Assistant Headteacher - Primary - August 2026

Fortes Education has
been a leading education provider in the UAE for over four decades with premium
international schools and nurseries that have experienced outstanding success
and growth. Our schools offer the most innovative and character-building
education in the entire Middle East region. Our core ethos and philosophy of education is Positive Education
(PosEd). Through PosEd, our schools foster active engagement in learning, celebrating character strengths and accomplishments. We encourage children to
cultivate fulfilling relationships with others and seek meaning and purpose in
their own lives.?We enable children to become happy learners and develop into
innovative thinkers, confident young adults, and life-long learners. Our
students develop resilience, a growth mindset and deep character strengths that
allow them to flourish in an ever-changing world.?

About Sunmarke
School – Where Amazing Happens

Sunmarke School provides an ambitious and inspiring,
values-based education that nurtures the hearts and minds of students so that
they can flourish and achieve their dreams. Powered by our unique signature
programmes, Sunmarke is a uniquely innovative school, transforming young lives.
This was reflected in
Sunmarke School winning the coveted ‘Most Innovative School’ award at the Which
School Advisor ceremony in Dubai and London and by our world class IB results
ranking in the Top 68 schools Globally and twice in the Top 3 in Dubai. These
are matched by our A Level and GCSE results which place us in the top 10
schools in Dubai.

Sunmarke is an all–through
school which offers a premium education across a fantastic range of pathways
for students including the National Curriculum of England,
GCSE/IGCSE, ‘A’ Levels, BTEC and the IB Diploma
Programme. We also offer a suite of Signature Programmes unrivalled
in Dubai. With unique experiences in Environmental and Sustainability Studies,
students learn in Forest School settings, as well as utilising cutting-edge
hydroponic technology to examine how science can support sustainability in future
terrains. Our world-class STEAM centre and curriculum offers students an
incredible opportunity to apply their learning in solving real-world problems,
from Foundation Stage through to Year 9. We run best-in-class mini-MBA programmes for our Year 10 to 13 students in conjunction with the
Peter Jones Academy and Wharton Investors programme, to ensure their future
success in business and entrepreneurship. We are technologically very innovative
and have a world class AI and Robotics lab that offers unrivalled experiences
in these fast changing areas. Additionally we run comprehensive AI
programmes for students in all core subjects, as well as deepening other
subjects through Augmented and Virtual Reality AR/VR experiences. We have
outstanding performing arts opportunities with fantastic facilities and amazing
teachers to help our more creative students truly find their voice. We
are home to the Fortes Pro Sports Academy where international professional
sports coaches work exclusively with our students to reach new heights of
performance and to elevate our students to national and international titles.

Sunmarke School was judged
by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a ‘Very Good’ school
in our 3rd year of operation
and ‘Outstanding’ in our British Schools Overseas (BSO)
inspection in 2019.

We present an exciting
opportunity to join our all through school and to play an important part in our
journey to “outstanding”. Sunmarke School, Dubai is one of our flag-ship
schools, located at a prime location in Jumeirah Village Triangle.

About

you:
Due to an expansion of our primary
leadership structure for August 2026, we are seeking an experienced,
visionary and dynamic Assistant Headteacher – Primary. This is a pivotal
leadership post for a large and diverse Primary phase within a premium British
school. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker and an exceptional

practitioner with deep expertise in:
Curriculum Design
& Development

·
Leading whole-school curriculum strategy,
review cycles and redesign

·
Ensuring curriculum coherence, progression
and stretch across all phases

·
Embedding innovation, interdisciplinary
learning and 21st-century competencies

Measuring and
Evidencing Impact

·
Using assessment and data intelligently to
evaluate curriculum effectiveness

·
Leading teams to raise attainment and close
achievement gaps

·
Demonstrating measurable impact on teaching
quality, learning outcomes and student experience

Pastoral
Leadership & Safeguarding

·
Overseeing high-quality pastoral provision
and wellbeing programmes

·
Ensuring robust safeguarding practice and
culture across the Primary phase

·
Working closely with pastoral, inclusion
and safeguarding leads to support all students

You will work alongside the Head of Primary
and the Primary Leadership Team to co-create and implement the strategic
direction of the phase, shaping a learning environment where every child
thrives. The role includes a teaching commitment.

If you think you have got what it takes for
this role, then Sunmarke School may be just the challenge for you.

We are looking for an Assistant Headteacher

who:
·
Holds a bachelor’s degree in education with
a PGCE or equivalent (NPQSL is desirable).

·
Has 3–5 years’ middle leadership
experience, ideally with experience in the UAE.

·
Has a proven record of designing,
implementing and evaluating curriculum that raises standards and improves
student outcomes.

·
Is an innovative practitioner who can drive
pedagogical development and inspire excellence through coaching and mentoring.

·
Is confident in leading change, building
strong teams and establishing effective systems.

·
Demonstrates excellent communication,
relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.

·
Shows unwavering commitment to student
wellbeing, inclusion, and safeguarding.

·
Thrives under pressure and models
positivity, collaboration and professional integrity.

Our

Offer:
·
Excellent
tax-free salary

·
Furnished Accommodation

·
Relocation Allowance

·
Medical
Insurance for self, spouse & 2 dependents

·
Annual Flights for
self, spouse & 2 dependents

·
Annual
paid vacation

·
An
enthusiastic learning community of students, teachers, parents, and Board
members, who are dedicated to maximising student achievement, and
creating positive learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.

·
Working
within a team of highly driven and supportive colleagues

·
Excellent
professional development

·
Working
in Dubai, one of the world’s most sought-after work and travel
destinations

Application

Process:
If you have the passion,
energy, and commitment to drive accelerated outcomes for young
people, we will welcome your application. In return, you will
join a rapidly evolving organisation that can offer you a central
role in our future growth plans.

Interested
candidates are invited to complete our Online Application by
visiting: http://forteseducation.com/Careers/Current-Openings?

Please
follow the instructions provided to complete and submit your
application.?

? You should submit: ?

1. A copy of your curriculum vitae/résumé.?

2. A cover letter, preferably of no more than two
pages, addressed to Andrea Higgins, Head of Primary - Sunmarke

School. The letter should outline the following:
·
How has
your previous leadership experience prepared you to lead curriculum design,
innovation, pastoral excellence and safeguarding within a large Primary school?

·
How would
you ensure outstanding pastoral care and safeguarding provision across the
Primary phase, while fostering a nurturing and ambitious culture for all
learners?

Appointment
Start Date: August 2026

Closing
Date: Sunday,
28th December 2025 5 p.m. (UAE time)

Successful
candidates will be invited to participate in our Assessment
Centre either in person or online on Tuesday, 6th
January 2026.

Safer Recruitment
Statement

Fortes Education is
committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Policies for
safer recruitment are aligned with the recommendations of the International
Task Force on Child Protection. At Sunmarke School, we hold ourselves to a high
standard of effective practices in relation to child protection, and we are
committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

We expect all staff
and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject
to various background checks, including receipt of satisfactory references,
proof of relevant qualifications, identification, and police checks, including
overseas checks.