School Director
Windhoek International School
Namibia
- Expired
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- August 2015
Job overview
WINDHOEK INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (WIS) is at an exciting stage in its development and is seeking a Director with drive and vision to help take the school forward both academically and in terms of its ambitious infrastructure and staff development plans, as outlined in the Board's Strategic Plan 2015-2020.
WIS encourages students to be inquiring, knowledgeable, internationally-minded and caring individuals and is the only school in Windhoek offering an international curriculum. The school currently caters for approximately 500 students from the ages of 2 years to 18 years old, of which approximately 30% come from the international community (43 different nationalities) while the remaining 70% are Namibian students.
In the Primary School students follow the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). In Years 7 to 9 the school offers the Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint curriculum; in Years 10 and 11 WIS offers the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE); while in Years 12 and 13 WIS offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB Dip), the only school to do so in Namibia. Although small, compared to many international schools, WIS 'punches above its weight' and has achieved an average IB Dip pass rate of 89% over the past four years, well above the global average of 80%.
The Director will report to an active Board, including parents and WIS community members. The Director is expected to work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and the Board. The position provides an ideal chance for the successful candidate to demonstrate their leadership abilities as well as providing a great educative experience. Namibia has a very high quality of life and is an ideal place for families.
The successful candidate should meet the following requirements:
- A relevant Bachelor's degree and educational qualification (or other relevant discipline);
- At least 10 years of relevant educational management experience of which the majority (i.e. at least five years or more) should have been at international schools;
- Extensive knowledge of the educational programmes offered at WIS (IB PYP, Cambridge Checkpoint, IGCSE and IB Dip);
- A firm commitment to international education and multiculturalism;
- Clear and effective communication skills and the ability to connect and empathise with all key stakeholders, both internally and externally.
In addition, the candidate would preferably meet the following criteria:
- A Post Graduate Degree (i.e. Master's) in school management or similar;
- Experience in financial planning and fiscal responsibility.
A full job description is available upon request by sending an email to chairbot@wis.edu.na. The successful candidate is expected to start in August 2015 (WIS's new academic year) however flexibility will be given to exceptional candidates.
Applicants should submit:
A short motivational letter (1-2 pages) explaining how the candidate believes they can help further develop the school and why they think they are the right person to do so.
- A brief up-to-date Curriculum Vitae highlighting their academic experience, the roles and responsibilities held, and results achieved.
- A short statement (1-2 pages) detailing candidate's educational principles, and leadership and management style.
- A list of three supervisory references with names, phone numbers, and email addresses for each (references will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission).
Applications should be addressed to The Chair of the Board, Windhoek International School, and sent by email only to chairbot@wis.edu.na. All applications will be acknowledged.
Closing date for applications: Monday, 6 April 2015
Individuals holding Namibian citizenship or Permanent Residence are encouraged to apply. Non-Namibian candidates will only be appointed in the absence of suitably qualified Namibians and with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration.
About Windhoek International School
Mission Statement
Our vision for the School
We aspire to be a World Class International School that provides an internationally accredited curriculum, high quality facilities and a diverse staff to prepare independent, inquiring and self-motivated citizens of the world.
Mission Statement
To develop the full potential of each student in a stimulating environment of academic excellence, cultural diversity and active social responsibility to become internationally minded independent thinkers.
Definition of World Class International School
- International Curriculum
- Professional staff from a wide range of nationalities
- Exceptional Staff : Student ratio
- Institutional International Accreditation
- Superb Teaching, Sporting, Extra-mural facilities
- Diverse student population
Statement of Principles
We set out to involve students, parents and staff as active partners in the learning process, in a relevant, engaging and challenging educational programme, through commitment, self- reflection and continuous improvement. We therefore firmly believe that all students:
- are respected and valued as individuals
- are guided to the full realisation of their potential
- have the responsibility to respect the right of others to learn to the best of their ability
- have the right to an environment that embraces a love of learning
- are provided a safe, caring, collaborative learning environment that encourages students to think for themselves and foster a commitment of lifelong learning
- have their diverse needs accommodated openly, providing their academic and physical requirements can be realistically accommodated
- have a community that respects and supports learning
The school will:
- be religiously and politically neutral
- provide a balanced programme of instruction founded on international curricula, leading to qualifications of both local and international value
- involve students, parents and staff as active partners in the learning process
- provide a rigorous academic programme with continuous review and improvement
- constantly review and improve facilities, resources and the delivery of its programmes
- function within the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- promote in all members of the school community, a sense of rights and responsibilities
- foster an appreciation and understanding of other cultures
- maintain financial stability through sound strategic planning and effective management
- contribute to Namibia’s further development
- endeavour to create opportunities for disadvantaged students
- strive to maintain a balance of National and International student body
The Community will:
- respect and support learning
- adhere to all protocols and policies and procedures
Our Philosophy & Beliefs
Windhoek International School is a small community. We wish all its members to derive the greatest possible benefit from being here. Windhoek International School is committed to being a religiously and politically neutral, multicultural school, servicing the international and local communities in Namibia.
We set out to involve students, parents and staff as active partners in the learning process, in a relevant, engaging and challenging educational programme, through commitment, self reflection and continuous improvement. We therefore firmly believe that all students:
- are respected and valued as individuals
- are guided to the full realisation of their full potential
- have the right to learn and to achieve to the best of their ability
- have the right to an environment that embraces a love of learning
- are provided a safe caring, collaborative learning environment that encourages students to think for themselves and foster a commitment of lifelong learning
- diverse needs are accommodated openly, providing their academic and physical requirements can be realistically accommodated
- have a community that respects and supports learning.
IB Learner Profiles
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.
As IB learners we strive to be:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
http://www.ibo.org/programmes/profile/
IB Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
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