Head of Arabic & Islamic - Sept 2025
Job Description
We are looking for an outstanding Head of Arabic and Islamic to join our team at GEMS Wellington Academy, Silicon Oasis from September 2025.
At GEMS Wellington Silicon Oasis (WSO), we are not just a school; we are a thriving community that lives and breathes our core values every day. We are
Unified,
Aspirational, and uphold the highest standards of
Integrity. We are looking for Primary educators who embody these values to join our dynamic team.
We are a fully inclusive, high-performing school that places a strong emphasis on the wellbeing of both staff and students. Our success is reflected in our performance in rigorous inspection and accreditation frameworks, and we take great pride in our achievements.
Our Mission and Vision:
Our mission is to develop students who are
"World Class and World Ready". We aim to prepare our students not only for exams but for life beyond the classroom, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our vision is to empower every student to pursue their own pathways and opportunities within our diverse environment.
Recognition and Accolades:
We are proud to be recognised by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a school that upholds the highest standards of education. Among our many accolades, our Foundation Stage has earned an
'Outstanding' rating for over a decade, setting the tone for exceptional early education. This excellence extends throughout our Primary School, which has also been rated
‘Outstanding’ by British Schools Overseas. As a
High Performance Learning (HPL) School, we are thrilled to hold the status of a
'World Class School', where innovative teaching methods and personalised learning pathways are the norm.
Our Teaching DNA:
At GEMS WSO, our teaching philosophy is built on the core principles we believe are essential for educators working with our wonderful students. These principles form the foundation of everything we do in the classroom:
Building positive relationships with students
Adapting learning to meet the needs of all learners Bringing
creativity and fun into lessons Strong, evidence-based
teaching pedagogy
Join a Team Committed to Excellence:
If you are an educator who thrives on working with extraordinary students and is fully invested in nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators, we invite you to join us at GEMS Wellington Silicon Oasis.
Skills
Job Purpose: We are currently recruiting for a Director of Arabic and Islamic to lead and develop high standards of pedagogy and practice across all departments. The successful candidate will support Subject Leaders in decision-making for curriculum, assessment, and resource development, and will lead intervention and development plans for individual teachers as required.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide leadership and guidance to Arabic and Islamic teachers and curriculum support staff, ensuring high standards of teaching, learning, and the integration of educational technology across all phases. Monitor the effectiveness of the Arabic and Islamic teaching programmes, ensuring they are innovative and deliver the appropriate standards, key concepts, and knowledge. Set and deliver targets for improvement for students, ensuring staff are fully conversant in the effective use of data to raise attainment and accelerate progress. Analyse department data with the team to identify students at risk of underachieving and target intervention effectively to ensure success. Identify the training needs for all staff within the team, devise appropriate professional development opportunities, and share best practices. Lead the Performance Management process for the team, identifying areas for improvement and producing appropriate staff development plans where necessary. Promote the subject area through Open Days, Options Evenings, and develop opportunities to raise the profile of Arabic throughout the year.
Person Specification:
Qualified Teacher Status Honors degree and/or post-graduate qualification Evidence of ongoing personal professional development as both a teacher and/or leader At least 2 years’ experience of middle/senior leadership with Arabic and Islamic Experience in teaching and leading across at least two phases A successful track record of planning, implementing, and managing change Experience in working in an International setting, with thorough knowledge and understanding of the DSIB inspection framework and UAE National Agenda A clear drive and motivation for all students to achieve and exceed their potential
We reserve the right to make appointments before the closing date of this advertisement, therefore early applications are recommended.
Join us in shaping the future of education. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our students and help them become truly world-class and world-ready individuals.
About Your Benefits
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 on everything from flights, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets, making your salary go further and enhancing the opportunity to save whilst working overseas.
About GEMS
Trusted for over 60 years and now a third generation education family, GEMS Education began in a single school room in Dubai. Today, we have the privilege of educating over 170,000 students from over 176 countries through GEMS owned and managed schools globally; over 270,000 students access resources through our services division.
Job Location Dubai, UAE Company Industry Education Job Role Education
GEMS WELLINGTON ACADEMY - SILICON OASIS
Education Dubai, United Arab Emirates GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis is committed to personalised learning; every child’s journey is different - from the moment a child steps into our school until the day they graduate. Our school provides a progression from the Early Years Nursery into the Foundation Stage, through to an enriched and developed Primary and Secondary National Curriculum for England offering. Our studen... ts leave WSO with the widest range of qualification pathways in the UAE and a remarkable 97% of our graduates are currently pursuing higher education at globally renowned universities. The Foundation Stage at Wellington Academy has been rated Outstanding by the KHDA for ten consecutive years providing an engaging, supportive and empowering environment for our youngest students. GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis has an award-winning Physical Education department boasting an extensive range of sports facilities and opportunities taught by specialist teachers before, during and after school, including Football, Rugby, Tennis, Basketball, Cricket, Netball, Rounders and Swimming. GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis is the Centre of Excellence for Performance and Theatre Tech is a beacon of excellence internationally – partnered with both UDO, URDANG International and West End Stage London. WSO is a pioneering school in the UAE, setting the benchmark for educational diversity. We proudly offer the widest range of post-16 pathways in the country, providing students with unparalleled choices for their academic journey. With six pathways, these options include four ‘traditional’ pathways, featuring IB Diploma Programme, IB Career-Related Programme, BTEC, and A-Levels. Our fifth pathway enables students to customise their e
