Head of Secondary

Smart Vision School is seeking an ambitious, dynamic and highly effective Head of Secondary to lead the next stage of development of our growing Secondary School.

This is a particularly exciting time to join Smart Vision School. Our Secondary School currently extends to Year 9 and the successful candidate will play a central role in preparing for the launch of our first GCSE courses in the 2027–28 academic year, before supporting the continued development of the school towards Key Stage 5 and A Level provision.

We are therefore looking for more than someone to manage an existing secondary provision. We want an educational leader who is excited by the opportunity to build.

Working closely with the Principal and wider Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Secondary will shape the academic, pastoral and operational development of the Secondary School as it grows. They will establish the systems, structures, curriculum and culture required for an excellent Y7–13 provision and ensure that students are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education.

The successful candidate may already be an experienced Head of Secondary or Headteacher. Equally, we would welcome applications from exceptional Deputy Headteachers who have a strong track record of secondary leadership and are ready to take the next step and lead a Secondary School.

Key Priorities

A major initial priority will be ensuring that Smart Vision School is fully prepared for the introduction of GCSEs in 2027–28. Alongside the Principal, the successful candidate will lead this work from planning through to implementation, including curriculum pathways, options, staffing, resources, assessment, timetabling and examination readiness.

They will work with appropriate examination boards to establish the systems, policies and procedures required for external examinations and ensure that the school develops the expertise and infrastructure required to become a highly effective examination centre.

Alongside the launch of GCSEs, the Head of Secondary will begin laying the foundations for future Key Stage 5 provision, including the introduction of A Level courses as the school continues to grow.

Academic Leadership

The Head of Secondary will:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership of the Secondary School, ensuring that students' learning, progress and wellbeing remain at the centre of decision-making.

• Lead the development of an ambitious, coherent and appropriately challenging curriculum across Key Stages 3 and 4, with clear progression towards Key Stage 5.

• Lead all aspects of GCSE readiness and implementation, including curriculum pathways, option blocks, examination specifications and liaison with examination boards.

• Develop a clear strategic plan for the future introduction of A Level provision.

• Lead secondary assessment, tracking and reporting, ensuring that internal and external data is used intelligently to identify priorities, evaluate impact and improve student outcomes.

• Establish ambitious expectations for attainment and progress and ensure appropriate intervention and support where students are not making expected progress.

• Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning through a range of evidence, supporting middle leaders and teachers to continually improve classroom practice.

• As the Secondary School grows, develop effective Heads of Department and other secondary leaders, creating a culture of distributed leadership, accountability and professional growth.

• Lead curriculum, staffing and resource planning as the Secondary School expands.

Pastoral Leadership and Student Experience

Academic success must sit alongside exceptional pastoral care. The Head of Secondary will be highly visible and actively involved in the daily life of the school.

They will:

• Lead a positive secondary culture characterised by high expectations, excellent relationships, respect and strong student behaviour.

• Ensure students feel known, valued, supported and appropriately challenged.

• Oversee effective systems for behaviour, attendance, punctuality and student wellbeing.

• Develop strong systems of pastoral leadership as the Secondary School grows.

• Promote meaningful student leadership and ensure that student voice contributes to the continued development of the school.

• Develop opportunities beyond the classroom through enrichment, leadership, careers guidance, university preparation and extracurricular activities.

• Build strong, trusting relationships with parents and ensure clear and effective communication between school and home.

School Improvement and Inspection

The Head of Secondary will play a significant role in whole-school improvement and inspection readiness.

Experience of KHDA/DSIB inspections and/or British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections would be highly advantageous. The successful candidate will understand how effective self-evaluation, improvement planning, quality assurance and evidence-informed leadership translate into improved outcomes for students.

They will work closely with the Principal and SLT to ensure that the Secondary School makes a strong contribution to the school's strategic priorities and is exceptionally well prepared for external inspection and accreditation.

Growing the Secondary School

This is also a role for someone who understands that excellent schools grow because families have confidence in the education, care and opportunities they provide.

The Head of Secondary will work alongside the Principal, Admissions and Marketing teams to support the continued growth of the school. They will be an excellent ambassador for Smart Vision School, able to articulate our Secondary offer confidently to prospective and current families and build a reputation for academic quality, strong pastoral care and personalised pathways.

As student numbers increase, the successful candidate will help design the leadership, staffing and departmental structures required for a larger Secondary School, recruiting, developing and retaining excellent teachers and leaders.

The Person

We are looking for an inspirational and credible secondary leader who combines strategic thinking with a willingness to be highly visible and involved in the day-to-day life of the school.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• A recognised teaching qualification and relevant degree.

• Significant successful experience of teaching and leadership within a British curriculum secondary school.

• Experience of GCSE curriculum and examination provision.

• A strong understanding of the requirements for establishing and operating external examination courses.

• Experience of leading assessment, tracking and the effective use of student performance data.

• A strong track record of improving teaching, learning and student outcomes.

• Experience of developing middle leaders and building effective teams.

• A strong understanding of pastoral care, safeguarding, behaviour and student wellbeing.

• Experience of school self-evaluation, improvement planning and quality assurance.

• Experience of KHDA/DSIB and/or BSO inspection would be highly advantageous.

• Experience of A Level provision or developing Key Stage 5 pathways would be advantageous.

• Experience of leading a Secondary School, or significant experience as a Deputy Headteacher with the readiness and ambition to take the next step.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with students, colleagues and parents.

Above all, we are looking for an honest person who puts the needs of others above their own . The successful candidate will be excited by the prospect of establishing GCSE provision, building towards A Levels, developing future leaders, growing student numbers and helping create an exceptional Secondary School from the foundations upwards.

For the right leader, this is an opportunity to have a genuine and lasting influence on the future of Smart Vision School.