Head of School

Talentmate

Job Overview

ISP Principal / Head of School Role Profile

Purpose of Role

The ISP Principal / Head of School leads with vision and integrity, fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive school culture where learning thrives. By working collaboratively with their team, parents, and the wider ISP network, they position the school as a School of Choice that delivers exceptional learning experiences and outcomes, translating into increased enrolment growth and higher student retention. Their responsibilities span safeguarding, driving teaching quality through evidence-based improvement, strategic planning, community engagement, and commercial performance. Parents/carers and students recognise and endorse the school for Amazing Learning and teachers professional learning and development thrives under their stewardship of the school. The ISP Principal / Head of School reports to the Regional Managing Director (RMD).

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Principal / Head Of School Key Responsibilities

All sections weighted equally at 25% from a performance perspective.

People Development and Wellbeing (25%)

• Be responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all students and adults in your school, including all activities, functions and policies to ensure students and adults are kept safe both physically and mentally, enabling them to learn without barriers.
• Lead your school with vision, empathy and integrity.
• Build strong, empowered leadership teams through recruitment, development and succession planning.
• Leverage ISP s leadership programmes and Learning Hub platform to grow talent at all
  
  

levels.

• Lead and be accountable for the impact of the school s annual performance and development cycle, ensuring that all leaders are directly supported through rigorous goal-setting, progress reviews and professional growth planning.
• Oversee the broader teacher development process to ensure every teacher receives meaningful feedback and tailored development.
• Champion employee engagement by modelling and fostering an open culture and an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere.
  
  

Student Learning outcomes (25%)

• Prioritize students and their safety and learning first, always.
• Be accountable for the quality of learning, progress and achievement by the relentless improvement of student outcomes and ISP Learning KPIs, using data to inform strategy and interventions.
• Lead, promote and drive ISP s Learning.First Framework through embedding the Learning Improvement Process (LIP), prioritizing the 5 Key Learning Pillars, leveraging the EdTech tools and the ISP AI toolkit and Professional Learning.
• Drive improvement through evidence-based data, evaluation and teacher development systems.
• Lead the curriculum strategy to ensure relevance, challenge and alignment with student needs, parent priorities and Future Pathways.
• Work in partnership with the Regional Learning Director to drive the improvement of learning and teaching across the school.
  

Commercial Success (25%)

• Own and take responsibility for delivering on the schools commercial targets and KPIs (financial, learning, people, marketing, health & safety and safeguarding).
• Organise and manage all school resources efficiently to drive profitability, ensuring efficient staffing allocation.
• Drive progress towards enrolment growth and income generation KPIs, to achievement financial goals.
• Drive improvement of parent and employee NPS, satisfaction and engagement surveys.
• Drive and support the school team to ensure school commercial and EBITDA targets are met.
  
  

Key Skills

• Strategic planning
• Educational leadership
• Safeguarding and Child Protection management
• Inclusive leadership
• Emotional intelligence
• Building community
• Stakeholder engagement
• Team development
• Performance management
• Engaging communication
• Data-driven decision-making
• Marketing insights
• Financial acumen
• Change management
• Collaborative mindset
  
  

Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor s degree (Essential) and postgraduate teaching qualification (PGCE, Teaching License or equivalent) (Essential)
• Advanced leadership qualification (e.g., MA Educational Leadership, NPQH/NPQEL, EdD)
• Significant senior leadership experience in a whole-school or multi-phase setting (Principal, Vice Principal, or equivalent)
• Proven success driving school-wide improvement, raising standards, and delivering strong inspection outcomes
• Knowledge of international curricula across phases (IBDP, UK, US/AP)
• Experience of accreditation and inspection frameworks (Ofsted, BSO, COBIS, NEASC, KHDA, QNSA, ADEK or equivalent)