Whole School Principal

Job Role

To be the educational and strategic leader of Durham School Dubai, responsible for delivering outstanding academic outcomes, sustaining a distinctive British independent school ethos, and driving long-term institutional growth.

The Principal will ensure:

  • Continuous improvement in academic attainment and progress

  • A strong trajectory in KHDA inspection outcomes

  • High-quality teaching and learning across all phases (FS1 – Sixth Form)

  • Sustainable enrolment growth and community retention

  • Effective partnership with the Board and Education Committee

  • Strong governance, compliance, and safeguarding culture

 

The Principal reports to the Board (via the Chair) and works closely with the Education Committee and Executive Leadership Team.

2. Strategic Context

 

Durham School Dubai is a British curriculum school operating in a competitive Dubai education market where:

  • Inspection performance influences brand positioning and fee growth

  • Academic results drive enrolment retention and pricing power

  • Governance maturity underpins long-term value creation

  • Growth must not compromise educational integrity

3. Key Responsibilities

 

A. Academic Leadership & Attainment

 

  • Develop and implement a clear academic strategy aligned with Durham School’s heritage and KHDA expectations.

  • Drive measurable improvements in:

    • GCSE and A-Level attainment

    • Value-added progress metrics

    • Sixth Form destinations

    • Core subject performance

  • Establish a rigorous data architecture for tracking progress from FS to Sixth Form.

  • Lead curriculum sequencing, assessment design, and intervention systems.

  • Oversee quality assurance of teaching through evidence-informed practice.

  • Ensure SEND and inclusion provision supports both progress and wellbeing.

  • Embed a culture of high expectations and intellectual ambition.

 

B. KHDA & Regulatory Compliance

 

  • Lead the school’s inspection readiness and self-evaluation framework.

  • Drive strategic movement toward [Very Good / Outstanding] status.

  • Ensure full compliance with:

    • KHDA regulations

    • UAE safeguarding standards

    • Health & safety policies

  • Maintain robust internal review cycles and evidence systems.

 

C. Governance & Board Partnership

 

  • Build a professional, transparent relationship with the Board and Education Committee.

  • Provide termly academic dashboards including:

    • Attainment & progress data

    • Cohort analysis

    • RAG-rated performance indicators

    • Improvement action plans

  • Participate constructively in strategic planning.

  • Clearly differentiate operational leadership from governance oversight.

  • Maintain intellectual honesty in reporting risks and challenges.

 

D. Leadership & Talent Development

 

  • Recruit, develop and retain high-calibre teaching staff.

  • Build a strong Senior Leadership Team with clear accountability structures.

  • Develop middle leaders as drivers of academic improvement.

  • Establish performance management systems linked to pupil outcomes.

  • Create succession planning pathways.

 

E. Culture, Ethos & Community

 

  • Safeguard and promote the Durham School ethos and British independent identity.

  • Foster a disciplined yet nurturing school culture.

  • Maintain high standards of behaviour, attendance and student conduct.

  • Build strong parental engagement and communication systems.

  • Represent the school externally with credibility and gravitas.

 

F. Growth & Strategic Development

 

  • Work collaboratively with the Board on:

    • Enrolment growth strategy

    • Cohort expansion planning

    • Sixth Form development

    • Future campus or programme expansion

  • Ensure academic standards remain uncompromised during growth phases.

  • Support admissions positioning through academic credibility.

  • Align educational strategy with long-term sustainability.

4. Performance Indicators

 

The Principal will be assessed against:

 

Academic

  • GCSE & A-Level outcomes

  • Value-added progress metrics

  • Sixth Form university placements

  • Inspection trajectory

 

Organisational

  • Teacher retention & engagement

  • Leadership depth

  • Safeguarding effectiveness

  • Parental satisfaction

 

Strategic

  • Sustainable enrolment growth

  • Cohort stability

  • Reputation enhancement

  • Governance maturity

 

5. Candidate Profile

 

Essential Experience

 

  • Proven leadership in a British curriculum school (UK or international)

  • Demonstrable improvement in academic outcomes

  • Experience with inspection frameworks (Ofsted / KHDA / BSO equivalent)

  • Strong data literacy and progress tracking capability

  • Experience leading a full-through or secondary school

  • Experience working with a Board or governing body

  • UAE or GCC experience

 

Desirable

 

  • Experience with KHDA and associated frameworks

  • Experience founding a British school in the UAE and navigating the school’s growth phase.

  • Experience balancing academic and commercial realities

  • Sixth Form leadership experience

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