Principal of High School Dover Campus

Roles & Responsibilities

The High School Principal is the pedagogical and organisational leader of the High School. The High School Principal, working with the members of the High School Leadership Team, is responsible to the Head of UWCSEA Dover for the learning programme within the High School. As such, the High School Principal has responsibility for the quality of the High School's educational programmes, the welfare of the High School students and the professional practice of its personnel.

The High School Principal also works as a member of the Dover Campus Leadership Team and the wider College Learning Leadership Team to ensure unity of purpose within the campus and the College as a whole.

Main Responsibilities

Main responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership of the High School.
• The education and welfare of students in the High School.
• Maintaining the professional standards and practices of the High School faculty.
• Ensuring the High School's ethos reflects and aligns with the College's values, guiding statements, and the philosophy of the UWC movement.
• Implementation of the College Strategic Plan in alignment with the other school sections.
• Proactively maintaining a highly positive relationship between parents and the school.
• Leading the Learning Programme across the High School.
• Effectively running the operational aspects of the High School.
• Ensuring relevant budgets are planned and managed in accordance with the ethos and fiscal parameters of the College.
• Recruiting high quality teachers and administrators to the High School.
• Leading on professional development for the High School.

Leadership:

• Acting as a role model for students and teachers.
• Developing an environment in which students are challenged and a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for learning and student leadership underpins all that students do.
• Supporting the Head of Campus in articulating and sustaining UWCSEA's educational aims, ensuring that the High School is providing an exceptional experience for the students and that the balance between the elements of the UWCSEA Learning Programme is supported and maintained.
• Maintaining the High School's reputation for excellence, and cherishing its special culture while, at the same time, ensuring that it continues to grow and evolve as a dynamic learning environment.
• Encouraging innovation amongst the teachers and students in the High School and fostering a spirit of cooperation between the two campuses.
• Inspiring teachers to continue to develop their own skills through inspiring professional development, in order to share responsibility for maintaining high standards throughout the High School.
• Developing a responsive, effective and culturally intelligent High School leadership team.
• Liaising closely with the High School Leadership Team on East campus and aligning practices within the principles of the 'one College, two campuses' approach.

The UWCSEA Learning Programme:

Academic:

• Maintaining standards of excellence and academic rigour within the High School.
• Contributing towards innovation and the ongoing development of the UWCSEA curriculum.
• Overseeing the review, revision, development and evaluation of the academic curriculum.
• Monitoring the performance of students and ensuring that assessment and reporting procedures are best practice.
• Employing data to lead improvements in learning and to support student attainment.

Service:

• Overseeing the work of the High School Head of Service and others so as to ensure that maximum opportunities are offered to students in Service and in Leadership.
• Encouraging teachers to become involved in service by promoting the programme as a key element of our programme.

Pastoral:

• Being responsible for the overall welfare of all High School Students from admission to graduation.
• Developing harmonious relationships with families to ensure that the students are supported in achieving their aspirations while at the same time recognizing that we wish to develop autonomous individuals who will become responsible citizens.
• Building a strong sense of community in the High School, characterized by trust, integrity, self-discipline and care and consideration for others.
• Dealing with serious disciplinary cases as required.
• Working closely with the Senior Safeguarding lead to oversee the provision of safeguarding in the High School.
• Working with the Vice-Principals and Director of Residential Life to ensure that our National Committee scholarship students thrive and flourish in the High School.
• Working with the Admissions department on student admission and leaving processes.

Activities:

• Working with the Head of High School Activities and senior colleagues to ensure that the Activities programme is maintained and continually developed.
• Overseeing that all students have opportunities to develop a range of interests and talents.
• Encouraging teachers to become involved in Activities by promoting the programme as a key element of our programme.

Outdoor Education:

• Supporting the work of the Outdoor Education department in ensuring that all students in the High School take part in meaningful Outdoor Education experiences.
• Overseeing the G11 Project Week experience.
• Encouraging teachers to become involved in Outdoor Education by promoting the programme as a key element of our programme.

The Principal will contribute to the smooth and efficient operation of the Campus by:

Management of Human and Other Resources:

• Participating in the development of the High School budgets and overseeing the efficient and cost-effective use of resources.
• Leading in the recruitment and appointment of High School teachers.
• Delegating effectively the day-to-day operations of High School to line managers and establishing an effective mechanism to oversee operations.
• Overseeing and supporting the Professional Learning Programme within the High School to ensure the quality of teaching and learning.
• Participating in the review and recognition of teachers during the contract renewal process and where appropriate deal with issues of teacher performance.
• Ensuring that all High School faculty have opportunities for professional development.

Communication:

• Taking a leading role in communicating with parents through Principal's Forums, weekly newsletters and other channels, both formal and informal.
• Liaising effectively with representative groups within the College: for example, the Parents' Association; the Student Council and other student groups.
• Overseeing the quality of publications in the High School.

Facilities:

• Overseeing the facilities specifically utilized by the High School and working with the Facilities and Operations Department to ensure that they are maintained to a high standard.
• Being a member of the Campus Facilities committee (or delegating this role).

Teaching Commitment for High School Principal: 1-3 hours per week at the discretion of the Head of Campus

Expectations and Standards

• Follow the UWCSEA Professional Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
• Lead in line with the UWCSEA Leadership Standards
• Teach in line with the UWCSEA Teacher Standards

Person Specifications

Qualifications and Experience:

• A degree and professional teaching qualification is essential: a higher degree desirable.
• Significant experience of senior leadership, ideally in an international environment.
• Knowledge of international curricula, their delivery and assessment.
• Awareness of current issues and trends in education.
• Commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and an active commitment to advocate on these issues and to take action.
• An understanding of the budgetary process and financial management within a school.
• Understanding of the principles of organisational culture and behaviour.
• Knowledge of the role of technology within the school environment.
• Knowledge of instructional supervision and evaluation.
• Knowledge of the role of team dynamics within the school environment.

Personal Attributes and Characteristics:

• A passion for international education.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills: a good listener with empathy and a collaborative management style.
• Honesty, integrity, compassion and a good sense of humour.
• Ability to develop a sense of community and generate trust with all constituent groups.
• Strong organizational and proven problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to develop and lead talented staff and high achieving students.
• Ability to think strategically.
• Cultural sensitivity.
• Energy and resilience.
• Fluency in English and excellent communication skills: written, spoken and in presentations.

Leadership Capabilities:

Vision and Strategy – Supporting Mission & Values of UWCSEA, Planning and Goal Setting

• Displays strong organizational and operational leadership.
• Coordinates the establishment of strategic priorities for the High School.
• Sets priorities for needs of the High School within the framework of the College's Strategic Plan.

Supporting the Learning Community – Resourcing, Motivating, Monitoring

• Drives and displays innovative approaches to curriculum planning where required.
• Demonstrates effective but sympathetic approaches to performance management and professional development.
• Allocates resources fairly and effectively within given financial constraints.

Collaboration – Empowering others, Coaching for Success, Leading Others

• Coaches individuals within the team and is alert to needs.
• Contributes to effective succession planning.
• Engages all members of the community.
• Leads by influence rather than authority where possible.
• Fosters an environment where creativity flourishes.
• Sets clear boundaries and expectations providing freedom for the team to work effectively.

Communication – Ensuring Sensitivity and Building Consensus

• Articulates policy, purpose and priorities to the community and externally.
• Proactively seeks to address issues.
• Sets and implements a tone conducive to effective and culturally sensitive communication.

Application

The position is a 2 year contract. The start date is August 2026. Interviews will take place during October and November, with an offer made to the successful candidate by the end of November

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

The UWC Mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and culture for peace and a sustainable future. We are committed to creating a community in which all members feel safe and secure, and know that their authentic selves and individual differences are accepted with respect and care. At UWCSEA, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) is an ongoing and evolving process and strive to create and sustain a sense of belonging for all members of our community, past, present and future. All qualified applicants, including those who identify as a part of marginalised group(s) and individuals with (dis)abilities are all encouraged to apply. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and all appointments are subject to interview, satisfactory references, identity and criminal record checks.

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