Director of Expressive Arts- August 2026

Harrow International School - Dubai

The Director of Expressive Arts will provide inspirational leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for the School s Expressive Arts faculty, ensuring the highest standards of teaching, learning, and curriculum development. The post holder will foster a dynamic and inclusive culture of creativity and performance that reflects Harrow s values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship. By setting ambitious aspirations for students and staff alike, the Director will build a thriving community that nurtures talent, celebrates achievement, and sustains outstanding academic and artistic standards across the faculty. The Director of Expressive Arts will be responsible for the following: Music, Drama, Dance, Visual Arts, and related disciplines.

Qualifications and Experience

• A postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional recognition in the arts or education.
  
• A proven track record of leadership within at least one expressive arts discipline (Music, Drama, Dance, Visual Arts, or related discipline).
  
• A proven record of success within their artistic discipline for example, having directed or produced major productions, curated exhibitions, or delivered high-profile performances across a range of settings.

Essential

• Outstanding knowledge of teaching and learning within each key stage including in-depth knowledge of the Harrow Curriculum.
  
• Experience of working in a high-achieving independent or international school.
  
• Experience across more than one expressive arts discipline.
  
• Connections within professional arts networks.
  
• Strategic vision with the ability to inspire staff, pupils, and stakeholders.
  
• Excellent communication, organisation, and interpersonal skills
  
• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusivity, and the wider ethos of Harrow School.

Leadership and Personal Qualities

• Inspirational leadership with the ability to articulate and deliver a strategic vision.
  
• A genuine love of working with young people and commitment to their holistic development.
  
• Solutions-focused, with the highest levels of professionalism.
  
• Collaborative, resilient and innovative in approach.
  
• Willingness to embrace Harrow s broad environment and approach to all-round education.

School Values and Behaviours

All staff are expected to conduct themselves in line with the school s values which are: Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship. While the School s values set out what matters most to us, the behaviours below are intended as a shared set of expectations to refer to, and standards to aspire to, in our dealings with others. They are the practical application of our values.

COURAGE

• We remain optimistic and purposeful in a disrupted world.
• We take responsibility for our decisions, even the hard ones.
  
• We always challenge poor behaviour in ourselves and others.
  
• We are open to new ideas, and seek fresh challenges.

HONOUR

• We keep our promises.
  
• We act with integrity doing the right thing, even when it is difficult or when no one is watching.
  
• We respect and value our traditions whilst setting them in the context of today.

HUMILITY

• We work hard to serve others within the School and across our wider communities where possible putting their interests before our own.
  
• We give and seek honest and appropriate feedback, reflect on our failures and learn from them.
  
• We support each other through challenges and whatever the outcome, we celebrate those that took part.
  

FELLOWSHIP

• We respect each other and value our differences, knowing that we are more effective and more resilient working together.
  
• We are kind and inclusive; we value the contribution that each of us makes.
  
• We role model the behaviours that we would like to see in others; we ask only of others what we would be prepared to do ourselves.