Principal

The school

BISL is an Accredited Member of COBIS and a Regular member of CIS. It is a British style, international school for pupils aged 3 to 18 with currently around 200 pupils on roll. About half the students are Slovenian with the other half coming from a wide range in international locations.

All subjects are taught in English apart from the legal requirement to teach some local elements in Slovene. There is a large team of full and part-time teachers and assistants, mostly English or with bilingual fluency if not native English speaking.

The curriculum for pupils 3 – 11 is based on the English Early Years Foundation programme and Key Stages 1 and 2 National Curriculum.

Secondary students are prepared for GCSE, IGCSE and A-level examinations from Cambridge and AQA.

The school has recently moved to excellent new premises with large and bright, airy learning areas offering state of the art science facilities and a roof-top Art department. As well as dedicated Sixth Form facilities, a dance and drama studio and music room. There is ample scope within the building to allow for further expansion in the future

The Mission Statement and vision of the school is
“The British International School of Ljubljana provides a high quality international education in English, balancing tradition and innovation. Our passion is creating a positive, challenging and nurturing learning environment in which everyone is valued as individuals, empowering them to be versatile, motivated and caring people.” Jeremy Hibbins, Founder

The school belongs to the British owned and managed Orbital Education group of schools

The location

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is a hidden jewel. Compact, easy to get around with a dreamy central European character in winter yet relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere in summer.

It is a vibrant city of creativity where cultural activity is a way of life with music, theatre and art events all year round.

The country is steeped in history from Roman times to medieval castles and Baroque buildings

Its countryside is extremely diverse. It borders alpine mountains, has thick forests with hiking and biking trails, historic cities and a short coastline on the Adriatic. It is a small country and it is possible to be on a beach in the morning, have a leisurely (small) glass of excellent local wine at lunchtime and go skiing in the afternoon!

Slovenia had always been the most prosperous region in the former Yugoslavia and found the transition to a free market economy relatively straightforward. In 2004 it joined the EU and NATO and in 2007 became the first of the EU new member states to join the Eurozone.

The country is known to its frequent and loyal visitors as “Switzerland on the cheap”!! It is undoubtedly one of the prettiest locations to live and work in Central Europe with easy connections to places such as Venice, Vienna and Salzburg.

The nearby airports of Ljubljana , Trieste, Venice, Maribor and Zagreb offer excellent connections with the rest of Europe and further afield.

There are many websites you can visit for more information. Such examples are:

http://www.expatarrivals.com/slovenia/moving-to-slovenia

http://www.expatwoman.com/slovenia.aspx

http://www.slovenia.info/

http://www.britishschool.si/index.php/our-school/slovenia

The post

The post becomes available due to the fact that the current Principal, David Cooksey, who took over the leadership of the school after the fairly recent, untimely and tragic death of the Founder and original Headmaster, Jeremy Hibbins, has decided to return to the UK to continue his Master Degree studies.
As well as the usual drive, commitment, motivation, and strong leadership required of a Principal, we are also looking for candidates who can demonstrate;

• evidence of promoting and delivering excellence in teaching and learning;
• an understanding of the complexities in managing an international school;
• a strong commercial awareness in an educational setting;
• clear and perceptive understanding of marketing strategies for school promotion and pupil recruitment.
• previous successful management experience

An essential and crucial criterion is having relevant and up to date experience of delivering a curriculum based on the English National Curriculum either in the UK or in a British style international school setting.

Being part of the Orbital Education Group, the School is assisted and supported in its development by a strong, experienced and supportive management team based in England as well as reaping the shared benefits of belonging to a prestigious group such as Orbital Education.

The British International School, Ljubljana is committed to safeguarding children and young people.  All post-holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS (in the UK) or Criminal Records (Police Check) disclosure from their most recent country of residence.

To apply, please send cv, photograph and three email contacts for references, one of whom must be your most recent employer, to
ljubljana-principal.recruitment@orbitaled.com

Please also attach a letter of application illustrating your recent, outstanding achievements in education and how this will help you ensure the continued success of the school.

Please do not exceed 3 sides of A4

If shortlisted, at interview you will have to present a current DBS certificate or Police Check from your current country of employment, copies of teaching qualifications which would allow you to teach in a British school and proof of identity.

Interviews will be held in Manchester or Ljubljana during March / April 2014.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and so if you do not hear from us by the end of April, please assume that on this occasion your application was unsuccessful.

Closing date for applications – 26 March 2015

The school reserves the right to make an appointment if a suitable candidate is found before this deadline.

The British International School, Ljubljana  is a member of the Orbital Education Group of schools. Orbital Education also has schools currently in Russia, Spain, Hungary, China, Slovenia and Ecuador. (www.orbitaled.com)