with the ethos, values, and strategic vision of Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools and the founding school in Barnet.
• Purposeful, positive, and forward-looking—able to inspire confidence and lead with optimism, even in times of challenge or change.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and communicate effectively with students, staff, and parents.
• Highly organised and solutions-focused, with strong analytical skills and the ability to manage complex priorities with calm efficiency.
• A visible, inspirational leader with a student-first mindset who models integrity, resilience, and high expectations in all aspects of school life.

Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City is an equal opportunities employer and is deeply committed to safeguarding our students, ensuring their safety and wellbeing. We expect all staff and members of our community to share this commitment and to promptly report any concerns about a student’s or community member’s safety or wellbeing. In accordance with our Safer Recruitment Policy, all applicants must be willing to undergo rigorous child protection screening, including checks with past employers and providing police clearance certificates from all countries that the applicant has resided in.