Director of Schools

The British International School Riyadh (BISR) is a distinguished educational establishment celebrated for its dedication to academic achievement and comprehensive development. Providing a vibrant, globally-oriented education grounded in the British curriculum, BISR cultivates an engaging and inclusive atmosphere where students excel both academically and personally. With cutting-edge facilities and a committed group of educators, the school offers a rewarding experience that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and leadership skills, equipping students for success in a rapidly changing world.

BISR operates as a respected, not-for-profit educational organization with seven campuses throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It serves nearly 3,000 students aged 3-18 from over 90 different nationalities, supported by a staff of more than 538 dedicated professionals.

BISR draws upon Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage, fostering a diverse community and encouraging partnerships with service learning to motivate students to engage with complex global challenges and grow as responsible global citizens.

Since its establishment in 1979, the school has been committed to providing high-quality education to the expatriate community. It holds accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS) and is recognized as a British School Overseas (BSO), with ties to leading educational organizations and examination boards.

The school emphasizes three main pillars: learning, well-being, and enrichment, valuing each equally. Research shows that happy students are more effective learners. Furthermore, active involvement in the wider school community—through extracurricular activities, service opportunities, leadership roles, and trips—yields significant advantages, including improved academic performance, heightened self-esteem and confidence, broadened perspectives, enhanced social skills, and the development of leadership and life skills.

BISR is committed to providing all students with personalized, challenging, and enjoyable learning experiences. Each campus focuses on holistic education, offering an array of enrichment programs and high-quality learning opportunities. Students benefit from various experiences through residential trips, house events, and an extensive range of extracurricular activities. Supported by strong pastoral care, this environment enables students to thrive and flourish within a nurturing community.

For younger learners, all primary schools adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and an adapted version of the English National Curriculum for Years 1 to 6, enhanced to reflect both local and international contexts. Standardized assessment and reporting procedures are applied across campuses to ensure consistency.

In secondary schools, students engage in a wide range of subjects culminating in GCSE examinations, followed by a more specialized selection of A-Levels. At the DQ campus, BISR also provides the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for students aged 16-18 and has recently introduced vocational pathways, including BTECs. Graduates from BISR frequently pursue higher education at prestigious universities around the globe.

The Board of Governors is in search of a visionary, inspirational, and highly experienced leader to fill the position of Director of Schools, starting in August 2025. This pivotal role will oversee the effective leadership of the school and ensure the delivery of exceptional education across all its campuses in Saudi Arabia.

For more information and to apply for this position, please Apply via the WhatSchool platform.

Key Dates

• Closing date: 11 October 2024
• Longlist interviews: 23, 24 October 2024 (Virtual interviews)
• Shortlist interviews: 5, 6 November 2024 (in person, organized in Riyadh)