Teacher of Art - August 2027

Horizon English School Town Square is currently recruiting a Teacher of Art for an August 2027 start.

About Horizon Town Square:

Opening in September 2027, Horizon English School Town Square will bring over 35 years of educational excellence from our outstanding Jumeirah campus to the heart of Town Square Dubai.

An all-through British curriculum school for ages 3-18, the new campus will launch with FS1 to Year 8, growing year by year to Year 13.

The school will combine academic excellence, wellbeing and community spirit in a purpose-built, state of the art environment.

As part of the Cognita global family, students will benefit from world-class opportunities in academics, sports, and the arts through Enrich ME, helping every child feel they belong, achieve, and thrive.

Role Purpose:

Horizon Secondary will be shaped by the people who join us from the beginning. You will help establish its culture, curriculum, routines and traditions and shape the experiences of its first students and families.

We are looking for an excellent teacher who combines strong subject knowledge and ambitious classroom practice with warmth, optimism and a commitment to knowing every student as an individual. You will be personally invested in our journey and excited by the opportunity to build outstanding provision from day one.

You will create inclusive learning in which students experience joy and curiosity, are taught towards the highest expectations and receive the skilful support needed to succeed. Together, we will build a school in which every student counts, every student contributes and every student succeeds.

Role & Responsibilities:

CONFIDENT, CAPABLE AND CONNECTED

Confident: Develop students who communicate effectively, embrace challenge, respond positively to feedback and have the confidence to contribute.

Capable: Develop students with strong academic foundations, secure subject knowledge, independence, resilience and effective learning habits.

Connected: Develop students who build meaningful relationships and contribute positively to their school, the UAE and the wider world.

SPECIFIC AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your contribution to Horizon

• Invest personally in Horizon’s founding journey and help build outstanding culture and practice from day one.

• Model the warmth, ambition, high expectations and strong relationships that define Horizon.

• Contribute ideas, energy and expertise to developing curriculum, assessment, routines, resources, experiences and traditions.

• Work flexibly and collaboratively in an evolving school, balancing innovation with Horizon’s heritage and proven strengths.

1. Students’ achievement and learning skills

• Maintain ambitious expectations for every student and teach towards the highest curricular goals.

• Adapt instruction, scaffolding and support skilfully so all students can access ambitious learning without lowering challenge.

• Develop secure subject knowledge, disciplinary skills, independence, critical thinking and clear communication.

• Analyse attainment and progress from individual starting points, responding promptly to misconceptions, gaps and underachievement.

2. Personal and social development

• Know, value and understand every student, creating belonging through warm, respectful relationships.

• Promote responsibility, resilience, positive behaviour, attendance and punctuality.

• Develop appreciation of Islamic values, Emirati culture, UAE society and wider world cultures.

• Support student leadership, service, enterprise, innovation and social contribution.

3. Teaching and assessment

• Plan and deliver ambitious, engaging and inclusive lessons that retain joy, curiosity and intellectual challenge.

• Implement Teaching for Impactful Learning and Progress (TILP), informed by the Great Teaching Toolkit.

• Use explicit instruction, retrieval, modelling, questioning, guided practice and meaningful checks for understanding.

• Use formative and summative assessment, feedback, moderation and standardisation to improve learning and progress.

• Use technology deliberately and promote academic honesty and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

4. Curriculum and future pathways

• Contribute to a coherent, ambitious curriculum and work with Primary and Secondary colleagues to secure progression across Years 5 to 8.

• Build on prior learning and plan backwards from the knowledge and skills required for future GCSE, A Level and vocational success.

• Retain the breadth, joy and disciplinary integrity of Key Stage 3 while preparing students progressively for future pathways.

• Develop familiarity with Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and International A Level, and Pearson BTEC International qualifications where appropriate; Pearson UK qualifications will be considered where an international qualification is unavailable.

• Connect subject learning with careers, university, further study and employment.

5. Protection, care and support

• Maintain an unwavering commitment to safeguarding and establish calm, consistent expectations for conduct.

• Identify and respond promptly to academic, pastoral, safeguarding, inclusion and wellbeing needs.

• Maintain ambitious expectations for students of determination, English-language learners, gifted and talented students and other identified groups.

• Undertake a form tutor responsibility where required and maintain safe practice in classrooms, specialist spaces, trips and visits.

6. Partnerships and wider contribution

• Build proactive, positive and trusting relationships with families, celebrating success and addressing concerns early.

• Contribute actively to ECAs, Enrich ME, trips, visits, competitions, performances, fixtures and community events.

• Support International Day, National Day, Sports Day, school shows, celebrations and other whole-school traditions.

• Collaborate across Cognita schools and support Careers and University activities and external partnerships.

• Engage actively with coaching, professional learning and school improvement.

General Responsibilities

• Model the Horizon values in all language and interactions.

• Demonstrate an active commitment to student and staff wellbeing, parent education and a strong culture of community.

• Comply with and demonstrate an active commitment to safeguarding policies, procedures and the code of conduct.

• Follow all school policies, procedures and handbooks.

• Take a proactive and professional approach to school life and professional development.

• Maintain professional confidentiality and undertake other reasonable duties.

Person Specification:

• Bachelors Degree in Education / PGCE

• Bachelors Degree in Subject specialism

• Ability to meet requirements for teaching in Dubai

• National Curriculum for England and subject-specific pedagogy

• Ambitious, inclusive and adaptive teaching

• Assessment, curriculum progression and safeguarding

• National Curriculum for England and subject-specific pedagogy

• Ambitious, inclusive and adaptive teaching

• Assessment, curriculum progression and safeguarding

Applications can be submitted via the TES online application form, only fully completed application will be processed. To support your application, please include your current, up-to-date CV.

The school reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, and therefore we would encourage candidates to apply early in the process.

Thank you for your interest in Horizon Town Square School. Due to the large number of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Horizon Town Square School and Cognita are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to detailed and enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks for all countries lived in, qualification checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment in the last 10 years.