Head of Inclusion (Maternity Cover)- Two Terms
Horizon English SchoolTeaching
Status
Actively Hiring
Date Listed31 March 2026
ContractPermanent
PlatformW5_SYNC
About This Role
Horizon English School is on the lookout for an outstanding Head of Inclusion (Maternity Cover – 2 terms) to collaborate closely with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team in promoting academic excellence, nurturing a culture of wellbeing, and ensuring operational effectiveness within our dynamic educational environment.
About Horizon English School Dubai:
Established in 1989, Horizon English School (HES) ranks among the longest-serving British educational institutions in Dubai. Located in Jumeirah, our school serves an international community of around 1300 students and nearly 200 staff members. We have consistently received outstanding ratings from the KHDA and BSO for several years and hold accreditation from BSME (British Schools in the Middle East).
This is a unique chance to become part of the senior leadership team. We are eager to meet candidates who share our beliefs:
•
In the importance of building trust with both children and colleagues
•
That every child can achieve great things in a supportive environment
•
In the continuous pursuit of personal improvement
•
In the significance of collaboration to achieve the highest standards
Explore our website and social media channels to discover what makes Horizon an exceptional place to learn and work:
https://horizonschooldubai.com/
https://www.instagram.com/horizonschooldubai/
About Cognita:
Cognita is a worldwide leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we encompass a growing network of over 100 schools across 16 countries, including Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, serving more than 85,000 students. While each of our schools has its own unique identity, we share a common goal: to create an environment where everyone can “Thrive in a rapidly evolving world.”
At Cognita, we recognize that every student is distinct. We celebrate their individual personalities and strengths and provide academic, social, and emotional support tailored to their needs, no matter where they are in the world. We safeguard their unique qualities while offering a wealth of knowledge, opportunities, and best practices, ensuring they receive an education that is genuinely world-class.
Role Overview:
Under the leadership of the Principal, the Head of Inclusion will shape the strategic development of inclusive practices within the school. You will oversee the daily operations of the Inclusion department and coordinate specific support for individual Students of Determination, including those who belong to inclusive groups.
You will be responsible for offering professional guidance to colleagues both within and outside the inclusion department, collaborating closely with staff, parents, and external agencies.
Duties and responsibilities:
Leadership of strategy
•
Contribute to and advance a vision for inclusive practice that aligns with our goals of a thriving school, an evolving curriculum, and community service.
•
Keep abreast of UAE, UK, and international initiatives and policies that may influence the school’s strategy and practices.
•
Serve as an advocate for inclusive practices within the community, challenging existing norms to continuously enhance our provisions.
•
Balance the three components of our school improvement model, thinking creatively about what is achievable for our community.
Leadership of culture
•
Promote an inclusive culture within the school by confronting exclusive beliefs, language, and practices.
•
Lead a team of inclusion specialists, modeling (and expecting from the team) behaviors that expand our horizons.
•
Work to minimize variations in inclusive practices within the school by establishing clear Horizon habits and assisting colleagues in embodying them.
Leadership of continuous improvement
•
With support from senior leaders, identify a select number of improvement priorities and systematically implement enhanced practices.
•
Commit to your own leadership development.
•
Offer a variety of professional learning opportunities for both the inclusion team and the wider staff.
•
Contribute to school self-evaluation, particularly focusing on provisions for Students of Determination.
•
Assist in the school development plan as necessary and in whole-school policy formulation.
•
Maintain a strategic overview of provisions for Students of Determination across the school, monitoring and assessing quality.
•
Identify training needs for staff and devise plans to address them.
•
Lead INSET/CPD for staff.
•
Guide and support teaching assistants and learning support assistants.
Management of records
•
Ensure an accurate SEND register is maintained, helping colleagues to thoroughly understand their Students of Determination.
•
Keep records accurate and up to date.
Management of relationships with stakeholders and organizations
•
Collaborate with early years providers, other schools, educational psychologists, and external agencies to facilitate transitions into the school and ongoing support.
•
Prepare and assess information to assist the governing board in fulfilling its responsibilities.
•
Communicate effectively and promptly with families.
Management of support for Students of Determination
•
Analyze and respond to assessment data for Students of Determination.
•
Lead the implementation of intervention groups for Students of Determination and assess their effectiveness.
•
Coordinate the identification of needs process.
•
Oversee the IEP process in collaboration with parents and students.
•
Ensure that relevant information is communicated to any receiving school when a student transfers, facilitating a smooth transition.
Skills & Competencies:
•
Qualified teacher status (or equivalent).
•
A relevant SEND/Inclusion qualification or considerable leadership experience in inclusion.
•
Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.
•
Demonstrated capability to manage teams, resolve challenges, and sustain relationships with stakeholders.
Our Offer:
The successful candidate will enjoy a tax-free salary, accommodation allowance, private medical coverage, and end-of-service gratuity. Additionally, there is a strong commitment to supporting the professional development and career aspirations of the successful candidates.
Applications should be submitted using the TES online application form; only fully completed applications will be considered. Please include your current and updated CV to support your application.
Interviews will be conducted both online and in person.
The school reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, so we encourage candidates to apply early.
Thank you for your interest in Horizon English School. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, only those shortlisted will be contacted.
"Horizon English School and Cognita are dedicated to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expect the same commitment from their employees. All new staff members will undergo detailed and enhanced pre-employment checks, including identity verification, criminal background checks for all countries of residence, qualification verification, employment history checks to address any employment gaps, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment within the last 10 years.”
About Horizon English School Dubai:
Established in 1989, Horizon English School (HES) ranks among the longest-serving British educational institutions in Dubai. Located in Jumeirah, our school serves an international community of around 1300 students and nearly 200 staff members. We have consistently received outstanding ratings from the KHDA and BSO for several years and hold accreditation from BSME (British Schools in the Middle East).
This is a unique chance to become part of the senior leadership team. We are eager to meet candidates who share our beliefs:
•
In the importance of building trust with both children and colleagues
•
That every child can achieve great things in a supportive environment
•
In the continuous pursuit of personal improvement
•
In the significance of collaboration to achieve the highest standards
Explore our website and social media channels to discover what makes Horizon an exceptional place to learn and work:
https://horizonschooldubai.com/
https://www.instagram.com/horizonschooldubai/
About Cognita:
Cognita is a worldwide leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we encompass a growing network of over 100 schools across 16 countries, including Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, serving more than 85,000 students. While each of our schools has its own unique identity, we share a common goal: to create an environment where everyone can “Thrive in a rapidly evolving world.”
At Cognita, we recognize that every student is distinct. We celebrate their individual personalities and strengths and provide academic, social, and emotional support tailored to their needs, no matter where they are in the world. We safeguard their unique qualities while offering a wealth of knowledge, opportunities, and best practices, ensuring they receive an education that is genuinely world-class.
Role Overview:
Under the leadership of the Principal, the Head of Inclusion will shape the strategic development of inclusive practices within the school. You will oversee the daily operations of the Inclusion department and coordinate specific support for individual Students of Determination, including those who belong to inclusive groups.
You will be responsible for offering professional guidance to colleagues both within and outside the inclusion department, collaborating closely with staff, parents, and external agencies.
Duties and responsibilities:
Leadership of strategy
•
Contribute to and advance a vision for inclusive practice that aligns with our goals of a thriving school, an evolving curriculum, and community service.
•
Keep abreast of UAE, UK, and international initiatives and policies that may influence the school’s strategy and practices.
•
Serve as an advocate for inclusive practices within the community, challenging existing norms to continuously enhance our provisions.
•
Balance the three components of our school improvement model, thinking creatively about what is achievable for our community.
Leadership of culture
•
Promote an inclusive culture within the school by confronting exclusive beliefs, language, and practices.
•
Lead a team of inclusion specialists, modeling (and expecting from the team) behaviors that expand our horizons.
•
Work to minimize variations in inclusive practices within the school by establishing clear Horizon habits and assisting colleagues in embodying them.
Leadership of continuous improvement
•
With support from senior leaders, identify a select number of improvement priorities and systematically implement enhanced practices.
•
Commit to your own leadership development.
•
Offer a variety of professional learning opportunities for both the inclusion team and the wider staff.
•
Contribute to school self-evaluation, particularly focusing on provisions for Students of Determination.
•
Assist in the school development plan as necessary and in whole-school policy formulation.
•
Maintain a strategic overview of provisions for Students of Determination across the school, monitoring and assessing quality.
•
Identify training needs for staff and devise plans to address them.
•
Lead INSET/CPD for staff.
•
Guide and support teaching assistants and learning support assistants.
Management of records
•
Ensure an accurate SEND register is maintained, helping colleagues to thoroughly understand their Students of Determination.
•
Keep records accurate and up to date.
Management of relationships with stakeholders and organizations
•
Collaborate with early years providers, other schools, educational psychologists, and external agencies to facilitate transitions into the school and ongoing support.
•
Prepare and assess information to assist the governing board in fulfilling its responsibilities.
•
Communicate effectively and promptly with families.
Management of support for Students of Determination
•
Analyze and respond to assessment data for Students of Determination.
•
Lead the implementation of intervention groups for Students of Determination and assess their effectiveness.
•
Coordinate the identification of needs process.
•
Oversee the IEP process in collaboration with parents and students.
•
Ensure that relevant information is communicated to any receiving school when a student transfers, facilitating a smooth transition.
Skills & Competencies:
•
Qualified teacher status (or equivalent).
•
A relevant SEND/Inclusion qualification or considerable leadership experience in inclusion.
•
Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.
•
Demonstrated capability to manage teams, resolve challenges, and sustain relationships with stakeholders.
Our Offer:
The successful candidate will enjoy a tax-free salary, accommodation allowance, private medical coverage, and end-of-service gratuity. Additionally, there is a strong commitment to supporting the professional development and career aspirations of the successful candidates.
Applications should be submitted using the TES online application form; only fully completed applications will be considered. Please include your current and updated CV to support your application.
Interviews will be conducted both online and in person.
The school reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, so we encourage candidates to apply early.
Thank you for your interest in Horizon English School. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, only those shortlisted will be contacted.
"Horizon English School and Cognita are dedicated to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expect the same commitment from their employees. All new staff members will undergo detailed and enhanced pre-employment checks, including identity verification, criminal background checks for all countries of residence, qualification verification, employment history checks to address any employment gaps, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment within the last 10 years.”