Assistant Principal Teaching & Learning & Curriculum

GEMS Winchester Private School Fujairah is seeking an experienced and dynamic Assistant Principal – Teaching & Learning & Curriculum to join our Senior Leadership Team.
JOB PURPOSE:
To provide strategic leadership of teaching, learning and curriculum across the whole school, securing consistently high-quality classroom practice and a coherent, ambitious English National Curriculum from Pre-KG to Grade 12. The role ensures teaching and curriculum meet MoE standards and GEMS expectations, are informed by evidence and research, and enable all students to make strong progress. A key priority is the development of a rich literacy curriculum that meets the needs of students in a multilingual school.
DIMENSIONS:
Direct Reports: Teaching & Learning Coordinators / Curriculum Leaders as designated
Total Team Size: As determined by the Principal
Financial Accountability (Annual): As determined by the Principal
Geographical Scope: Whole School
Key Accountabilities

• Strategic Leadership of Teaching & Learning
• Provide strategic leadership of teaching and learning across all phases, securing consistently high expectations and strong classroom practice.
• Establish and embed a clear, evidence-informed approach to pedagogy aligned with MoE standards, GEMS expectations and relevant GEMS playbooks.
• Lead professional learning, coaching and practice development so that teachers and leaders continuously improve their impact on student learning.
• Promote a culture in which high-quality teaching is shared, modelled and sustained across the school.
• Curriculum Leadership and Coherence
• Lead the strategic development and quality assurance of an ambitious, coherent English National Curriculum from Pre-KG to Grade 12.
• Ensure curriculum design, sequencing, schemes of work and planning build knowledge, skills and progression effectively within and across phases.
• Work with Heads of School and curriculum leaders to ensure appropriate breadth, depth, challenge and preparation for IGCSE, AS and A Level pathways.
• Ensure curriculum documentation and implementation meet MoE requirements and GEMS standards.
• Literacy, Language and Multilingual Learners
• Ensure teaching and curriculum respond effectively to the needs of students learning in a multilingual context, including students who use English as an additional language.
• Working with the Director of Literacy ensure a rich whole-school literacy curriculum, ensuring reading, writing, vocabulary, oracy and disciplinary literacy are embedded across subjects.
• Working with the Director of Literacy build staff expertise in language-rich teaching, explicit vocabulary instruction, reading and comprehension across the curriculum.
• Ensure literacy provision supports access, challenge and strong progress for all groups of learners.
• Quality Assurance and Improvement
• Design and lead a rigorous teaching, learning and curriculum quality-assurance cycle aligned with MoE inspection standards and GEMS expectations.
• Use lesson visits, work scrutiny, curriculum reviews, student voice and performance information to evaluate implementation and impact.
• Work with Heads of School and leaders to identify strengths, areas for development and risk, and ensure focused action leads to measurable improvement.
• Maintain robust evidence of teaching, learning and curriculum impact and ensure inspection and review readiness.
• Professional Learning and Leadership Capacity
• Design and deliver high-quality professional learning linked directly to school improvement priorities and identified teaching and curriculum needs.
• Coach and develop middle and senior leaders to strengthen curriculum leadership, instructional practice and accountability for impact.
• Ensure professional learning is informed by educational research and evaluated for its impact on classroom practice and student outcomes.
• Support performance development processes so that teaching and curriculum priorities are reflected in professional goals and improvement plans.
• Whole-School Leadership
• Contribute to whole-school policy-making, strategic planning and school improvement as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Work collaboratively with the Principal, Vice Principal, Heads of School and other leaders to ensure coherence between curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and student outcomes.
• Communicate effectively with staff, students and parents to promote understanding of the school's curriculum and approach to teaching and learning.
• Maintain strong knowledge of global education research, English National Curriculum developments and best practice.
• Ensure GEMS policies, procedures and codes of conduct are followed and perform other duties as requested by direct and dotted reporting line managers / supervisors.
  

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal: Principal, Vice Principal, Heads of School, Wider SLT, curriculum and middle leaders, Teaching & Learning Coordinators, teachers, support staff, students and parents.
External: Parents, LAB, MoE, GEMS corporate and education teams, examination boards, community partners and external agencies/providers as required.
Skills Description
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:
Expected Qualifications:

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• College Degree and recognised Teacher Training qualification
• Masters, NPQ or equivalent leadership qualification, desirable
  

Expected Experience:

• Minimum 5 years teaching experience in reputed schools.
• Successful experience of leading teaching, learning and/or curriculum improvement with demonstrable impact.
• Experience of curriculum leadership and quality assurance across a school or phase.
• Experience of working in a multilingual school and supporting learners for whom English is an additional language.
• Experience of UAE, MoE, BSO, BSME or similar regulatory/inspection contexts, desirable.
  

Job-Specific Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge of effective teaching, learning and curriculum design, informed by educational research.
• Strong understanding of MoE teaching and learning standards and the expectations of school inspection.
• Strong understanding of the English National Curriculum and progression from Early Years/Pre-KG to Grade 12.
• Strong secondary English National Curriculum knowledge through to KS5, desirable.
• Strong understanding of a rich literacy curriculum, including reading, writing, vocabulary, oracy and disciplinary literacy.
• Ability to lead professional learning, coaching and the development of teachers and leaders.
• Ability to use qualitative and quantitative evidence to evaluate impact and drive improvement.
• Clear communication skills (verbal and written), strong ICT skills, excellent time management and good interpersonal skills.
  

GEMS Safeguarding
GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are dedicated to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments where students can thrive, and we expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share this commitment.
As part of our safer recruitment practices, all successful applicants will be subject to comprehensive pre-employment checks, including verification of identity, qualifications, employment history, professional references, and criminal record checks from all countries of residence and employment, in line with local and international safeguarding requirements. These checks may include enhanced disclosure, prohibition, barring, and overseas police clearance checks where applicable. We are committed to recruiting individuals who uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and child protection.