Secondary Assistant Headteacher – Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Secondary Assistant Headteacher – Teaching, Learning and Assessment - Aug 2025

Job Description

Wellington School is one of the leading British curriculum schools in Qatar and part of the Premium GEMS Wellington brand. We firmly believe, as a truly inclusive school, that every child can achieve, reinforced by our commitment to the High-Performance Learning philosophy (HPL). As a community, we have very high expectations for all with a clear emphasis on personal values, proactive attitudes and positive behaviours. We believe in excellence in all we do.

The Role:

The Assistant Headteacher for Teaching, Learning and Assessment (Secondary) will be an integral member of the whole school Senior Leadership Team and will be responsible for supporting the Head of Secondary in the leadership, management and continued development of the secondary school through the duties and responsibilities detailed below. They will also be expected to undertake a reduced teaching commitment (Max 40%), following all the professional duties of a teacher, in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in relevant GEMS policies and under the reasonable direction of the Principal.

In fulfilment of all responsibilities and duties, the Assistant Headteacher should show a commitment to the ethos, aims and policies of the whole school, and strive to maintain these through personal conduct and effective relationships with colleagues, students and families.

Key Responsibilities:

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

1. Inspire, drive and provide purposeful leadership of Teaching, Learning and Assessment across the Secondary School.
2. Work as part of the Senior Leadership Team to develop and maintain the ethos of the whole school.
3. Continue to drive High Performance Learning in the classroom, in conjunction with the Assistant Headteacher (Primary) and Senior Leadership Team.
4. Work to ensure the development of Teaching, Learning and Assessment remains research driven and outward facing, making effective use of expertise within the wider Wellington cluster and GEMS network.
5. Undertake a teaching commitment as directed by the Principal (Max 40%).
6. Lead, train and empower staff to develop effective, high-quality teaching, learning and assessment practices.
7. Raise the standard of and be able to consistently model Quality First Teaching across the school.
8. Mentor teachers who require additional support to consistently meet the expectations of a GEMS teacher.
9. Assist the Leadership Team in developing, implementing and monitoring the School Improvement Plan.
10. Support Subject Leaders to design effective action plans for teaching and learning development based on monitoring findings and data analysis.
11. Oversee all internal assessment processes across the Secondary Phase of the School, ensuring accurate assessments are in place which align to the content and demands of the curriculum.
12. Promote and support the culture of data analysis following each data collection (DC).
13. Ensure there is consistent application of the school's policies and procedures in conjunction with the SLT.
14. Liaise with the CPLD leader to ensure the Secondary development opportunities and PD sessions are personalised and sharply focused on identified individual and group needs.
15. Be involved in the organisation, planning and delivery of assemblies as and when necessary.
16. Support and guide where necessary, subject leaders in resourcing their curriculum areas, ensuring they are appropriate and maintained to a level that will support high-quality T and L.

Leadership and Management

1. Support the Principal in fostering a strong sense of community and ethos among staff, students and parents, creating a positive and healthy working / learning environment.
2. To fully support whole school aims and objectives and policy decisions, contribute to their establishment and initiation and sustain their implementation and review.
3. Lead the strategic development and further implementation of the Development Drop-In Cycle (DDI).
4. Lead on particular aspects of the School Improvement initiatives - to be agreed with the successful candidate.
5. Line management of specific secondary subject leaders.
6. Support the induction of new teachers in the Secondary School and provide appropriate professional development regarding teaching and learning expectations and HPL philosophy.
7. Support the Senior Leadership Team in maintaining high standards of behaviour in the classroom and around the school, with due regard to the school's policies on behaviour, anti-bullying and overall pastoral care.
8. Act as a role model to staff and students; demonstrating outstanding communication skills with parents and other stakeholders.
9. Liaise closely with the Inclusion department (Thrive) to ensure targeted support requirements are effectively identified and provided for.
10. Support the Leadership Team in ensuring Safeguarding is of the highest priority and that practice is aligned in accordance with the school's relevant Policy and Procedures.
11. Be a Performance Development appraiser and contribute to the ongoing development of PD policy / practice.
12. Attend and fully support all relevant school events and be an active promoter of the school.

Parents

1. Work in close partnership with parents in order to build positive and effective relationships.
2. Ensure that communication is transparent, consistent and regular including updates on the development of teaching, learning and assessment across the Secondary School.
3. Organise and lead Parent Workshops as and when necessary, throughout the year to ensure parents are fully cognisant of the T and L approaches used by the school and understand the HPL philosophy.

Essential Personal Qualities

1. To possess a real passion for education whereby you constantly stay abreast of international best practice to inform further developments in the school and your own work.
2. The ability to promote excellent teamwork and collaboration; develop highly effective working relationships; provide guidance, support and motivation.
3. To create a climate which enables other staff to develop and maintain positive attitudes towards their teaching and self-improvement, within a culture of excellence.
4. Be professional at all times with staff, parents and students.
5. To be positive, optimistic and motivated with a strong sense of humour.
6. To role model the expected behaviours, values and attitudes in line with the school vision and mission.

KPI's (to be evidenced)

1. Improved standards of teaching, learning and assessment across the Secondary phase. Evidenced from MER cycles and lesson drop-in data.
2. Improved student outcomes (progress and attainment).
3. Quality First Teaching is consistently evident across the Secondary phase for all groups of learners.
4. Maintain outstanding rating in teaching and learning BSO inspection.

Skills

As a GEMS employee, you can be guaranteed of a competitive salary package, an excellent, well-resourced professional environment, including working alongside highly driven, committed colleagues and fabulously polite and dedicated students. You will have access to significant further professional development opportunities not only at school level but also as part of the wider GEMS Wellington cluster and GEMS network.

The post is to commence in August 2025.

Qualifications and Experience – As a minimum, the successful candidate will have significant previous experience as a highly effective middle leader, with a proven track record of raising standards and student outcomes in a British Curriculum School. They will also have an appropriate teaching degree and Qualified Teacher Status.

To apply for this position, please complete the online application, submitting your full CV along with a Letter of Application outlining why you believe you have the skills, experience and attributes for the role.

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding.