Head of Secondary - August 2025

Taaleem is seeking an outstanding and inspirational Head of Secondary to join Dubai Schools Nad Al Sheba from August 2025.

Dubai Schools:

The Dubai Schools Mission is to be a Beacon of Academic Excellence. Combining an inquisitive teaching approach and future-focused skillset delivery, we work with the community to nurture students to become independent and empathetic learners. We offer an American education guided by Arabic principles and Islamic values, fostering future-ready graduates driven by pride and tolerance.

The main objective of the Dubai Schools Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, and Nad al Sheba Projects is to create a mutually beneficial partnership between the government and the private sector that ensures Dubai’s aspiration to have 100% of Emirati Students enrolled in 'Good+' rated schools. 

Job Purpose:

The core purpose of this role is to provide professional, highly effective leadership and management that will achieve outstanding results in all aspects of Secondary School life. The Secondary Headteacher promotes an inspiring vision and clear direction that all members of the Secondary School and the Senior Leadership Team share. Ultimately, the Secondary Headteacher is responsible for ensuring that the curriculum, teaching, and assessment practices inspire high levels of engagement, achievement, and progress for students of all abilities.

Key Accountabilities:

• Promote Taaleem’s mission of ‘inspiring young minds’ - our vision of being the most respected provider of education in the Gulf and our core values and strategic platforms.
• Promote an inspiring vision dedicated to high standards that all members of the Secondary School share.
• Initiate, prioritize, and lead Secondary School improvement activities through effective strategic leadership and planning, which supports the vision, mission, and values of Taaleem.
• Display a high level of professional competence in all areas of responsibility.
• Communicate a clear view of the Secondary School’s aims so that all staff know what is required of them and are competent and committed to achieving the school’s goals.
• Be receptive and respond to the external evaluation of the school and manage the process professionally and very efficiently with your senior colleagues.
• Work effectively with school governance teams (School Advisory Committee and Parents Associations) and Taaleem, Head of School, to ensure informed and responsive decision-making, which helps to direct change and effective management of school resources.
• Ensure that the levels of students’ attainment and the quality of teaching successfully align with the Secondary Schools’ promise to parents.
• Participate and lead professional development workshops in the UAE, including events run by the Knowledge Human Development Authority (KHDA) or Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC)
• Ensure that the Secondary School’s academic program is fit for purpose and challenges students of all abilities.
• Maintain an ‘Outstanding’ rating in Phases 3 and 4 on inspections.
• Involve all Secondary staff in systematic, rigorous self-evaluation with the explicit purpose of improving the quality of students’ experiences and their standards of attainment.
• Work collaboratively with external bodies and the Senior Leadership Team to achieve outstanding results on school accreditations, inspections, and evaluations
• Monitor teachers’ plans, evaluate students’ classroom experiences, track students’ attainment, and evaluate progress towards meeting agreed targets
• Ensure that middle leaders and teachers set aspirational yet realistic goals aimed at improving students’ performance
• Ensure that all recommendations from previous inspections and evaluations are included in the schools’ improvement plans
• Work closely with the Principal, Business Manager, Admissions Manager, other Heads of Schools, and SLT to ensure that all policies, procedures, and routines across the school are effective and efficient.
• Ensure accountability of the school’s actions and outcomes with regard to compliance and health and safety issues
• Work collaboratively with the Principal and Admissions Manager to achieve enrolment targets and business objectives
• Ensure that teaching and learning are monitored closely and consistently using SISRA Observe to rate the quality of teaching practice across the school and identify areas of development
• Ensure that all Secondary School staff are appraised annually, providing recognition for areas of strength and recommendations for areas of development and growth.
• Work collaboratively with the Principal, Operations Manager, and SLT to develop CAPEX and Consumable budgets and then monitor performance against the Secondary School’s budget lines
• Be responsible for the safety and well-being of all students through positive recognition and high expectations for behavior and conduct
• Build and maintain relationships with Secondary School parents and the community by establishing regular and appropriate communications with all members of the school community, both internally and externally
• Market the Secondary School to the local and wider community to recruit new students and retain existing students to achieve a full school roll.
• Ensure that parents receive regular reports of their children’s progress and attainment that include next steps for learning

To apply:

Interested applicants should click apply, complete the application, and upload a copy of their CV.

Taaleem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. At Taaleem, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices about child protection, and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to various background checks, including receipt of high-quality references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification, and police checks, including overseas checks.