Secondary Career and Guidance Counsellor

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 in their learning. This is reflected in our excellent outcomes for all learners.

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. This was recently recognized as Dover Court International School was chosen for the UK Impact in Singapore 2022 award by the British Chamber of Commerce.

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.

We are also 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

At Nord Anglia Education we are committed to providing a world class, safe, happy environment in which children and young people can thrive and learn. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils where we embrace all race, abilities, religions, genders, and cultures. All post holders in regulated activity (having regular unsupervised contact with children) are subject to appropriate national and international vetting procedures including satisfactory criminal record checks from both your country of residence/birth and any country of residence.
We welcome applications from suitable qualified persons from all diverse backgrounds

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Areas of Responsibility and Key Tasks

• Contribute to the vision, systems, processes and ongoing review of provision.
• Ensure that the programme and services offered are of high quality and aligned to school mission and values,policy and procedures.
• Contribute to a comprehensive, age-appropriate university and careers programme for the Secondary School students, and from Year 8, provide support at transition points.
• Maintain the profile and promote the accessibility of the Careers and Higher Education department through school communication channels and by attending parent facing events and evenings, leading information sessions and workshops, both virtual and face to face.
• Lead the university application process for assigned students, providing guidance and support to students and families on course selection, personal statement and essay writing, futures planning, application systems and financial aid.
• Liaise as appropriate with outside organisations, developing productive networks and opportunities for DCIS students.
• Provide support for students and their families upon the release of IB and BTEC results in collaboration with the Head of Careers and Higher Education Guidance counselling and the Sixth Form and IB Coordinator, being available at agreed, designated times during school holidays to provide support.
• Cultivate meaningful engagement with students and their families throughout the Secondary School.
• Ensure that record keeping is comprehensive and complete and that students are able to build online records of strengths, successes and achievements as they move through the Secondary School.
• Ensure that academic transcripts for Years 12 and Year 13, references and recommendations are of high quality and that school-wide protocols and quality processes for student data protection, record keeping, data gathering and storage are followed.
• Maintain accurate data on university destinations, supplying information annually for the school profile and the MAC team in collaboration with the Head of Higher Education Guidance and Counselling.
• Attend regular department and Sixth Form meetings.
• Complete identified professional learning.
• Provide opportunities for students to prepare for admissions tests and interviews.
• Provide students and their families with information on virtual and face to face opportunities from colleges, universities and other educational opportunities.
• Lead training for staff as agreed with the Head of Careers and Higher Education Counselling.
• Lead/contribute to virtual and face to face further education and university visits and fairs, building effective relationships with institutions of higher education.
• Support alumni links working collaboratively with the marketing team.
• Keep up to date with changes and emerging trends in further education, providing accurate advice and signposting milestones for students and families.

Professional Conduct

• To promote a collaborative, supportive and connected professional network built on positive relationships,respectful professional challenge and a desire for better practice and outcomes.
• To set high standards and expectations for professional conduct.
• To lead productive and effective meetings with various stakeholders as a model for others.

Professional Reflection and Growth

• To lead professional learning related to careers and guidance programming and decision making, applications processes and recommendations.
• To engage in continuous learning related to the role, setting annual objectives with the Head of Secondary.
• Contributing to and the ongoing review of the school improvement plan in collaboration with the Secondary School Leadership Team

Qualifications/Skills

• Min Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
• Candidates with a Masters are invited to apply as well
• Minimum 2 years of relevant working experience
• Understanding of I/GCSE, ASDAN, IB and BTEC programmes offered by the school
• Wide-ranging up to date knowledge of evolving further education options and processes locally, regionally and globally
• Knowledge and agility with school information management systems and data and university application platforms.
• Experience of working in partnership with parents
• Excellent oral and written communication skills