About us:

Fortes
Education has been a leading education provider in the UAE for over four
decades with premium international schools and nurseries that have experienced
outstanding success and growth. Our schools offer the most innovative and
character-building education in the entire Middle East region.

Our
core ethos and philosophy of education is Positive Education (PosEd). Through
PosEd, our schools foster active engagement in learning, celebrating
character strengths and accomplishments. We encourage children to cultivate
fulfilling relationships with others and seek meaning and purpose in their own
lives. We enable children to become happy learners and develop into
innovative thinkers, confident young adults and life-long learners. Our
students develop resilience, a growth mindset and deep character strengths that
allow them to flourish in an ever-changing world. 

About Sunmarke School – Where Amazing Happens

Sunmarke School provides an ambitious and
inspiring, values-based education that nurtures the hearts and minds of
students so that they can flourish and achieve their dreams. Powered by our
suite of signature programmes, Sunmarke is a uniquely innovative school,
transforming young lives. This was reflected in Sunmarke School winning
the coveted ‘Most Innovative School’ award at the international Which School
Advisor ceremony in Dubai and London.

Sunmarke is an all–through school which offers a
premium education across a fantastic range of pathways for students, including
the National Curriculum of England, GCSE/IGCSE, ‘A’ Levels, BTEC and
the IB Diploma Programmes.  Our students regularly win examination
boards’ ‘best in world’, ‘best in Middle East’ and ‘best in country’ awards
every year, across a diverse range of subjects. The latest incredible IB
results show that Sunmarke School is in the top 3 schools in Dubai and 69th
in world rankings. Our suite of Signature Programmes is unrivalled in Dubai,
with inspiring opportunities for students to experience transformative learning
opportunities. These include Environmental and Sustainability Studies, where
students learn in Forest School settings, as well as utilising cutting-edge
hydroponic technology to examine how science can support sustainability in
future terrains; a world-class STEAM centre and curriculum, which offers
students an incredible opportunity to apply their learning in solving real-world
problems, from Foundation Stage through to Year 9; Augmented and Virtual
Reality AR/VR experiences alongside our cutting edge use of Artificial
Intelligence for staff and students; outstanding performing arts opportunities
with full black box and auditorium facilities alongside peripatetic music
spaces and media suites; and a fantastic sports programme augmented with
professional coaches, which led Sunmarke to be overall champions at the BSME
Games. 

Sunmarke School has been judged by the Dubai
School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a ‘Very Good’ school since our
third year of operation and is consistently judged ‘Outstanding’ by
British Schools Overseas (BSO).

We present an exciting opportunity to join our
all through school and to play an important part in our journey
beyond “outstanding”. Sunmarke School, Dubai is one of our flagship
schools, located at a prime location in Jumeirah Village Triangle. 

About you:

Due to the expansion of our Secondary leadership
structure from August 2026, Sunmarke School is seeking to appoint an
experienced, committed and inspirational educational leader to the position of
Deputy Head of Secondary – Academics.

This is a strategically critical senior leadership
role responsible for securing exceptional academic standards across Key Stages
3, 4 and 5. Working in close partnership with the Head of Secondary, the Deputy
Head – Academics provides visionary and operational leadership of curriculum,
teaching and learning, assessment, and academic standards across all pathways,
including GCSE, A Level, BTEC and the IB Diploma Programme.

The successful candidate will lead the development
and implementation of the Secondary Academic Improvement Plan, ensuring
coherence, rigour and parity of esteem across academic and vocational routes.
They will oversee curriculum design and pathway modelling, maintain robust
quality assurance systems, and ensure full compliance with KHDA, BSO, IB and
awarding body requirements. A key aspect of the role is the strategic use of
assessment data to drive improvement, secure outstanding examination outcomes,
and ensure strong student progression to leading global universities and
post-16 destinations.

This
role requires an outstanding instructional leader who can develop and coach
Heads of Faculty and programme leaders, build leadership capacity and foster a
culture of accountability, excellence and continuous improvement within a large
and complex Secondary environment.

If you are a strategic, data-informed and
forward-thinking leader ready to shape the next phase of academic excellence at
Sunmarke School, we would be delighted to receive your application.

We are looking for certain
qualities:

·The Deputy Headteacher should hold as a minimum,
bachelor’s degree in education with PGCE or equivalent. Tertiary
qualifications such as NPQSL are desirable but not
essential. 

·Minimum 3–5 years’
senior leadership experience. Proven leadership experience with responsibility
for teaching, learning and curriculum.

• Experience working in a large Secondary phase or multi-form entry school.


• Experience using data strategically to raise standards and improve pupil outcomes.


• Experience working in an international or high-performing school environment.

·A commitment to deliver on
the educational vision for the school and work along with the
Head of Secondary & the Secondary Leadership team to shape the
school’s strategic direction in leading the school on its journey to
outstanding.

·A
creative & innovative practitioner and a highly effective leader who leads
by example and can inspire and motivate & develop excellence in
others?through coaching and mentoring

·Build and develop highly effective teams,
organisational structures and academic processes
with an ability to delegate work and support colleagues in
undertaking their responsibilities.  

·Ability to build
and maintain outstanding relationships

·Ability to remain positive and
enthusiastic when working under pressure

·Ability to organise work, prioritise
tasks, make decisions and manage time effectively

?

Our Offer:

·Excellent
tax-free salary

·Furnished
Accommodation

·Medical
Insurance for self, spouse & 2 dependents

·Annual Flights for
self, spouse & 2 dependents

·Tuition
Fee Concession for up to 2 minor dependent(s)

·State-of-the-art facilities and
amenities in a newly built campus in a prime location in Dubai

·An
enthusiastic learning community of students, teachers, parents, and Board
members, who are dedicated to maximise
student achievement, and creating positive learning opportunities in and out of
the classroom.

·Working
within a team of highly driven and supportive colleagues

·Excellent
professional development

·Working
in Dubai, one of the world’s most sought-after
work and travel destinations

Application Process:

If you have the passion, energy, and commitment to drive accelerated
outcomes for young people, we will welcome your application.In return, you will join a rapidly evolving
organisation that can offer you a central role in our future growth plans.

Candidates are invited to complete
our Online Application by visiting:https://forteseducation.com/Careers/Current-Openings

Interviews
will take place either face-to-face in Dubai or by video conferencing if
the applicant is not based in Dubai. 

Appointment Start Date:  August
2026

Closing Date: Wednesday, 4th
March 2026, 12 p.m. (UAE time)  

Successful candidates will
be invited to participate in our Assessment Centre either
in person or online from Monday, 9th March
to Tuesday, 10th March 2026.  Please
note that due to the expected volume of applications, only shortlisted
candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Safer Recruitment Statement

Fortes Education is
committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Policies for
safer recruitment are aligned with the recommendations of the International
Task Force on Child Protection. At Sunmarke School, we hold ourselves to a high
standard of effective practices in relation to child protection, and we are
committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

We expect all staff
and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject
to various background checks, including receipt of satisfactory references,
proof of relevant qualifications, identification, and police checks, including
overseas checks.