Head of Drama

We seek an inspirational Head of Drama to lead and manage the Drama department, ensuring the curriculum offering and high-quality teaching, learning and assessment are delivered to a high standard enabling success for all learners working in collaboration with the Head of Faculty.

The post-holder will work with the Secondary Senior Leadership Team in developing long-term secondary school strategies in relation to their faculty to raise standards.

The successful candidate will be passionate about driving high quality teaching and learning in an inclusive school and committed to making a difference to the lives of the young people in their care. They will be a reflective practitioner and an effective collaborator, relentless in the pursuit of better practice. Staff contribute to our pastoral care and well-being programme and to our co-curricular programme, making a full contribution to our vibrant community.

This position is available from August 2027.

About the Role

Engagement and Interaction:

• Fully support the school's Safeguarding policy, following reporting procedures and completing professional learning required.
• To promote high standards of learning amongst the students and your faculty team
• To support behaviour and relationships policy and practice.
• To work with other key functions of the school as needed, e.g. Admissions and Marketing, Finance.
• Liaise with Tutors/Progress Leaders regarding any students causing concern, initiate intervention.
• Liaise with Learning Support Dept regarding provision mapping of Individual Education Plans for students.
• Liaise with EAL Dept regarding further support required for students.
• Create opportunities to share best practice across the school.
• Promote and maintain a spirit of goodwill and co- operation amongst faculty and the wider secondary school.

Learning and Teaching:

• In collaboration with the Deputy Head of Secondary, deploy staff to ensure the best use of staff skills and experience.
• Ensure teachers in the faculty are providing high-quality teaching and learning experiences for students through the implementation of the DCIS definition of high-quality learning and Learning Principles.
• Liaise with the Deputy Head of Secondary / Head of Sixth Form on professional learning and development needs for subject teachers.
• Lead the Performance Management processes for faculty staff.
• Use assessment data to oversee academic intervention for students so all make progress.
• Ensure subject teachers are kept up to date with and share information on national and international developments in all curriculum areas, and with advances in teaching practice, pedagogy and methodology
• Promote a culture of collaboration within the faculty and wider secondary school.
• Identify both good practice and areas for improvement to develop a Faculty Improvement Plan, in conjunction with the Deputy Head of Faculty and Deputy Head of Secondary.
• Conduct new staff lesson visits and faculty learning evaluation with the purpose of always striving for better learning experiences for students and maintaining consistently high expectations.
• Maintain strong relationships with the secondary librarian to support the development of reading and research skills.
• Drive the ongoing use and development of Office 365 and Ed Tech within the faculty.

Planning and Preparation:

• Liaise with ISAMS administrator to maintain subject academic records of all students.
• Collate data/grades to monitor and track progress, analyse trends within the faculty.
• Support target setting procedures within the faculty.
• Ensure that the curriculum meets qualification requirements but is also innovative, engaging and creative, inspiring students to achieve.
• Lead the Faculty Improvement Planning process including the review of external examinations and student progress outcomes, and the setting and monitoring of annual improvement targets.
• Ensure that assessment data is accurate through a process of moderation and analysis.
• Monitor and evaluate curriculum provision and continuity for students.
• Monitor the quality of homework in the faculty in terms of consistency, relevance, marking and feedback.
• Participate in the formulation of Secondary strategic planning and policy creation and development.
• Meet regularly with the SSLT to collaboratively develop, monitor and evaluate the subject curriculum provision for the secondary school.
• Ensure the Programmes of Study, schemes of learning, curriculum maps are all up to date and reviewed annually.
• Liaise with other subjects and faculties to create interdisciplinary opportunities.
• Liaise with Primary colleagues to ensure continuity with student learning supporting smooth transition.
• Work with the SSLT, Head of Sixth Form and Exams Officer to support preparation for delivery of external examinations IGCSE and IB courses.
• Oversee deployment of staff for faculty wider CCA provision, intervention or supporting in other areas (eg sport, Music, Drama)

Professional and Personal Development:

• Lead the organisation and delivery of subject specific professional learning.
• Ensure the highest standards of professionalism are maintained.
• Act as a positive role model, by demonstrating our core values in interactions with staff, parents and students
• Liaise with the faculty to identify Professional Learning opportunities.
• Work with the team to produce annual resource requisitions.
• Chair faculty meetings as appropriate and keep accurate records of minutes.
• Lead in the organisation of subject contribution to curriculum focused days, festivals, House events, assemblies, public speaking etc.
• Lead the planning of subject related trips.
• Ensure the subject enjoys high profile via external communication and social media working in collaboration with Marketing.
• Ensure there are good quality displays in classrooms and public areas which support learning.
• Oversee the subject sections of curriculum guides/booklets update school handbooks.
• Invest in personal development and leadership growth through Professional Reflection and Growth processes.
• Oversee parental contacts on subject matters, including follow up on reports, parent student teacher conferences etc.

Drama Faculty Leadership:

• Lead the delivery of the secondary LAMDA provision, working with our external partners on the organization, delivery and examination of the qualifications.
• Ensure the health and safety requirements of the teaching, rehearsal and performing spaces, and equipment is in line with NAE guidance and liaise with the Operations team on all H&S matters.
• Maintain the servicing needs of all performance equipment.
• Ensure drama retains a high profile in the community through performances, collaborative productions, concerts and recitals.
• Ensure that our Juilliard collaboration is maintained in the best interest of students and faculty members.
• Laise with the Regional Performing Arts lead on NAE Global Campus opportunities to ensure your students are offered participation in opportunities available to them.

About You

• Bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a relevant field.
• PGCE, QTS, or an internationally recognized teaching qualification.
• Proven track record with at least two years middle leadership experience.
• Experience of being part of a highly successful department and school.
• Demonstrated evidence of innovating and adapting curricula to engage children and enable them to perform highly.
• Experience of teaching the IB Diploma Programme or equivalent.
• Experience of the National Curriculum for England and (I)GCSE.
• Experience of working with children for whom English is an additional language.

About us
Established in 1972, Dover Court International School in Singapore is a leading inclusive international school with British heritage, serving international families, set on a green 12-acre site about 20 minutes from the Singapore CBD.Dover Court International School is a community with inclusion at its heart.With more than 2000 students aged 3 to 18, our unique Pathway programme enables us to provide an education that meets the needs of a diverse student population, ensuring all learners are appropriately supported and challenged intheir learning.

In our Early Years we use a Reggio Emilia inspired approach. In Primary we are guided by the National Curriculum for England and the International Primary Curriculum. In Secondary we have IGCSE/GCSE, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and International BTEC qualifications. We also offer courses that focus on English, Mathematics, Life Skills and Employability through ASDAN programmes.

All students are involved in a wide range of co-curricular activities, mainly run by teaching staff. Resulting in a rich and varied co-curricular offer for our students, with our school active and competitive in the local international school sports league across a number of sports. The school has an extensive programme of residential trips starting in Year 3 up to the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award in Secondary.

Our unique approach enables us to prepare all students to flourish in our dynamic world, so they are active participants in a globally connected community, now and throughout life.

We are members of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia(FOBISIA) and are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Dover Court is a strong, vibrant community, where all staff are well supported with access to a range of professional learning opportunities and a commitment to professional reflection and growth.

Safeguarding
Dover Court International School in Singapore is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including references from previous employers in accordance with our safer recruitment practice. Final interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates suitability to work with children.

How to apply

Please submit your application via the Careers Page on our school website.
Your application should include:

• A currentCVdetailing your professional experience and qualifications.
• A Cover Letter detailing your suitability for this role.