Founding Head of Prep School

Queen Elizabeth s School, Dubai Sports City

Strategic Leadership

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership to establish the Prep School as a benchmark of excellence, rooted in the values and academic ethos of Queen Elizabeth s School, Barnet.
• Shape and implement an ambitious long-term vision for the Prep phase, ensuring alignment with whole-school strategy and the global standards of the Queen Elizabeth s brand.
• Lead the development of a high-performance culture characterised by innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement in both academic and pastoral domains, underpinned by a rigorous and responsive school improvement planning cycle.
• Ensure full compliance with KHDA regulations and support the school s alignment with the standards required for BSO (British Schools Overseas) accreditation.
• Serve as a strategic partner in the school s founding leadership team, contributing to whole-school decision-making and representing the Prep School with distinction to internal and external stakeholders.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Attract, recruit, and retain outstanding educators with the passion, expertise, and ambition to deliver a world-class British prep education as well as the ambitious UAE statutory requirements for Islamic Education, Arabic, and Social Studies.
• Inspire and develop a high-performing teaching team through strategic mentoring, clear goal setting, and a culture of continuous reflection and professional growth.
• Implement a robust and developmental performance management framework, including regular lesson observations, coaching conversations, and evidence_x0002_informed feedback.
• Design and lead a professional development programme that reflects the latest in pedagogical research, curriculum innovation, and leadership progression.
• Model exemplary leadership by cultivating a collaborative, respectful, and intellectually curious staff culture grounded in trust, shared values, and a commitment to excellence.

Pastoral Care & Student Well-Being

• Create and sustain a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child feels known, valued, and empowered to flourish both academically and personally.
• Champion a whole-school approach to wellbeing, working collaboratively with staff, parents, and specialist teams to support students emotional, social, and behavioural development.
• Ensure the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection, embedding a culture of vigilance, accountability, and care in line with UAE, UK, KHDA and BSO requirements.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with families, serving as a visible and approachable presence and as a key liaison in matters relating to student welfare, behaviour, and pastoral support.
• Embed the school s commitment to developing confident, able, and responsible young people, ensuring that wellbeing and character development are integral to the Prep School experience.

School Operations & Administration

• Lead the strategic and day-to-day operations of the Prep School with efficiency, foresight, and attention to detail ensuring a seamless learning environment where academic and pastoral priorities can thrive.
• Oversee timetabling, staffing, and resource allocation to maximise learning time, support teacher effectiveness, and optimise student experience.
• Collaborate with admissions and marketing teams to position the Prep School as a first-choice destination for ambitious families, ensuring enrolment targets are met with students aligned to the school s ethos.
• Monitor and analyse assessment data to inform teaching, improve outcomes, and embed a culture of evidence-base decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Uphold the highest standards of health, safety, disipline and safeguarding, ensuring full compliance with KHDA, MoE, BSO, and internal policies - and modelling a proactive approach to risk management and student welfare.

Other

• Promote and respect the heritage, traditions, and values of Emirati culture, fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the national identity and cultural expectations of the UAE.
• Engage actively in professional learning and development to remain at the forefront of educational leadership and best practice.
• Attend and contribute meaningfully to leadership, staff, and governance meetings as required.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of, and full compliance with, all school policies and procedures, and contribute to their ongoing review and development.
• Undertake any additional duties that may be reasonably assigned by the Principal or Senior Leadership Team, in support of the school s strategic priorities.
• This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder may be required to undertake additional responsibilities in line with the evolving needs of a growing, world-class school.