Assistant Head - Pastoral

Overview:

Al Rabeeh School is seeking an experienced, passionate, and highly motivated Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) to join our dynamic, high-performing Senior Leadership Team from Aug 2026.

As Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) in an international British curriculum school, you will play a key role in leading and developing the school's pastoral provision, safeguarding culture, behaviour systems, attendance, wellbeing, personal development programmes, and House System. You will work collaboratively with students, staff, parents, and leaders to ensure every child is known, valued, supported, and challenged to achieve their full potential. The successful candidate will provide strategic oversight of student wellbeing and school culture, fostering an environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

About Al Rabeeh School:

Al Rabeeh School is a very well-established, innovative, and highly respected British Curriculum school in Abu Dhabi, an Outstanding British Curriculum School (BSO), and rated Very Good in the 2024/2025 ADEK inspection. With 45 years of excellence, the school has built an inspiring culture where staff and students truly flourish, a community where staff and students are happy, engaged, and thriving. Well known across the city, the school is full every year with a long waiting list, reflecting our strong reputation and high levels of parental trust.

With a strong focus on AI-driven learning, exceptional pastoral care, and our core values of Aspire, Acquire, and Achieve, these values shape everything we do, inspiring our students to aim high, acquire knowledge and skills with purpose, and achieve their full potential in a caring, inclusive environment.

The Al Rabeeh name has been synonymous with high-quality education. As proud members of British Schools in the Middle East (BSME), our students and staff benefit from inter-school competitions, tournaments, and a wide range of high-quality professional development opportunities within a strong regional community. Al Rabeeh School is committed to growing leaders from within and is proud of its inclusive environment, where it has over 50 different nationalities across the school. Al Rabeeh School continues to strengthen its reputation as a school of choice for families seeking a balanced, values-driven, and high-quality education.

Al Rabeeh School offers the English National Curriculum alongside Arabic from FS1 to Year 7. We are seeking a leader who is not only highly skilled and experienced but who also brings the right mindset, energy, and commitment to making a genuine difference. We want a leader who embodies our values, strengthens the culture around them, supports staff development, and ensures that student wellbeing remains at the heart of school life.

What we're looking for :

We are seeking an Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) who can:

• Lead and further develop the school's pastoral care, behaviour, attendance, safeguarding, and wellbeing provision.

• Promote a positive, inclusive, and values-driven culture that enables all students to thrive.

• Lead and further develop a vibrant House System that strengthens student voice, leadership opportunities, teamwork, wellbeing, school spirit, and a strong sense of belonging across the school.

• Work closely with staff to ensure high standards of behaviour, personal development, and student support across the school.

• Analyse pastoral and attendance data to identify trends and implement effective interventions.

• Lead safeguarding practices and ensure compliance with school policies and regulatory requirements.

• Support and coach staff in effective behaviour management and pastoral strategies.

• Build strong relationships with parents and the wider school community.

• Contribute strategically to whole-school improvement planning as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

• Champion student voice, wellbeing, inclusion, and personal development initiatives.

Qualifications and requirements:

Applicants must:

• Be a fluent English speaker.

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Education or a relevant subject together with PGCE, QTS, NPQ, or equivalent leadership qualification.

• Have successful leadership experience within a school setting.

• Demonstrate a strong track record in pastoral leadership, student wellbeing, behaviour management, safeguarding, and inclusion.

• Have experience leading whole-school initiatives and driving measurable improvement.

• Possess excellent communication, interpersonal, leadership, and organisational skills.

• Have experience within a British Curriculum school; international school experience is highly desirable.

Why Join Us?

We offer an attractive package, including:

• Competitive, tax-free salary

• Furnished accommodation

• Annual return air ticket/allowance

• Comprehensive medical insurance and life insurance

• End-of-service gratuity

• Visa arranged by the school

How to apply:

Complete the application form on the website via the Quick Apply button. Submit:

• CV (maximum 2 pages)

• A recent professional picture inserted in the right-hand corner of the CV

• A scanned degree certificate

Important Notes:

The school reserves the right to begin recruitment before the closing date, so early applications are encouraged.

Interviews will be conducted in Abu Dhabi or online with the Executive Principal, Mr. Riaan Huyser.

Safeguarding Statement:

Al Rabeeh School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to robust safer recruitment checks, including identity verification, references, criminal background checks, and child protection screening in line with school and regulatory requirements.

Join us:

For more information about Al Rabeeh School and to confirm your choice of joining our vibrant, family-oriented community, please visit: