Head of Art and Design – August 2026

We are looking for an outstanding Head of Art and Design to join our team at GEMS Wellington Academy, Al Khail.

Our vision at GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail is to ‘Empower today, for a limitless tomorrow.’ We are seeking an exceptional leader and educator to join our team who can help us achieve this goal through our belief in: Limitless Learning, Limitless Solutions, and Limitless Possibilities.

As a cognitive science-driven school, evidence-informed practice is at the heart of what we do. We seek educators who can passionately articulate what outstanding learning and teaching looks like and translate this into exceptional classroom practice. All successful candidates will also share our core values of Ambition, Responsibility, and Courage.

The successful candidate will be joining a fully inclusive, high-performing school, evidenced through:

• GCSE and A-Level results far exceeding UK national averages
• A ‘Very Good’ rating from the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB)
• An ‘Outstanding’ rating from British Schools Overseas (BSO)
• ‘World Class School’ status from High Performance Learning
• Membership of the Cognitive Science Schools Network

Successful candidates will need to:

• Hold a B.Ed., PGCE, PGDE, or equivalent qualification in Secondary Education
• Have substantial experience teaching Art and Design within the British curriculum, including GCSE and A-Level
• Demonstrate exceptional subject knowledge across Art and Design disciplines
• Have a proven track record of delivering outstanding teaching and learning outcomes
• Possess experience leading and developing a successful Art and Design department or faculty
• Be able to inspire students of all abilities and foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and excellence
• Have experience using assessment data to drive progress and improve student outcomes
• Demonstrate strong leadership, organisational, and communication skills
• Be committed to contributing to the wider life of the school and supporting extracurricular opportunities within the Arts

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.