Head of Primary - Academic

The school

Lüderitz Blue School, founded in 2022, is a not-for-profit private international school offering the British National Curriculum in Lüderitz, Namibia. We currently offer Grades 0-7 and are expanding to offer Grades 8-12 in the near future. The school has a strong focus on academic excellence and encourages independent thinking and boundless curiosity. We have a high number of scholarship places and host a range of extramural activities open to all learners in the community. As a ‘Blue School’, our learners are taught about the marvels of the natural world, with a particular focus on Lüderitz's unique desert-ocean environment. We are a very young school with the ambition to become a beacon for educational excellence within the next 5 years. Candidates are kindly referred to the Candidate Information Pack for further information about the school and the town of Lüderitz.

The opportunity 

Since starting our school in 2022, we have gone from strength to strength and our enrolments and team are growing. We are delighted to be expanding our team to welcome an ambitious and motivated Head of Primary - Academic. This person should be experienced in the UK Curriculum, passionate about education development and ready for the challenges and opportunities that joining the leadership of a young and quickly growing school brings.

Working together with our existing management team, the Head of Primary - Academic will be responsible for putting structures in place for long term sustainability of the school and for developing all aspects of our school environment. They will focus on academic and curriculum development, as well as staff management and mentorship. The successful candidate will also be responsible for educating our Grade 5 and 6 multigrade class, teaching all subjects in line with the UK International Curriculum. This is an amazing opportunity with potential for personal and professional development for the right candidate.

As with any start-up or new organisation, all team members need to get involved with everything. We are looking for someone who is happy to go the extra mile when required, to take on whatever work needs to be done and sees opportunities and areas to do things better. The ideal candidate will be happy making do with what there is, a creative problem-solver and a nature-lover.

We value contributions from all staff in helping to shape the overall direction and development of our young, but growing school.

The person

The ideal candidate will be someone with:

• a teaching qualification (BEd, PGCE with QTS or equivalent) with at least 6 years of experience working in schools
• experience within a Middle/Senior leadership position
• experience teaching the British National Curriculum, Cambridge International or similar in the classroom
• experience leading staff departments, mentoring teachers and setting up structures
• outstanding written and spoken English language, and strong communication skills
• ability to adapt teaching to the strengths and needs of all learners
• ability to manage behaviour effectively and promote a positive learning environment
• ability to work co-operatively and supportively with others
• strong organisation skills and confidence working independently
• a flexible and adaptable outlook, pioneering spirit and positive mindset
• a love of nature and passion for environmental and ocean education
• preference will be given to candidates who have contributed to curriculum design, such as MTP or LTP planning
• preference will be given to candidates who have worked in an international school environment
• preference will be given to candidates with experience in educational development, such as Founding Headships

Application Process

To apply for this role, candidates are requested to apply via the TES portal. The closing date for this role is 30 May 2024 at 12:00 GMT. Early application is advised.

Please note that only applications with strong motivation letters tailored to the school in their supporting statement will be considered.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place via Zoom.

Safeguarding Statement

Lüderitz Blue School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All staff are expected to respect and adhere to this commitment and are subject to vigorous checks. The appointment of this post is subject to provision of a a satisfactory Police Clearance Certificate (or equivalent) that is less than three (3) months old. Appointment is also subject to provision of original professional qualification certificates and two (2) satisfactory professional references.

Privacy Statement

By submitting your application for this position, you consent to the storage and processing of your data by Lüderitz Blue School and its affiliated entities. If selected for the position, you also acknowledge and agree that additional information, including sensitive data such as bank details and medical information, may be retained by Lüderitz Blue School and its associates.