The role of Head of English at St Andrew’s Prep School is a leadership position requiring an inspiring, strategic, and dynamic individual to champion excellence in teaching and learning, and inspire a culture of exceptional literacy across the school. The successful candidate will report to the Deputy Head Academic and will provide purposeful leadership to the English Department. Key objectives include shaping an engaging curriculum, upholding academic excellence in the Prep School, and strengthening links with the Senior School to support a smooth pupil transition.
St Andrew’s School, Turi is highly respected in Kenya and regarded as one of the leading international schools in East Africa, operating two semi-autonomous schools: a Preparatory School (ages 3 to 13) and a Senior School (ages 13 to 18). Life in this full boarding school, located in a remote area, requires adaptability, energy, and resilience. Above all, the post-holder must share the school's commitment to delivering a world-class education and upholding its Christian ethos.
St Andrew’s staff are characterized by the highest professional standards, forming a vibrant and industrious community, integral to the culture of excellent professional development within the context of a full boarding school.
Key Responsibilities
The overarching responsibilities of the role include:
- Promoting the Christian ethos of the school.
- Establishing and developing a curriculum that engages and motivates department colleagues and pupils.
- Shaping a forward-thinking curriculum and coordinating enrichment opportunities.
- Monitoring pupils’ progress and attainment to ensure the highest academic standards.
- Ensuring the reputation and delivery of academic excellence within the Prep School English Department.
- Leading, managing, and supporting the team of English teachers.
- Developing and improving collaboration between the Prep and Senior School to ensure a seamless transition for pupils.
- Contributing to whole-school strategic priorities.
- Fostering a dynamic learning environment that inspires a love of reading, writing, and communication.
- Commitment to allowing students to thrive, demonstrating first-class communication skills, passion for education, creativity and diligence in planning, and adaptability, energy, and resilience required for life in a full boarding school.
Skills and Attributes
The ideal candidate must possess:
- A strong personal empathy with the School’s Christian ethos.
- Purposeful, proactive and sound judgement with the highest standards of personal integrity, energy, stamina, resilience, empathy, enthusiasm, and a sense of humour.
- Academic curiosity.
- Supportive, encouraging, compassionate and inclusive nature.
- Impressive personal presence and presentation.
- Literacy and numeracy, excellent in the use of IT and with a keen eye for detail.
- A passion and appreciation for quality literature.
- High work standards evidenced by a consistently thorough detailed and organized approach.
- The presence, intellect, tact and credibility to represent the School at all levels and to a variety of audiences, both internal and external.
- Vision, creativity and imagination combined with the ability to operate at a strategic level.
- First class oral and written communication, and presentation skills.
- High levels of discretion and confidentiality.
- The ability to manage and prioritise a diverse workload, to meet deadlines and to work calmly under pressure.
Qualifications
- A minimum qualification of BA/BSc/HND.
