Head - Music (Yasmina British Academy) AY2026/27

Yasmina British Academy is an outstanding English Curriculum school in the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi. With our globally recognised and admired curriculum, dedicated and passionate practitioners and outstanding teaching and learning, Yasmina British Academy is an exceptional place to work. It has an exciting, diverse and progressive learning community that annually produces some of the very best I/GCSE and A Level result in the UAE. The Academy is extremely proud of its recent ADEK inspection, which rated Yasmina British Academy as 'Outstanding' in all six performance standards, putting it amongst the top schools in the UAE and Middle East.

From the start of the Academic Year 2024/25, Yasmina British Academy is moving to a new multi-building campus incorporating state of the art facilities that will enable our teachers and students to flourish, fostering a future focused educational experience while also delivering on our environmental commitments to supply sustainable schools to the UAE.

This incredible facility will be more than just a school, acting as a social, sporting and performance hub for both the local and international communities of the city. The new campus enables us to add even more value to our currently outstanding educational provision, whilst utilising the reputation of Aldar Academies' brand to positively impact the lives of our learning community in the UAE.

The successful candidates will be closely aligned with our core values and ethos and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in the related subject with PGCE or other teacher qualification.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum of 6 years teaching English National Curriculum
• Previous experience working with students whom English is not their first language

Job Specific Knowledge and Skills

• Passion for teaching and commitment to educating the whole child
• A high level of professionalism and consideration of the well-being of children
• Recent and consistent involvement in extracurricular activities
• Respect for all members of a school community, irrespective of position, gender, age and ethnic background
• A positive and solution-focused attitude to working life
• A clean enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check or police check

This job description is not all inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are also mindful of our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application at our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.

Main Duties

• Assist academy in achieving its overall vision and strategic intentions and to contribute to the achievement of relevant targets as set out in the academy’s improvement plan and self-evaluation form
• Comply with regulations pertaining to health and safety at work legislation and adhere to academy policies relating to safe working practice and equal opportunities regulations
• Comply with the academy’s Performance Management Policy ensuring challenging annual targets are set and to fulfil the role of performance management reviewer if directed to do so by the principal
• Engage in annual training linked to child protection, safeguarding and health and safety together with all training deemed appropriate for the purpose of academy improvement or performance management
• Comply with the academy’s computer Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at all times
• Lead strategic direction and development of the department, including but not limited to setting the vision, analysing data, improvement planning, target setting and ongoing self-evaluation.
• Create a culture of high performance.
• Further develop an outstanding teaching and learning culture ensuring outstanding achievement for all.
• Lead on curriculum development ensuring outstanding provision for all, including an enhanced extra and co-curricular programme.
• Lead and manage staff, including but not limited to overseeing staffing, recruitment, performance appraisal and professional development.
• Efficient and effective deployment of staff and resources, including but not limited to budget planning, timetable overview and talent acquisition.
• Lead on the marketing of the department to promote the school, raise the profile of the subject and increase student numbers.
• Communicate effectively and proactively with all stakeholders.
• Play a lead role in developing key policies and practices that support the Academy’s overall aims, vision and values.
• Attend all staff briefings
• Other duties which may be reasonably assigned by the Principal or Head of School

Specific Duties

• Developing policies and practices leading to high quality outcomes for all students at all Key Stages within the department.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of learning and teaching and of systems/practices; evaluating their impact on student progress and standards and thereby identifying further areas for development whilst encouraging the sharing of best practice and fostering a culture of high reward and praise.
• Ensuring that all practices promote student progression; improved achievements; a positive ethos and the commitment of staff to shared goals.
• Developing a department development plan through collaborative work that dovetails and supports the whole academy’s development and its commitment to raising standards.
• To share responsibility for representing the Department at cross-curricular committees e.g. EAL link.
• To empower and provide strategic direction to the discreet Heads of Subjects.
• Monitoring and reviewing students' progress through the use of appropriate data; home learning; student voice; lesson observations; student work reviews and parental engagement.
• Identifying through Performance Management, individual training needs and ensuring that those needs are met.
• Identifying and implanting strategies to enhance Learning and Teaching within the Department including the use of emerging learning technologies.
• Modelling outstanding practice in Learning and Teaching.
• Involving external advice and expertise where this would further benefit and enhance the learning agenda and therefore student progress, achievement and standards.
• Leading curriculum development and resourcing.
• Ensuring that appropriate and relevant schemes of work are developed, in place, and regularly reviewed and evaluated, for all year groups and courses. These must include suitable provision for SEN/POD, G&T, and EAL students
• Ensuring that students are prepared effectively for examinations, and other assessments.
• Organising key events and extra-curricular activities that promote and further develop and engage student interest in the subject.
• Organising and ensuring effective assessments, moderation, collation and analysis of data in line with the MER calendar and quality assurance procedures.
• Ensuring data is used effectively at a departmental, classroom and teacher level.
• Analysing and interpreting relevant school data, to inform policies and department/school SEF writing
• Using performance data to inform learning episodes and therefore ensuring the Learning and Teaching continue to ‘add value
• Monitoring student progress and achievement against targets, identifying students who are underachieving and where necessary create and implement effective plans of action to support those students.
• Effectively communicating with parents through all communication channels and ensure high quality communication from all members of the department including but not limited to reports, PTCs, emails, letters.
• Leading the discreet Heads of Subject where applicable
• Setting clear expectations and establishing constructive working relationships with colleagues at all levels within the Department.
• Developing responsibilities and delegating tasks appropriately.
• Engaging in Performance Management as required by the academy's policy and using the process to develop personal and professional effectiveness of self and others.
• Leading the Professional Development of identified staff to enable all members to achieve expertise in Learning and Teaching.
• Foster a sense of 'people' and 'team spirit' through a culture of high reward and praise.
• In collaboration with the SLT, ensure departmental systems and practices support whole academy policies and the commitment to achieving outstanding.
• Establishing effective working relationships and set an outstanding example through their presentation and personal and professional conduct
• Taking part in marketing and liaison activities such as Open evenings/afternoons, Parent Teacher Consultations, and events with partner Academy’s
• Ensure efficient and effective recruitment deployment, management and organisation of staff and learning resources.
• Ensuring that there is a safe working and learning environment for both students and staff.
• Ensuring that accommodation and resources are used to create an effective and stimulating Climate for Learning.
• Ensuring value for money and cost effectiveness in the use of staff and resources within the department.