Head of Primary - UAE School

International Schools Partnership Limited

Purpose of Role

The Head of Primary is a senior leader and visible role model for staff, students and parents. They are responsible for the strategic, academic, operational, and pastoral leadership of the Primary School, ensuring exceptional standards of teaching, learning, safety, and student experience. The Head of Primary contributes to the wider vision and ethos of the school and works collaboratively with the Principal and Head of Secondary to ensure cohesive whole-school improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership of Learning and Teaching

The Head of Primary will:

Lead a culture of high-quality teaching and learning grounded in evidence-informed practice.

Directly line manage middle leaders, holding them firmly accountable for curriculum quality, assessment practice, and student outcomes.

Ensure all Primary curriculum documentation is aligned, coherent, progressive, and compliant with school, ISP and KHDA expectations.

Monitor standards rigorously through learning visits, work scrutiny, data reviews, student voice, and teacher appraisal.

Lead strategic interventions to raise attainment and progress for all groups of learners, including EAL, SEND, and higher attainers.

Ensure an engaging, inclusive, and well-sequenced curriculum that reflects the school s values, and National Curriculum for England expectations.

2. Safeguarding and Child Protection

The Head of Primary will:

Promote a culture where safeguarding, wellbeing, and student safety are prioritised above all else.

Act as a key safeguarding leader within the Primary School, following up all concerns in line with statutory and school policies.

Ensure all staff receive regular training and follow safeguarding procedures with rigour.

Oversee all health and safety aspects in the Primary School, including supervision, risk assessments, school trips, fire drills, and lockdown procedures.

Ensure all visitors and contractors adhere to safeguarding expectations.

3. Professional Development and Staff Performance

The Head of Primary will:

Lead a robust performance management cycle that drives improvement and aligns to school priorities.

Oversee a high-quality programme of professional development internal, ISP-led, and external aligned to teacher needs and whole-school goals.

Ensure effective induction of new teachers, ECTs, LSAs, and pastoral staff.

Identify talent, develop future leaders, and promote a culture of professional growth.

Address underperformance swiftly, fairly, and supportively.

4. Reporting, Assessment and Data

The Head of Primary will:

Lead internal and external assessment processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and integrity of data.

Oversee the analysis of attainment and progress to inform interventions and improvement planning.

Ensure high-quality written reports are produced according to the assessment calendar.

Monitor teachers use of assessment for learning to ensure responsive and adaptive teaching.

Communicate outcomes clearly to parents and the Principal.

5. Daily Operations and School Organisation

The Head of Primary will:

Produce the Primary School timetable, ensuring appropriate coverage of specialist subjects and provision of non-contact time.

Ensure efficient daily operations including staff duty rotas, cover, parent communication systems, and student supervision.

Oversee the admission, placement, and transition of new students into the Primary School.

Ensure high-quality provision of resources, learning environments, and educational technology.

Lead Primary assemblies, events, and celebrations of learning.

Maintain a visible and supportive presence across the school throughout the working day.

6. Student Support and Pastoral Care

The Head of Primary will:

Ensure that all students receive high-quality pastoral care aligned with school policy.

Oversee behaviour systems, restorative approaches, and positive reinforcement practices.

Lead student profiling systems and intervention tracking for vulnerable learners.

Monitor support programmes for students with SEND and EAL needs, working closely with Inclusion teams.

Ensure consistently high standards during student performances, trips, competitions, and external events.

7. Working with Parents and Community Engagement

The Head of Primary will:

Promote a warm, transparent, and highly responsive relationship with the parent community.

Lead the organisation and delivery of parent-teacher conferences and curriculum information sessions.

Monitor and quality-assure teacher communication with parents.

Work with the Marketing and Admissions teams to support enrolments, retention, school reputation, and community events.

Build links with external organisations, local community partners, and other ISP schools.