Head of Secondary
Jiangsu, China
Start Date: August 2025
Region: Far East and South East Asia
School Curriculum: Bilingual - UK to A-level, with option for IBDP once the school expands
The School
This school is part of a highly prestigious and expanding school group, with International Colleges, Bilingual Schools and Nurseries throughout China, serving approximately 5000 pupils.
This new school in Nantong is committed to providing a world-class bilingual education to Chinese pupils aged 3 to 18 leading to university entrance overseas, primarily in the UK, the USA or Europe. It instils in them the five characteristics of the school group Identity: Inspired, Intellectual, Independent, Individual and Inclusive. The school encourages its pupils to become both outstanding Chinese nationals as well as well-rounded, global citizens.
Teaching is in both English and Chinese with about 50% of staff being local Chinese and 50% native-English speaking expats. All Chinese staff also speak English and are role models to the children in the school. The Common Room is strong with both the Chinese and foreign staff teaching and socialising together.
Offering a complete 15-year education system, the school has a total area of 80,000sqm and is the largest campus in this school group's portfolio. It opened its doors to Early Years 2 - Grade 7 (Ages 3 - 13) in September 2022 and will expand by one grade per year until full. Having an enrolment capacity of 2000, the school also offers boarding accommodation for approximately 700 pupils, starting from primary school age. The school has state-of-the-art facilities. Its teaching areas, boarding accommodation, school halls, library, indoor sports hall, swimming pool and outdoor football and rugby pitches are all designed to resemble its premium British counterpart in both style and quality.
The school has been able to assemble an outstanding academic team and a top-quality learning environment.
Living and Working in Nantong
Nantong is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Jiangsu Province, located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River. A vital port city, Nantong borders Shanghai, Suzhou and Wuxi to the south across the river and the East China Sea to the east. The current permanent resident population of Nantong is 7.7 million and has a long-standing history dating back to AD 956. Called the "first city in modern China", it is the birthplace of the first normal school, textile school, embroidery school, meteorological station and the first non-governmental museum. The Nantong-Shanghai railway opened in 2020 and provides a link south to Shanghai (about 1 - 1.5h). The Nantong Metro recently opened its first line in September 2022. Nantong also boasts some excellent local and foreign cuisine; there is something for every taste however conservative or adventurous.
Role and Requirements
The Head of Secondary will oversee Grade 6 to Grade 12, and should provide professional and energetic leadership of teaching and learning, and secure the highest quality of pastoral care, in association with the subject leaders. The Head of Secondary will provide guidance and support to all members of their school staff.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
GENERAL
- Lead the middle leaders in the Secondary school.
- Direct curriculum and assessment subject leaders to ensure continuity and progression throughout the school.
- Liaise with administrative departments to ensure efficient administrative management of the school.
- To be a figurehead in the promotion of the school its aims, standards and ideals and to model these both in the school and in the wider community.
- Control budgets and finances within the Secondary School and offer direction and support to subject leaders when aspects of financial responsibility are delegated to them.
- Report to the Principal on all issues relating to the efficient management and organisation of the Secondary School.
- Under the direction of the Principal, to be responsible for the recruitment and employment of all Secondary School academic and academic support staff.
ACCOUNTABILITY
- Work with the Principal to provide information, objective advice and support to the Board of Governors and School Affairs Board (SAB) to enable it to meet its responsibilities for securing effective teaching and learning and improved standards of achievement and for achieving efficiency and value for money.
- Work with the Principal to create and develop an organisation in which all staff recognise that they are accountable for the success of the school.
- Ensure that parents and students are well-informed about the curriculum, attainment and progress, and about the contribution that they can make to achieve the school targets for improvement.
- To oversee parent-staff communications and become involved in such communications as to and when fit.
- Work closely with the University Guidance team to develop Careers Education and university application guidance throughout the secondary school
- Be responsible for the organisation of key calendar events such as parents information evenings, secondary assemblies, adventure trips, curriculum/subject events and parents back to school days
EFFICIENT DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF AND RESOURCES
- Assist the recruitment of staff to meet curriculum requirements for the Secondary School.
- Manage the budget for professional development throughout the Secondary School.
- Manage the budget for educational resources throughout the Secondary School.
- Direct deployment of staffing and manpower throughout the Secondary School.
- Ensure policies, practices and parental communications are established and maintained to support the physical, emotional and social development of the individual student.
- To implement and monitor the general policies, including those for Behaviour, Anti-bullying, Discipline and Child Protection within the Secondary School.
LEADING AND MANAGING STAFF
- With the Principal, implement and sustain effective systems for the management of staff performance, incorporating appraisal and objective setting through the performance management for teachers, participate as a performance reviewer.
- Be responsible for whole school development/improvement within the Secondary School, leading and advising staff as and when necessary
- Contribute to the whole school QA process
- Contribute to staff development activities.
- Sustain own personal motivation and that of other staff.
- Assist the Principal to design the timetable with regard to specific curriculum needs, liaising with staff where necessary.
- Set a good example in terms of dress, punctuality and attendance.
- Uphold the school's values and behaviour code.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
- Ensure the bilingual educational model is successfully implemented in the Secondary School.
- Establish and maintain an environment and a code of behaviour which promotes and secures good teaching, effective learning, and high standards of achievement, good behaviour and discipline.
- Provide effective links with the community to extend the curriculum and enhance teaching and learning.
- Maintain an effective partnership with parents to support and improve students' achievement and personal development.
- Ensure that professional development opportunities for all staff are linked to individual and school needs through performance management and the school development plan.
- Work with the subject and phase coordinators to ensure that the Secondary School curriculum and timetable are suitable for the school's standards of teaching and learning and direct any necessary alterations to the timetable ensuring they are implemented and communicated effectively.
- Keep an accurate record of staff absence and communicate this to the relevant administrative departments.
- Work alongside the other Heads of School to ensure the continuity and consistency of the curriculum.
STRATEGIC DIRECTION/DEVELOPMENT
- Develop and establish culture, educational vision and direction of the Secondary School.
- Work with the Principal and direct the school's middle leaders to create and implement the strategic plan which identifies priorities and targets for ensuring that pupils achieve high standards and make progress, increasing teacher's effectiveness and securing school improvement.
- Support the Principal in the management and direction of the school as a whole.
- Lead and support the Secondary staff in the process of whole school and subject self-review. To mentor managers and specific subject leaders.
- Share responsibility for and assist where required, the Director of Admissions and Marketing in the introduction and viewing of the school by prospective parents.
- Assist in the interviewing of prospective pupils
BASIC QUALIFICATION
- Bachelor's degree or above; Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
- A post-graduate qualification such as an MEd or NPQH would be an advantage
- At least 10 years' working experience in education is required
- A minimum of 3 years' experience in a senior leadership position equivalent to a Deputy/Head of Secondary School
PREFERRED APTITUDES
- Strong pedagogical knowledge and understanding
- Highly fluent and personable communicator, articulate and persuasive
- Financially astute; commercially sharp
- Build and develop relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
- Detailed-oriented with excellent time management and editing skills
- Strong commercial and educational judgement combined with high intellect and analytical ability; Practical and solution-focused
- Appreciation and commitment to collegiate life, values and aims of our school
- Globally minded and a positive "can do" approach
Salary and Benefits
- Excellent salary - the overseas package provided by this school enables a very high quality of life and savings opportunities
- Accommodation
- Annual flights provided for post holder and dependents
- Free tuition for up to 2 dependents
- Medical cover for post holder and dependents
- Relocation allowance
- Laptop provided
- 2 year contract
- Opportunities for career progression within a global organisation
About us
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- Exclusive roles
- CV support
- Interview Preparation
- Contract review
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What next
If you wish to be considered, please apply online. If successful, a Teachanywhere consultant will be in touch and will be happy to furnish you with more information on the process of registration and interviewing. We look forward to hearing from you!