Director of Operations - Repton International Schools Ltd

Package Description

Director of Operations - Repton International Schools Limited

Hours and Annual Leave
Contractual working hours are 8am to 5pm. However, this is a senior position with the expectation that hours worked will match the requirements of the role. Annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure.

Salary
Competitive salary and membership in RISL’s Pension Scheme (AEGON)

Start Date
September 2022, or earlier if possible

Job Introduction

There are currently seven schools established as part of the Repton International Schools Ltd (RISL) group: four in the UAE, one in China, one in Malaysia and one in Egypt, with another three schools planned to open within the next three years. The family of international schools currently educates over 5000 children. www.reptoninternational.com

The RISL Director of Operations reports to the Managing Director and will have portfolio responsibility for one or more Repton schools, as well as a number of areas of educational and operational delivery across the group. Participation in or leadership of Quality Assurance Visits to RISL schools will be an important element to this role and therefore regular international travel will be an expectation.

This is an exciting time for RISL, with the opening of three schools in the pipeline we continue to seek further opportunities both internationally and closer to home; the further development of our existing EdTech offering is another important element to our future plans.

A background and significant experience in teaching (whether at Primary or Secondary level) will be essential to this role; the successful candidate will have senior leadership experience in schools: international experience will be an advantage.

For more information or an informal conversation about the role please contact Emily Ingram via eingram@repton.org.uk in the first instance.

Main Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities 

1) Establishment of new schools

• Work with partners to support them in school licensing processes to  obtain  regulatory approvals as required in the territory.
• Provide advice on the facilities required by Repton schools to include (but not  limited to) academic, sporting, pastoral, scientific, administrative, performing arts,  catering and IT facilities.
• Provide a detailed facilities brief based on school size and occupancy, and liaise  with partners and architects in developing the brief to finalise requirements.
• Provide manuals relating to specialist facility requirements to expected Repton  standards and compliant with UK design guides (where relevant) for such facilities.
• Work with partners and appointed architects in school design, layout, traffic flow and  interior design, ensuring that the building(s) complies with health and safety  standards and applicable codes and fulfils its educational purpose.
• Provide a detailed project plan and critical path of all deliverables required for a  successful school launch. Monitor the progress and delivery of the plan and provide  partners with assistance and support as required.
• Advise on and provide policies, processes and related documents for the operation  of the school's admissions office(s), including design and content of the admissions  packs, and the processes and procedures for assessing pupils for admission to the  school.
• Advise on, and provide lists of age-appropriate furniture and associated equipment  required for school set-up, including that required for specialist facilities such as, but  not limited to, Science, Art and DT, ICT, Physical Education and  Sport,  and  libraries.
• Provide lists of educational resources to enable delivery of a high-quality curriculum.  These to include textbooks and published schemes for all subjects, reading and  phonics schemes, library books, play equipment and teaching resources such as  science and art supplies and equipment, PE and sports equipment etc.
• Advise on academic and administrative manpower for pre-operation and start-up of  Repton schools and provide guidance and support in recruitment of staff.
• Advise on budgeting for school start-up and provide estimates of costings for  manpower, resources etc.
• Assist, as required, in the recruitment of key staff members, including the Principal  and other members of the SMT and the Director of Admissions, and participate in  recruitment of teaching staff as necessary.
• Provide examples of staff contracts of employment to ensure salary and benefits  are attractive to high quality staff, are internationally and locally competitive, and  aligned to the premium status of the school. Work with partners in developing a  salary scale for staff that meets the above criteria.

• Provide job descriptions for academic staff and administrative staff as required.

Take an active role in the establishment of all systems and processes relating to  safeguarding and child protection, including health and safety and risk control.

• Work with school leaders on curricula and course outlines as appropriate including:
  • Curriculum design and implementation
  • Preparation of the School Improvement Plan
  • Teaching and learning strategies
  • Use of academic student data (and relevant platforms)
  • Timetabling
  • Schemes of work
  • Extra-curricular strategies
  • Appraisal and performance management
  • Marketing (domestic and international)
  • IT, specifically MIS
• Work with school leaders to advise on accreditation by the Council of British  International Schools and/or other accrediting bodies.

2) Established Schools

• Lead or participate as a team-member in Quality Assurance Visits (QAV) to RISL  schools.
• Ensure clear direction is given to each school for child welfare, including the  implementation and annual review of the child protection and safeguarding policy  in line with KCSiE, aligned to local safeguarding approaches and regulations.
• Ensure that the procedures and curricula of the schools correspond to RISL  standards and international best practice through regular/ongoing monitoring of  outcomes, policies and procedures.
• Serve as a governor of RISL schools as required and, through the board of  governors, provide advice relating to any key strategic decisions required for the  school.
• Attend significant events at schools as required.
• Attend regular meetings with school leaders to advise/guide in the management of  the school and to monitor academic provision, quality of learning and teaching,  safeguarding, pastoral care and health and safety, staff appraisal and performance  management, school development plans, polices and documentation, and  preparation for inspection.
• With other members of the RISL team, oversee/participate in the annual appraisal  of school leaders.
• Assist in facilitating links between the schools in the RISL family, including through  the use of Education Technologies (EdTech).
• Provide on-going assistance recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff as  necessary.
• Provide advice to the school management team in preparation for local inspections  by regulatory/accrediting bodies or examination organisations.
• Contribute to, or lead, staff training as required in partner schools.
• Provide ongoing assistance and quality control in the areas of marketing and  admissions.

3) Data Protection

• Fulfil the role of Data Protection Officer for RISL, maintaining the GDPR policy and  ensuring compliance with current GDPR laws and practices.

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a reputable university
• Master’s degree (particularly in Education or Business Administration) would be  desirable

Experience

• Significant educational leadership experience (commercial experience would be  desirable)
• Demonstrable success in developing and implementing strategic plans
• Evidence of the ability to build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Experience or demonstrable understanding of high-quality governance
• Evidence of leading and developing high-performing teams
• Experience of the international education sector would be desirable
• Experience of the UK independent education sector would be desirable
• Experience of compliance and accreditation processes would be desirable

Skills and Qualities

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to relate well to people on all  levels and of different cultures, to resolve conflicts in a sensitive manner, to  encourage, persuade and motivate
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a leadership team, to show initiative,  determination and imagination
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to remain calm  under pressure and work to tight deadlines, managing competing priorities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective, proactive and energetic in instigating and implementing school  improvement
• Ability to see through complex strategies from concept to conclusion
• Ability to maintain a high work rate and to manage a range of tasks and issues at  the same time
• Excellent spoken and written English
• Good financial and commercial acumen
• An eye for detail and an understanding of the legislative and compliance  frameworks for independent and international schools.

About Repton School

Repton was a pioneer among UK independent schools in the establishment of international ‘branches’; with the opening of Repton Dubai in 2007, it became the first UK school to establish in the UAE. Fifteen years on, there are now seven schools established as part of the Repton International Schools Ltd (RISL) group: four in the UAE, one in China, one in Malaysia and one in Egypt, with another three schools planned to open within the next three years. The family of international schools currently serves over 5000 children, providing a ‘rounded, grounded and unbounded’ education to prepare them for future success and fulfilling lives. www.reptoninternational.com

This is an exciting time for RISL, with the opening of three schools in the pipeline we continue to explore opportunities both internationally and closer to home; the further development of our existing EdTech offering is another important element to our future plans.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, therefore the following shall be deemed to be included, in addition to the duties that you may be required to perform:
Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 it is a criminal offence for a person over 18 (e.g. teacher, matron, sports coach) to have a sexual relationship with a child under 18 where that person is in a position of trust in respect of that child, even if the relationship is consensual.This applies where the child is in full-time education and the person works in the same establishment as the child, even if s/he does not teach the child. Moreover, whatever the age of the pupil, a sexual relationship between an employee and a pupil will be considered an abuse of a position of trust and gross misconduct, likely to result in dismissal.