During the first year, the primary focus will be the successful establishment of the Secondary School, including curriculum development, recruitment of the founding secondary team, creation of appropriate policies and documentation, development of systems and processes, and preparation for future growth. As the Secondary School becomes established, the role will increasingly focus on maintaining high standards of teaching, learning, student outcomes and pastoral care.
The Head of Secondary will report directly to the School Director, while working within the day-to-day academic direction set by the Head of School, and will have delegated leadership responsibility for the development and operation of the Secondary School.
The role will work closely with the Head of School, Head of Primary Curriculum and wider leadership team to ensure strong academic alignment and continuity across the school. While the principal responsibility will remain Secondary, the Whole School Academic Lead element of the role will require meaningful contribution to curriculum development, academic standards, assessment and wider educational strategy.
The ideal candidate will hold a professional qualification in Educational Leadership or Management and have at least five years of relevant leadership experience. Previous experience establishing or developing a new secondary school, department or programme would be highly desirable.
Provide strong leadership in establishing and developing the Secondary School, fostering a collaborative, supportive and high-performing working environment.
Directly line manage Secondary staff.
Recruit, develop and lead the founding Secondary team.
Ensure clear accountability, communication, delegation and effective teamwork within Secondary.
Conduct performance appraisals for Secondary staff, setting appropriate objectives and identifying professional development needs.
Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning within Secondary and ensure appropriate action is taken where standards require improvement.
Lead regular Secondary staff meetings covering curriculum, teaching and learning, student progress and pastoral matters.
Support staff in implementing effective approaches to teaching, behaviour management and classroom organisation.
Contribute as a senior leader to whole-school academic strategy, planning and development.
Provide wider school leadership when requested by the School Director and work collaboratively with other senior leaders.
Lead the planning, development and implementation of a comprehensive and engaging Secondary curriculum aligned with international standards and the school's educational vision.
Develop clear Secondary pathways and ensure appropriate progression from Primary into Secondary and through subsequent key stages.
Ensure the curriculum provides an appropriate balance of academic rigour, practical learning, enrichment and broader student development.
Provide academic guidance to Secondary teachers in curriculum planning, lesson delivery and assessment.
Ensure consistently high expectations for teaching and learning across Secondary.
Work closely with the Head of School, Head of Primary Curriculum and other academic leaders to ensure appropriate progression and alignment across key stages.
Contribute to whole-school curriculum development and academic policy where appropriate.
Foster a positive, inclusive and supportive Secondary environment in which students feel safe, valued and appropriately challenged.
Ensure effective pastoral systems are established within Secondary.
Work with teachers and relevant specialists to identify students requiring additional academic, behavioural or pastoral support.
Ensure appropriate strategies for inclusion and differentiation are implemented.
Lead regular Secondary pastoral reviews and ensure appropriate records and follow-up actions are maintained.
Work closely with the Head of Wellbeing, School Counsellor and other relevant staff to support student wellbeing and safeguarding.
Play a leading role in communicating and promoting the development of the Secondary School.
Support the school's marketing and admissions activities relating to Secondary.
Act as the principal academic point of contact for Secondary parents.
Respond to relevant parent enquiries and concerns in a timely and professional manner.
Lead Secondary parent meetings, information sessions, workshops and events where appropriate.
Support strong home-school partnerships.
Liaise with relevant external agencies and specialists where additional student support is required.
Work with relevant staff to extend the House system into Secondary and develop meaningful leadership opportunities for older students.
Identify and address the professional development needs of Secondary staff.
Develop a culture of professional accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.
Lead regular Secondary professional meetings and promote the sharing of effective practice.
Remain informed about relevant educational research, curriculum developments and emerging best practice.
Ensure Secondary teachers maintain appropriate knowledge of safeguarding requirements, including Prevent and KCSIE standards where applicable.
Contribute to whole-school professional development where this falls within the post holder's expertise.
Oversee the effective administration and organisation of the Secondary School.
Lead Secondary staffing, scheduling, timetable development and resource planning.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting of student progress, attendance, assessment outcomes and other relevant Secondary data.
Maintain appropriate records relating to staff performance, student progress and Secondary operations.
Work with the school's Operations team on purchasing, facilities, maintenance and resource requirements for Secondary.
Ensure appropriate arrangements are made for teacher absence and cover, coordinating with Administration where additional support is required.
Contribute to whole-school planning and policy development as a member of the senior leadership team.
Ensure Secondary events and activities are appropriately planned, delegated and managed.
Contribute to major whole-school events where appropriate.
Ensure effective use of iSAMS, the school calendar and other relevant school systems.
Provide appropriate Secondary input into school communications and publications.
Develop and oversee effective Secondary assessment systems and practices.
Ensure student progress and attainment are appropriately monitored and reported.
Analyse Secondary assessment data to identify trends, priorities and areas requiring intervention.
Ensure assessment information is used effectively to improve teaching and student outcomes.
Lead regular Secondary progress reviews and ensure appropriate interventions are implemented where required.
Work closely with the Head of School, Head of Primary Curriculum and relevant assessment leaders to ensure appropriate continuity between Primary and Secondary.
Establish clear transition arrangements for students moving from Primary into Secondary.
Contribute to the development of consistent whole-school approaches to assessment and academic monitoring where appropriate.
As Whole School Academic Lead, the post holder will:
Contribute to the development of whole-school academic strategy.
Support alignment and progression between Primary and Secondary.
Work collaboratively with the Head of School and other academic leaders on curriculum, assessment and teaching standards.
Contribute expertise to major whole-school academic initiatives.
Support the development of consistent academic expectations while recognising the different requirements of Primary and Secondary education.
Provide strategic input into the future development of the school as its Secondary provision expands.
Education is a dynamic and evolving field, and all staff are expected to engage positively in school activities and maintain a flexible approach to their work.
While this document outlines the primary duties and responsibilities of the role, it is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of every task that may reasonably be required.
The post holder is expected to respond to reasonable requests from the School Director relating to responsibilities of a comparable level and nature.
This job description may be reviewed periodically by the School Director in consultation with the post holder to reflect the changing needs, structure and development of the school.
This role will be central to the establishment and future success of the Secondary School and to the continuing development of strong academic leadership across FSB.
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