Head of Upper School Recruitment Advertisement
Job Title
Head of Upper School
Reporting Line & Management Scope
Reporting to: Head of School | Dotted Line to: - | Line Managing: Head of Faculty
Key Relationships
SLT (Senior Leadership Team), Parents, Students, Governing Body, Group Education Team
Job Purpose
- Establish, evaluate and develop the Upper School’s academic aims and standards in partnership with students, staff, governors and parents.
- Take full responsibility for the Upper School’s leadership and management, assisting the Head of School in maintaining a vibrant, thriving learning environment.
- Manage the performance of Upper School teaching staff and ensure quality educational programmes in a safe, positive and healthy setting.
- Provide strategic direction to ensure excellence in teaching and learning, pupil wellbeing, development and co-curricular activities.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Management
- Collaborate with the Head, SLT, Governors and Group colleagues to devise and deliver key strategic aims; co-create the Upper School’s strategic vision and plan as part of the overall School Development Plan.
- Lead staff to implement School priorities, ensuring excellence in teaching, learning, curriculum development and pupil wellbeing; provide supportive, challenging leadership to Upper School leaders and teams.
- Lead by example, setting high, realistic professional expectations (dress, behaviour, punctuality, attendance, mutual support) for all staff and students.
- Chair Upper School staff, middle leader and termly Parent Rep meetings (as required); control the Upper School budget and manage staff deployment for the timetable.
Recruitment & Admissions
- Conduct interviews for teaching and educational support staff; assess potential new pupils, design entrance testing methods, interview candidates and provide admission recommendations.
- Support and attend marketing and admissions events to promote the Upper School to all stakeholders.
Academic Excellence
- Oversee Upper School academic standards; maintain an appropriate teaching load and model excellent, engaging lesson delivery.
- Review schemes of work, monitor assessment methods (formative and summative) and track pupil progress; foster a spirit of enquiry and high standards of pupil work.
- Ensure curriculum differentiation, challenge and support; design IGCSE and A-Level options, line manage the University Guidance Counsellor and oversee university applications.
- Compile termly academic standards reports for the Head (including standardised assessment analysis); lead the implementation of an innovative, challenging curriculum that delivers excellent outcomes for all pupils.
- Stay updated on teaching and learning developments; ensure smooth academic progression from Lower to Upper School and formulate initiatives to develop pupils’ key knowledge, skills and competencies.
Staff Development
- Lead the Upper School’s CPD programme, collating and recommending CPD needs based on the School Development Plan and individual teacher requirements.
- Coordinate, manage and review annual Professional Performance Reviews for Upper School teachers with the Head; handle staff disciplinary issues in a timely and effective manner.
Pupil Wellbeing & Pastoral Care
- Lead the Upper School’s Pupil Wellbeing Programme and pupils’ personal development; drive initiatives to uphold Core Values, focusing on pupil wellbeing, happiness and achievement.
- Develop pastoral care policies (aligned with local/international initiatives); coordinate responses to significant pastoral issues and oversee transition programme pastoral elements.
- Prepare termly pupil wellbeing reports for the Head and Governing Body; implement and review the School’s Rewards and Sanctions, Behaviour and Code of Conduct policies with pastoral colleagues.
Safeguarding
- Act as a Deputy DSL and Safeguarding Team member; implement School policies on safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, anti-bullying and behaviour.
- Liaise closely with the DSL and Safeguarding Team on all Upper School child protection and safeguarding matters.
Communication & External Relations
- Maintain effective communications and public relations; build good relationships with parents and visitors, and present Upper School performance accurately to diverse audiences.
- Oversee academic parents’ evenings, pupil progress reporting and report production (with Heads of Department/KS leads and ICT Services).
- Support and attend major school events; maintain an active online presence and build community partnerships, representing the Upper School locally, nationally and internationally.
Other Duties
Undertake other reasonable tasks assigned by the line manager (consistent with the post’s skills and position). This job description may be amended periodically based on operational needs and mutual agreement.
Core Competencies
Leading Culture
- Build a Culture of Excellence: Guide teams toward excellence through organisational understanding and culture-strengthening systems.
- Cultural Awareness: Develop culturally aware teams, address cultural differences and facilitate cross-cultural initiatives.
- Ethical Conduct: Operate with unwavering morality, model values and align actions with departmental and Group objectives.
Leading Organisational Success
- Strategic Planning: Inspire others to embody the vision, foster innovation, balance short-term tasks with long-term goals and mentor transformative strategies.
- Performance Optimisation: Set ambitious goals, drive change, demonstrate strong leadership, delegate effectively, make decisive decisions under pressure and pursue self-improvement.
- Financial & Operational Management: Understand financial drivers, create KPI-aligned cost-effective plans and enhance infrastructure for educational excellence.
- Creativity & Innovation: Champion innovation, foster creative thinking and leverage diverse perspectives to drive progress.
- Decision Making: Analyse data, assess risks, align decisions with objectives/budget, conduct root cause analyses and resolve issues effectively.
Leading People
- Influential Communication: Build trust, tailor messages for diverse audiences, use active listening/persuasion and communicate professionally.
- Team Leadership: Value individuality/innovation, set SMART targets, manage performance, delegate, recognise success and build stakeholder relationships.
- Empowerment & Collaboration: Empower teams through delegation, trust and collaboration; recognise achievements and promote professional growth.
- Resilience: Demonstrate adaptability and leadership during change/uncertainty, ensuring stability and confidence.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
Qualifications
• UK PGCE (or other recognised QTS-permitting teaching qualification) from an accredited institution.
• Acceptable background checks (International Child Protection Certificate and/or relevant police checks) to allow unsupervised access to children.
Knowledge
• Strong understanding of effective secondary-level classroom pedagogy and pastoral care.
• Knowledge of positive student behaviour management and evidence of effective practice across settings.
Experience
• At least 4 years of senior leadership experience.
• Experience in teaching EAL and diverse needs in the Upper School; English teaching experience for Grades 5-10.
• Experience in student university and career planning, staff performance management (especially for senior/middle managers) and stakeholder relationship management.
• Experience or clear understanding of Upper School leadership in an international school environment; knowledge of international accreditation frameworks.
Personal Qualities
- Inspiring leader who role models “Leadership for a better world” and the Staff Code of Conduct.
- Flexible, proactive, ambitious and collaborative, with the ability to manage change and instil high standards.
- High integrity, empathy and humility; genuinely cares about staff and students, with a commitment to supporting their growth.
- Strategic thinker with excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills; able to lead teams to deliver the school development plan effectively.
Salary and Benefits
Pre-tax salary: 32,000-37,000 yuan/month, plus an additional 5,000 yuan allowance, transportation subsidy and insurance.