National Head of Secondary, Academic

Academic Leadership and Strategic Direction       

• Lead the academic vision and strategy for the Secondary School in line with the whole-school improvement plan
• Ensure the design and delivery of a balanced and challenging curriculum that meets the needs of bilingual learners and prepares students for IGCSE, IB, A-Level, and Chinese examinations.
• Oversee academic quality assurance processes including departmental reviews, lesson observations, and performance data analysis.
• Lead curriculum development, ensuring vertical and horizontal coherence and effective transitions between grade levels.
• Embed Nord Anglia's global programmes and collaborations into the Secondary curriculum to enrich learning opportunities

Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Excellence

• Foster a high-performing culture where effective teaching, learning, and assessment practices are consistently implemented.
• Establish and monitor the Secondary assessment system to ensure accuracy, consistency, and meaningful data use.
• Lead professional learning to enhance pedagogy and assessment literacy across departments.
• Ensure students receive timely feedback, academic support, and learning interventions based on data insights.

Staff Professional Development

• Lead, inspire, and support the Secondary Leadership Team and Heads of Department to achieve excellence.
• Recruit and retain high-quality teachers following Nord Anglia's "Outstanding Teachers for Outstanding Schools" framework.
• Conduct performance management, mentoring, and coaching to ensure continual professional growth.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation among teaching staff.

Student Achievement, Wellbeing, and Behaviour

• Monitor student progress, attendance, behaviour, and wellbeing to support academic success.
• Work closely with tutors, Heads of Year, and counsellors to ensure holistic student development.
• Develop initiatives to enhance student motivation, study habits, and academic independence.

Parent and Community Engagement

• Build strong relationships with parents through transparent communication and academic reporting.
• Support parent workshops, academic forums, and conferences to enhance home-school collaboration.
• Represent the school at key events, fostering advocacy and positive reputation.

Government and Compliance Liaison

• Maintain active communication with local Education Commission and Education College.
• Ensure all Secondary academic operations comply with Chinese government policies and Nord Anglia guidelines.
• Attend relevant government meetings and audits as school representative.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications/Training

• University educated with an Honours Degree
• Hold a recognised teaching qualification
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Further degree of educational or leadership qualification

Skills and Knowledge

• Strategic leadership ability to design and execute academic strategies aligned with school vision
• Deep understanding of international curricula (IB & A-level) and their integration with the Chinese National Curriculum.
• Strong data literacy and ability to interpret student performance data to inform teaching improvement and intervention planning.
• Sound understanding of effective teaching methodologies, differentiation, bilingual education, and blended learning approaches.
• Comprehensive knowledge of school self-evaluation frameworks, lesson observation protocols, and academic audit processes.
• Proven capability in leading, coaching, and developing high-performing academic teams with a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with parents, students, staff, and government authorities.
• Solid operational understanding of managing budgets, staffing, and timetable planning within academic departments.
• Cultural awareness and agility in navigating both Chinese and international education contexts.
• Strong innovation and change management skills, with the ability to promote continuous improvement and educational excellence.
• Fluency in English is essential, Mandarin proficiency preferred.