Head Teacher - Junior Phase  (Academic Year 2026-27)

About Us
The British School of Kuwait (BSK) is a private, co-educational, British curriculum in Salwa - a quiet sea-facing suburb of Kuwait. BSK operates as an all-through school catering for students from Reception to Year 13 consisting of four phases: the Lower Phase (Reception to Year 2), the Junior Phase (Years 3 to 5), the Middle Phase (Years 6 to 8) and the Higher Phase (Years 9 to 13). The school follows the National Curriculum of England from EYFS to A Level. BSK also works very closely with its sister school, The Sunshine Kindergarten (TSK), which follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and caters for the youngest students in Crèche, Pre-KG and KG.
BSK is seeking to connect with passionate education professionals who are ready to advance their careers and make a positive impact on our amazing students.
Role

We are seeking qualified and committed Head Teacher - Junior Phase to join the school in September 2026. Applicants must be fluent English speaking graduates who hold a UK Department for Education teacher reference number or equivalent non-UK qualifications, or be in their final year of training.
As an accredited British School Overseas (BSO), BSK is held to the highest standards of British education, meaning that you’ll be working in an internationally recognised environment that is committed to excellence.

Why BSK?
BSK is an exciting environment in which to build a career in teaching. The quality of students, teachers and resources, combined with progressive curriculum planning, extensive extracurricular activities and continuing professional development, provide opportunities that very few schools can match.
For Early Career Teachers (ECTs), we are proud to be able to offer the chance to complete your induction whilst teaching abroad. This is a rare opportunity that allows you to fully qualify as a teacher whilst gaining international experience. In partnership with our Appropriate Body in the United Kingdom, we offer structured support and strong mentorship, whereby you'll develop essential skills to advance in your career whilst working in an inspiring, multicultural setting.
Working with Us
At BSK, we believe that our staff are the heart of our community. We know that the dedication and passion of our teachers and support teams are key to our students' success. That's why we are committed to providing a supportive, dynamic work environment where each team member can thrive and grow.
We pride ourselves on offering a wide-variety of opportunities for professional development, including a variety of partnerships with local and national educational organisations. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, expand your qualifications, or explore leadership opportunities, we provide access to resources and networks that can help you progress in your career. 
Career Progression
All teachers at BSK are adventurous, capable and ambitious and whilst the average length of stay has been increasing, there remain frequent opportunities for colleagues to apply for positions of extra responsibility within the school. Though BSK demands the highest standards of professionalism from its staff it remains an exciting environment in which to build a career in teaching.
In addition to the career benefits, teaching overseas opens doors to an incredibly enriching lifestyle. You’ll have the opportunity to save money, explore new countries, and experience life from a global perspective. This adventure allows you to travel the world, immerse yourself in new cultures, and bring fresh insights into your teaching practices.

Who are we looking for?

Title: Head Teacher - Junior Phase
Team: Senior Management Team
Responsible To: Principal

Job Summary:
As Head Teacher of the Junior Phase, you will play a strategic role in the continued development of both the phase and the school. As well as leading your own team, you will also work closely with the whole school principal and the head teachers of the other four phases of the school to provide exceptional quality of provision and drive continued improvements.

Key areas of responsibility
● Provide exceptional strategic leadership for the Junior Phase through the continued development, implementation and review of strategic goals and action plans that both address the identified areas for development at a phase level and align with whole school priorities.
● Assume responsibility for academic excellence across the Junior Phase, ensuring the quality of the curriculum offered as well as standards of teaching and learning, and leading the drive to continually improve attainment and progress throughout the phase.
● Lead on staff recruitment, retention, induction, development and performance management within the Junior Phase, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment focused on high performance.
● Oversee all aspects of provision relevant to pastoral care, wellbeing and safeguarding within the Junior Phase, including the continued development of best practice and ensuring alignment to all statutory requirements and updates as applicable.
● Take the lead on ensuring excellence in all matters of communication and external relations, ensuring high quality stakeholder relationships that support the continued development and further enhancement of the Junior Phase.
● Ensure that continued improvement and innovation are at the forefront of thinking and developments within the phase, promoting a culture of collaboration, professional learning and enquiry-based approaches to both enhancing provision in the Junior Phase and contributing to whole school improvements.
● Oversee all commercial and operational matters relevant to the Junior Phase, ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in all areas, including working collaboratively with non-academic colleagues.
● Lead the Junior Phase team in relation to all matters of admissions, re-registration, marketing and public relations.

Strategic Leadership

● Development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic vision and corresponding action plan for the Junior Phase that also aligns with the strategy and vision of the school.

● The strategy should encompass: curriculum development, staff development, assessment strategies, resources, pastoral care, admissions and re-registration strategies.

● Presentation of the final strategy to the Senior Management Team.

● Leading the Junior Phase Leadership Team in monitoring & reviewing the performance of the strategy for the phase and developing strategies for implementation or adaptation based on data and feedback.

● Championing any whole-school responsibility of this role assigned by the Principal or the Senior Management Team.

Academic Excellence
● Collaborating with the Assistant Head Teacher - Academic to ensure the alignment of the curriculum with the requirements of the National Curriculum of England and the national curriculum requirements in Kuwait for Arabic and Islamic Studies.
● Ensure teaching and learning against those curricula meets the expected standard of school policies and best/modern practices. Ensure teachers understand the expectation for curriculum delivery, assessment and differentiation.
● Drive required improvement and innovation, where required, following the commission and evaluation of curriculum audits.
● Ensure robust and consistent assessment practices are implemented across the phase, aligning with the National
Curriculum of England framework as well as modern best practices and the school’s ethos, vision and expectations.
● Overseeing the analysis of student data, including standardised tests (NFER) and internal assessments to ensure students are making the best possible progress. Identify trends, strengths and areas for improvement in student performance that may require strategies for individual and group interventions.
● Use data to inform curriculum development, teaching approaches and resource allocation. Communicating assessment data effectively to teachers, parents and leadership teams.
Staff & Team Leadership
● Assist in the recruitment (screening, interviewing and selection) and induction of new teachers.
● Conduct lesson observations and performance appraisals of teachers and team members, providing feedback and facilitating development.
● Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment, encouraging knowledge sharing and peer mentoring.
● Address performance concerns of staff through established procedures, ensuring fairness and equity.
● Organisation, delegation and clear communication in ensuring a positive workload balance that also promotes staff work-life balance and wellbeing.

Student Wellbeing, Pastoral Care & Safeguarding
● Championing a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment for all students in the phase.
● Overseeing the implementation of a clear framework for addressing issues such as bullying, behaviour management and safeguarding concerns. Ensuring the fair and equitable implementation of the pastoral care system, including student wellbeing programs and interventions.
● Working closely with the pastoral care team, parents and the student social worker at the Ministry of Education - when relevant, to ensure appropriate support for students with additional needs or vulnerabilities.
● Monitor and analyse data on student wellbeing to identify trends in order to implement any relevant initiatives.
● Ensuring adherence to all relevant educational policies, standards and safeguarding regulations.
● Leading or participating in regular safeguarding audits, reviews and self-assessments, taking corrective actions where necessary.
● Staying up to date with changes in regulations, policies and best practice, adapting practices accordingly.
● Leading the continuous development of comprehensive strategies and best practices in the support of smooth transition of students from Year 2 into Year 3 and from Year 5 into Year 6. This also involves the organisation of relevant parent meetings and individual student meetings necessary for guidance.

Parent/Family Relations and Communication
● Building and maintaining strong relationships with parents and carers through regular communication, meetings and events.
● Representing the Junior Phase and The British School of Kuwait at school events, meetings and conferences.
● Contributing to the wider school community, participating in initiatives and promoting a positive school ethos.
● Resolving escalated student welfare concerns in a firm, fair and compassionate manner, employing strong leadership and diplomacy to de-escalate tense situations. Collaborate with the pastoral care team to understand the nuances of any case that escalates to the Head Teacher and formulate appropriate solutions, prioritising the well-being of students involved.
● Utilising effective communication and conflict resolution skills to build trust and understanding with students, parents and staff. Strive to resolve complex cases within the phase, minimising the need for further escalation to the Principal, School Director, NAE Group or the Ministry of Education, ensuring actions and decisions align with legal and ethical frameworks.
Innovation, Improvement & Development
● Promoting innovation within the phase’s leadership team and amongst secondary teachers. Championing innovative ideas, teaching methods and approaches through the encouragement of technology use and evidence-based practices.
● Fostering a culture of research, reflection and the promotion of continuous improvement and best practice sharing.
● Driving a culture of life-long learners amongst the leadership team and primary teachers. Promote Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses and nurture a culture of ownership and autonomous self-starters alongside accountability.
Finance and Budget Management
● Overseeing the management of Junior Phase budgets in a manner that promotes effectiveness and efficiency, ensuring we are maximising the value we get from investments to resources, programs, courses, facilities etc.
● Working with other colleagues in the strategic and operational management teams to ensure the correct planning and provisioning of adequate budget allocation for the following year, including any new bids for additional resources or special projects/initiatives.
● Strong management of budget that sees careful justification on reported expenditure and demonstrable value obtained from decisions of such allocations.

Admissions, Re-registration & Marketing
● Overseeing the effective and efficient management of the phase’s registration and re-registration processes, adhering to the normal school admission & re-registration procedures and collaborating with the admissions team on any proposed improvements.
● Collaborating with the admissions and marketing teams to develop and implement strategies for expanding the attraction and enrolment of new high-quality students and maximising the initial enquiries pipeline.
● Conducting or participating in relevant school events that promote the Junior Phase, showcasing the strengths of the school and the phase and attracting prospective parents and families or further strengthening the confidence of our existing parents.
● Overseeing the effective and equitable management of waitlists and appeal requests for admission decisions, ensuring a transparent and fair process.

Qualifications and Education:

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education or in a relevant subject area.
• Possesses Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent internationally recognised teaching qualification.

Professional Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in teaching the British National Curriculum or a similar curriculum.
• Prior experience in senior leadership (AHT level or above)in the Middle East or another international setting is an advantage.

Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity:

• Appreciation and respect for cultural diversity, with a commitment to fostering a culturally inclusive classroom environment.
• Sensitivity to the cultural context of the Middle East, with a willingness to engage in and understand local customs and practices.
• Adaptable and open-minded, with the ability to thrive in a new and diverse environment.

Safeguarding

Prospective candidates should submit the details of at least two previous employers as referees which must be their two most recent employers, covering a minimum of four years of employment, or all of their employment if the candidate has less than four years of experience.

If a candidate has only one previous employer, two references can be provided from the same employer.

For candidates in a school where the line manager is providing a reference, the reference must be countersigned by the Head Teacher or Principal.

All successful applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced criminal background check and must provide a detailed residential history for the last ten (10) years.

The British School of Kuwait (BSK) is committed to safer recruitment practices.