Head - Physical Education (Secondary)- Yasmina British Academy- January 2027 Start

Role Overview

Head of Physical Education (Secondary) at Yasmina British Academy, an outstanding English Curriculum school in Abu Dhabi. Start date: January 2027. Employer: ALDAR EDUCATION.

Company Overview

Yasmina British Academy is an outstanding English Curriculum school in Abu Dhabi with a globally recognised curriculum, dedicated practitioners, and outstanding teaching and learning. The Academy produces some of the very best IGCSE and A Level results in the UAE annually. The learning culture is underpinned by core values of excellence, respect, passion, collaboration and creativity, allowing all students to thrive. The Academy received an 'Outstanding' rating in all six performance standards in its recent ADEK inspection, placing it amongst the top schools in the UAE and Middle East.

Role Purpose

To lead the strategic direction and development of the Physical Education department, ensuring outstanding teaching and learning, high student achievement, and the promotion of Physical Education across the Academy. The successful candidate will be closely aligned with the Academy's core values and ethos and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Department Development

• Lead strategic direction and development of the department, including setting the vision, analysing data, improvement planning, target setting and ongoing self-evaluation.
• Assist the Academy in achieving its overall vision and strategic intentions and contribute to the achievement of relevant targets as set out in the Academy's improvement plan and self-evaluation form.
• In collaboration with the SLT, ensure departmental systems and practices support whole Academy policies and the commitment to achieving outstanding.
• Analysing and interpreting relevant school data to inform policies and department and school SEF writing.

Teaching and Learning Excellence

• Further develop an outstanding teaching and learning culture ensuring outstanding achievement for all.
• Develop policies and practices leading to high quality outcomes for all students at all Key Stages within the department.
• Ensure that all practices promote student progression; improved achievements; a positive ethos and the commitment of staff to shared goals.
• Lead curriculum development and resourcing.
• Ensure that appropriate and relevant schemes of work are developed, in place, and regularly reviewed and evaluated for all year groups and courses, including suitable provision for SEN/POD, G&T, and EAL students.
• Ensure that students are prepared effectively for examinations and other assessments.
• Organise and ensure effective assessments, moderation, collation and analysis of data in line with the MER calendar and quality assurance procedures.

Staff Leadership and Performance Management

• Lead and manage staff, including overseeing staffing, recruitment, performance appraisal and professional development.
• Empower and provide strategic direction to the discreet Heads of Subjects where applicable.
• Lead the discreet Heads of Subject where applicable.
• Set clear expectations and establish constructive working relationships with colleagues at all levels within the Department.
• Develop responsibilities and delegate tasks appropriately.
• Lead the Professional Development of identified staff to enable all members to achieve expertise in Learning and Teaching.
• Foster a sense of 'people' and 'team spirit' through a culture of high reward and praise.
• Comply with the Academy's Performance Management Policy ensuring challenging annual targets are set and fulfil the role of performance management reviewer if directed to do so by the Principal.
• Identify through Performance Management individual training needs and ensure that those needs are met.

Student Progress Monitoring and Support

• Monitor and review students' progress through the use of appropriate data; home learning; student voice; lesson observations; student work reviews and parental engagement.
• Monitor student progress and achievement against targets, identifying students who are underachieving and where necessary create and implement effective plans of action to support those students.
• Involve external advice and expertise where this would further benefit and enhance the learning agenda and therefore student progress, achievement and standards.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Communicate effectively and proactively with all stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate with parents through all communication channels and ensure high quality communication from all members of the department including reports, PTCs, emails and letters.
• Take part in marketing and liaison activities such as Open evenings and afternoons, Parent Teacher Consultations, and events with partner Academies.
• Lead on the marketing of the department to promote the school, raise the profile of the subject and increase student numbers.
• Share responsibility for representing the Department at cross-curricular committees, for example EAL link.

Student Engagement and Extracurricular Activities

• Organise key events and extra-curricular activities that promote and further develop and engage student interest in the subject.

General Responsibilities

• Comply with regulations pertaining to health and safety at work legislation and adhere to Academy policies relating to safe working practice and equal opportunities regulations.
• Engage in annual training linked to child protection, safeguarding and health and safety together with all training deemed appropriate for the purpose of Academy improvement or performance management.
• Comply with the Academy's staff dress code at all times including the wearing of photo ID and lanyard.
• Comply with the Academy's computer Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at all times.
• Attend all staff briefings.
• Sign out and sign in at relevant Academy reception if off site at any point during the normal working day.
• Be an Academic Mentor or form tutor.
• Undertake duties as part of the staff duty rota.
• Cover for absent colleagues.
• Invigilate examinations as required.
• Other duties which may be reasonably assigned by the Principal or Head of School.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in the related subject with PGCE or other teacher qualification.
• Minimum of 6 years leading of the English National Curriculum with GCSE and A Level experience.
• BTEC Sport Level 2 and 3 experience.
• Previous experience working with students for whom English is not their first language.

Skills & Competencies

• Passion for teaching and commitment to educating the whole child.
• A high level of professionalism and consideration of the well-being of children.
• Recent and consistent involvement in extracurricular activities.

Additional Information

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.