Director of School Services
Location Shanghai
Start Date : August 2024
Objectives
The Bridge | China is Wellington College China's centre for supporting all aspects of the educational provision of our schools. As such, the Bridge provides a tangible link between colleagues, ideas, and good practice across the global Wellington family.
It gives explicit impetus to creating an innovation and research-informed
community where staff can make a meaningful contribution to Wellington College
China schools as they evolve from 'good to great'. Bridges are by their nature
connectors, and thus the Bridge | China will be positioned not only as a point of
contact for Wellington, but as a centre of engagement with progressive, likeminded institutions and individuals who share our vision of an education that meets the needs of 21st century learners, staff and parents.
The work on school improvement, research-based practice and innovation in
education will thus be marked by greater collaboration across our schools and the family of Wellington College schools.
Core features of Wellington education:
* Further research and involvement in current developments in teaching and
learning (dual language, oracy, assessment, Harkness practice etc) and
the science of impactful teaching and learning (MBE, for example)
* Innovation and excellence in (i) Mandarin teaching, (ii) wellbeing, (iii)
coaching, (iv) leadership and (v) university guidance.
* Engagement with the key strategic directives of the group moving forward:
unequivocal commitment to excellent results and university destinations,
staff recruitment, retention and CPD, further deployment of EdTech and
supporting the growth of a worldwide bilingual network of schools.
* Cross-phase liaison will be an increasingly important part of the role, as will
a commitment to research and influencing the education debate outside
the group. We expect The Bridge to generate research-led publications
and engage with conferences and research across the world.
* Equally, informing schools, leaders and governors of developments in
international, bilingual education becomes an essential expectation of the
role. EdFest will sit well under the umbrella of The Bridge.
* Training staff, from ITE to ECT, middle leadership and beyond, in association with CO HR, is another key pillar of the work of the Bridge.
* As new leaders and teachers join the group, quality assurance continues to
be part of the work of The Bridge staff, including supporting cross-school
moderation for quality of teaching and assessment, Annual Review,
safeguarding and governance reporting.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES
The Director of School Services is responsible for supporting schools in the provision of staff development and training, as well as fostering further links across WCC and the wider Wellington network through pupil competitions, events, and EdFest.
The scope of work will include:
? Make available the best, most inspiring and formative Professional
Development opportunities, including but not limited to:
? Innovation and excellence in (i) teaching and learning, (ii) mandarin
teaching, (iii) wellbeing, (iv) coaching, (v) leadership and (vi) university
guidance, aimed to support schools in gaining further excellent results and
university destinations.
? Lead WCC ITE to ECT, middle leadership, NPQ programmes
? Facilitate the connectivity of professional learning communities within
WCC and beyond.
? Grow internal WCC group networks - create support networks for direct
contacts ('jobalikes').
? Foster family wide PLCs with UK, US, Thailand, India and other Wellington
College schools across the world.
? Oversee the WCC Festival of Education ('EdFest')
? Lead the group's pupil competitions (eg art, maths, Chinese and English)
as well as encouraging new opportunities for groupwide collaboration.
? Contribute to governance through reports and analysis of developments
in schools.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education Honours degree Language English
Chinese may be an advantage
EXPERIENCE
? Recent or current experience of working in a senior leadership capacity in schools (> 5 years)
? A proven track record of commissioning and leading impactful professional
development in schools
COMPETENCIES
? Excellent inter-personal skills: a confident and skilled
communicator. ? A strong understanding of international schools and
their context, challenges and opportunities.
? An ability to harness active, high-value professional
development networks and partnerships, both within
WCC and across the world.
? Effective project manager.
PREFERRED APTITUDES
? International mindedness and cross-cultural sensitivity
? Highly organised and self-motivated
? Reliable and hard-working
? Fully aligned with the WCC core values of respect,
courage, kindness, responsibility and integrity
REMUNERATION
The Director of School Services will be offered a highly competitive salary. WCC offers an attractive level of variable performance-related pay. The remuneration package will include an accommodation allowance, comprehensive medical insurance for themselves and dependents, school places, relocation support, annual flight allowance aligned with the WCC policy for senior leaders.
As an employer of choice, Wellington College China is committed to making professional learning and personal development central to its ethos and approach.
*WCC fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding children. Our safeguarding policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the Group.