Assistant Head of Secondary (50% Teaching)

Role Overview

Assistant Head of Secondary (50% Teaching) at International Schools Partnership. This is a leadership and teaching role within the High School, combining 50% classroom teaching with 50% non-teaching leadership and management responsibilities.

Company Overview

International Schools Partnership (ISP) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. ISP operates according to five core principles: beginning with children and students at the heart of all decisions; treating everyone with care and respect; operating effectively by focusing on what matters most; making financially responsible choices based on student and school needs; and learning continuously to drive improvement. ISP is committed to strengthening an inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics.

Role Purpose

Lead the daily operational management and strategic direction of the High School while maintaining a 50% teaching commitment. Ensure the High School embodies the school's mission, vision, and values, delivering outstanding teaching, learning, and student outcomes. Provide professional leadership across curriculum, staff, students, and parent engagement to support college readiness and graduation success.

Key Responsibilities

Operations

• Lead the daily operational management of the High School, ensuring smooth and efficient systems and routines.
• Ensure the High School embodies the school's mission, vision, and values.
• Provide strategic leadership to secure outstanding teaching, learning, and student outcomes.
• Support cover arrangements for absent staff.
• Model excellent classroom practice.
• Stay informed of international school trends, Diploma model developments, and research-based pedagogy.
• Contribute to whole-school strategic planning, policy development and improvement planning.

Academic Progress and Monitoring

• Lead academic progress monitoring including implementation of support following GPA tracking.
• Monitor credit accumulation and graduation requirements.
• Manage transcript administration.
• Oversee continuous assessment systems.
• Lead regular reviews of courses, credits, instructional delivery, and assessment practice.
• Oversee academic reporting, including standards-based grading, GPA calculations, transcript accuracy, and college-ready documentation.
• Oversee student progress toward graduation, including credit audits, academic interventions, individual learning plans, and academic probation processes where appropriate.

Curriculum and Diploma Framework

• Oversee the implementation of the High School Diploma framework, ensuring compliance with MOEHE requirements.
• Support the IBDP coordinator in the IBDP programme administration.
• Support the construction of the Secondary timetable to ensure balanced teaching loads and equitable access to Diploma courses.
• Maintain an up-to-date overview of the High School Diploma curriculum, including elective programmes, graduation pathways, and academic expectations.
• Oversee the High School Diploma curriculum including core subjects, electives, advisory, and graduation pathways.
• Advise on curriculum mapping across Grades 9–12 to ensure continuity, progression, and readiness for college.
• Ensure alignment between credit-bearing courses and graduation requirements.
• Lead student options and course selection processes.
• Support integration of college and career readiness standards, including SAT preparation.

Accreditation and Compliance

• Ensure all regulations related to the High School Diploma, school accreditation, and MOEHE standards are fully met.
• Support whole-school accreditation processes with responsibility for the High School component.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Support the effective orientation and induction of High School teachers.
• Provide coaching, guidance and professional support for High School staff.
• Offer timely advice to the Head of Secondary regarding staffing, deployment and recruitment needs.
• Ensure staff have access to relevant, high-quality professional development.
• Promote a professional learning culture while supporting staff wellbeing.
• Communicate effectively with High School staff through notices, briefings and ongoing updates.
• Ensure the Head of Secondary is kept well informed about High School operations, concerns and achievements.
• Support staff in their communication with parents and guardians.
• Line manage Subject Leaders and Grade Leaders and the school Academic Counsellor as assigned.

Student Outcomes and Wellbeing

• Ensure High School students receive exceptional learning and growth opportunities.
• Oversee High School admissions processes with the Admissions Team, including transcript evaluation and placement decisions.
• Ensure accuracy of high school students' timetables.
• Build strong, respectful relationships with students.
• Maintain high standards for student conduct, attendance, punctuality and academic honesty.
• Support student wellbeing and pastoral care in High School.
• Ensure the health and safety of all High School students, staff and visitors.

Safeguarding

• Carry out the DDSL role (Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead) within the Secondary School.
• Promote a strong safety culture across the High School.
• Ensure students understand expectations for safe conduct across academic and co-curricular programmes.
• Enforce compliance with school health, safety and safeguarding policies.
• Protect students, staff, equipment and facilities through consistent supervision and awareness.
• Support risk management and adherence to safety protocols across all High School learning environments.

Communication and Community

• Lead communication with parents regarding High School pathways, credits, academic progress, and college preparation.
• Support the school's wider profile within the local and international community.
• Encourage meaningful parent engagement through information evenings, college preparation sessions, and parent meetings.
• Maintain an approachable, professional and visible presence for students and parents.
• Ensure high-quality standards for all academic reports, transcripts and formal communication.

General

• Perform any other duties that the Principal may from time to time ask the post-holder to perform.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and teaching qualification from an accredited institution.
• Required MOEHE teaching certification.
• Minimum 2 years leadership experience.
• Completion of all mandatory safeguarding and child protection training.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep understanding of the High School Diploma framework, credit systems, and graduation pathways.
• Knowledge of transcript-based reporting, GPA systems, credit recovery, and academic counselling.
• Up-to-date awareness of international curriculum trends and college admissions expectations.
• Understanding of effective pedagogy and strategies to meet diverse student needs.
• Understanding of IBDP awarding criteria.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for multiple audiences.
• High level of ICT competency, including SIS use (for example, iSAMS).
• Proven leadership, organisational and management skills.
• Passionate about student achievement and high-quality education.
• Able to inspire confidence in staff, students and parents.
• Highly organised with the ability to meet deadlines reliably.
• Motivated by school improvement and innovation.
• Detail-oriented, dependable and committed to excellence.
• Flexible, open to change and innovative in approach.
• Collaborative and effective in building strong professional relationships.
• Consistently punctual, professional and reliable.

Additional Information

All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years' employment history.