Primary Principal
Job Description
GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail is seeking an outstanding Primary Principal to lead our primary school from August 2025.
Building on the considerable success already achieved by the primary school, we seek a dynamic and inspirational leader who understands what it means to drive school improvement through being evidence-informed and research driven.
Steered by our vision of ‘empowering today for a limitless tomorrow’, our new Primary Principal will be able to contribute to, and build on, our three strategic pillars:
Limitless Learning: Harnessing cognitive science research and evidence-based approaches to teaching, limitless learning empowers students to thrive through a strong focus on knowledge acquisition, metacognition, and well-being. Limitless Solutions: Cultivating leadership and collaboration, limitless solutions empowers students to improve their communities and the world around them through an emphasis on empathy, innovation, and finding answers to real world problems. Limitless Possibilities: Seizing on the diverse pathways and opportunities available, limitless possibilities empowers students to exceed their potential through enabling self-regulation, agency, and reflexivity.
Opened in September 2013, GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail is an international world class school where all students excel and make significant progress well beyond age-related expectations. We deliver programmes for learning that are rooted in the National Curriculum for England but enhanced by best practice globally so that students achieve the best possible academic and social outcomes.
We are a fully inclusive school with 106 nationalities represented in our student body. The diversity of our school is one of our greatest strengths and our students learn to truly understand what it means to participate and thrive in an exciting, multi-cultural environment. With access to outstanding facilities, our students also can excel in whatever their chosen passion is.
Responsibilities:
Full operational, financial, and educational oversight of the primary school. Contributing to the strategic direction of the academy. Providing inspiring, empathetic leadership. Maintaining the highest standards of student achievement and student behaviour to ensure exceptional outcomes for all. Ensuring robust quality assurance procedures are in place for all performance areas of the primary school. Using rigorous, data-informed self-evaluation and self-reflection processes for continuous school improvement. Promoting the school to ensure its significant achievements are recognised both locally and internationally. Ensuring the highest quality of professional learning is in place for all staff and has impact on school improvement and student outcomes. Developing a culture of high challenge and high support where all staff and students feel empowered to thrive and succeed. Embedding, and building on, the evidence-informed and research driven approach already established.
Closing date for applications is 26th March 2025
Skills
Qualifications and Experience: QTS (or equivalent), bachelor’s degree, PGCE (or equivalent), and a proven record of outstanding teaching. A Master’s in Education (leadership) and/or NPQH preferred but not essential. Significant experience in a leadership role within a primary school. Evidence of ongoing professional learning in education, teaching and learning, and leadership. A demonstrable track record in sustained school improvement and raising standards. An in-depth knowledge of the National Curriculum for England and its implementation. Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships whilst developing a high challenge high support environment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with a diverse school community and establish strong partnerships. Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and embrace innovative educational practices.
As a GEMS school, Wellington Academy Al Khail is committed to the highest standards of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All staff are expected to share this commitment. An offer of employment will be subject to rigorous safeguarding checks.
GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.
Job Location UAE Company Industry Primary/Secondary Education Job Role Manager
GEMS WELLINGTON ACADEMY - AL KHAIL
Education Dubai, United Arab Emirates At GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail, we want to ensure that our students aspire, create, and excel in this world that is, so they can help create the world that will be. We are seeking exceptional teachers to join our team who can help us achieve this goal through our three pillars of: the science of learning, social enterprise, and student agency and innovation. 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. 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 • A member of the Council of British International Schools Through our comprehensive professional learning programme, we ensure our teachers have access to quality development opportunities that not only help them develop as professionals but also contribute to our outstanding success. Steplab instructional coaching, 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 teachers are comprehensively developed.
