English Second in Charge Senior School - August

Job Description

We are looking for an outstanding English Second in Charge – Senior School to join our team at GEMS Wellington, Dubai Hills from January 2027.

Our vision at GEMS Wellington, Dubai Hills is to Empower today, for a limitless tomorrow. We are seeking exceptional educators and aspiring leaders to join our team who can help us achieve this goal through our belief in: Limitless Learning, Limitless Solutions, and Limitless Possibilities.

As a cognitive science driven school, evidence-informed practice is at the heart of what we do, and we seek educators who can passionately articulate what outstanding learning and teaching looks like and translate this into practice in the classroom and across a department. All successful candidates will also share the same core values of Ambition, Responsibility and Courage.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and talented English practitioner to take on a key middle leadership role within our Senior School. Working closely with the Head of English, the successful candidate will support the strategic and operational leadership of the department, helping to ensure consistently high standards of teaching, pupil progress and curriculum delivery across Key Stages 3–5.

The role has a particular focus on curriculum development, assessment, data analysis, intervention and quality assurance, while also supporting the professional development of colleagues and modelling exemplary classroom practice.

Successful candidates will be joining a fully inclusive, high-performing school that is evidenced through:

• GCSE and A-Level results far exceeding UK national averages
• Very Good rating from the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB)
• Outstanding rating from British Schools Overseas (BSO)
• World Class School status from High Performance Learning
• Being an invited member of the Cognitive Science school network
  
  

Through our comprehensive professional learning programme, we ensure our teachers and leaders have access to quality development opportunities that not only help them grow as professionals but also contribute to our outstanding success. StepLab instructional coaching, Cognitive Science Network, Schools Students and Teachers Network (SSAT), the Best Practice Network (BPN) and Evidence Based Education (EBE) are just some of the partners we work with to ensure our staff are comprehensively developed.

Skills Description

• Demonstrate excellent subject knowledge across English Language and English Literature
• Have a strong understanding of curriculum design, assessment and data analysis
• Have a proven ability to model outstanding teaching and learning
• Demonstrate strong organisational and leadership skills
• Be able to coach, support and develop colleagues effectively
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Have a strong understanding of British curriculum expectations and KHDA/BSO standards
• Be committed to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing
• Be able to support the development of an ambitious, well-sequenced English curriculum across Key Stages 3–5
• Use assessment and pupil progress data effectively to identify trends and support appropriate intervention
• Contribute confidently to departmental quality assurance, including lesson observations, learning walks, book scrutiny and data reviews
• Be willing to deputise for the Head of English where appropriate and contribute to wider school improvement priorities
  
  

We are looking for a dynamic leader and effective manager who demonstrates high levels of professional integrity, builds positive relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents, and communicates confidently and sensitively with a range of audiences.

This role provides an excellent opportunity for an ambitious middle leader to develop their strategic leadership experience within a high-performing English department while contributing to outstanding pupil outcomes and curriculum innovation.

All positions attract an excellent remuneration package including: Competitive tax-free salary, individual fully furnished accommodation, free schooling, private medical insurance, annual airfares to country of residence and End of Service Gratuity.

GEMS Teachers also have free access to our loyalty app GEMS Rewards, which provides significant savings on day-to-day life in the UAE. We offer thousands of discounts and 2-for-1 offers across flights, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, helping your salary go further and enhancing the opportunity to save whilst working overseas.

GEMS Safeguarding

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are dedicated to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments where students can thrive, and we expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share this commitment.

As part of our safer recruitment practices, all successful applicants will be subject to comprehensive pre-employment checks, including verification of identity, qualifications, employment history, professional references, and criminal record checks from all countries of residence and employment, in line with local and international safeguarding requirements. These checks may include enhanced disclosure, prohibition, barring, and overseas police clearance checks where applicable. We are committed to recruiting individuals who uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and child protection.