International
Education Director
Full time
WELCOME
Thank you for your interest in joining our team.
We are tremendously excited to have set up RGS schools in Dubai, Qatar, Oman and China over the last few years. Together with our home school in Guildford, we are an established, successful and flourishing family.
But this is just the beginning. Our aim is to grow our family of outstanding schools where the opportunity exists to create something special. We have ambitious longterm plans. We wish our family of schools to collaborate with each other and provide a first-class RGSG education internationally.
We are a small team solely dedicated to the overseas schools and we now need dedicated, high quality, educational expertise. This will be a new and wide-ranging role for someone with a flexible and proactive approach.
Our home school, Royal Grammar School Guildford (RGSG), has a proud history of over 500 years of academic excellence. We are ranked as one of the top schools in the UK at both A level and GCSE. In 2024 we were ranked within the top four boys’ schools in the world. Each year, all our pupils secure places at the best universities. More than 350 RGSG graduates have gone on to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities over the last 10 years.
As in the UK, our international schools deliver an inspiring UK curriculum including STEM, sports, art, and music. We bring together the best of RGS Guildford and the best of local culture with each school sharing the RGSG ethos and values. This will fully prepare students for the next stage in their lives.
I trust that this brochure will give you a taste of what we do and what it is like to be part of our team and the wider school community.
Bob Ukiah, Chief Executive RGS Guildford International
RGS Guildford International
RGS Guildford is recognised as one of the best schools in the UK. It is a school with a long and distinguished history, founded over 500 years ago and granted a royal charter by King Edward VI. On this foundation is built a forward looking, dynamic and innovative school where students learn the skills needed for success in a rapidly changing world.
In 2015 we started to look beyond the UK. We believe that young people need to understand the wider world and its different cultures to thrive today. By creating a family of excellent schools across the globe, we can learn from each other and grow together. Students overseas can collaborate with each other and with students in the UK while benefiting from a tried and trusted RGS education.
Equally, our overseas schools generate an important income for RGS in Guildford, which we wish to increase in the coming years.
There are now twice as many RGS students overseas as there are in the UK. Our growth and ability to attract this many students in a relatively short time reflects the quality and reputation of these new schools.
We have bold plans for our expansion overseas and wish to continue our success in new ventures.
Pupils show an acute sense of respect for each other and were unanimous in their belief that diversity is a normal part of life. ISI Inspection “ “
JOB DESCRIPTION & PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS
Job Title: International Education Director
Responsible to: Chief Executive,
RGSGI
Overview
RGS Guildford International is looking to appoint an International Education Director to support and develop its overseas business. The IED will join a team of three who have established and developed schools in Qatar, Dubai, Oman and Nanjing. The vision is to develop more RGS schools in different regions.
Working closely with the rest of the team, the International Education Director will oversee all the educational aspects of this business in relation to existing and potential schools. The role will be based in Guildford and require travel to existing and potential schools.
Educational support has previously been given by academic members of the teaching body in Guildford, but this is not sustainable as overseas operations grow.
Purpose
• To be the main link between RGSGI and its international schools for educational matters.
• To support the educational provision in our international schools.
• To ensure the schools follow and live up to our educational ethos and standards.
• To develop collaboration between the schools and run collaboration projects.
• To develop, keep updated and promote the ‘RGS Guidelines’.
• To support the marketing of RGSGI and the development of new schools in line with our strategic objectives.
Key Tasks
• To develop relationships with the Heads and key academic personnel at our international schools.
• To be the point of contact on all educational matters.
• To develop and implement a system for sharing best practice between schools.
• To advise as appropriate on staffing and recruitment.
• To advise on curriculum, including co-curricular, in collaboration with staff at RGS Guildford.
• To run the annual Quality Assurance Review of each of our schools.
• To develop and oversee collaboration activities, including exchanges and summer camps
• To develop and update the RGS Guidelines, which aim, as far as possible, to be the blueprint of RGS schools. To keep these up-to-date at all times and ensure they are available to each school.
• To attend meetings with potential partners to promote our educational offer.
• To write the educational aspects of proposals for new schools
• To present at conferences and write articles to promote our business.
• To undertake staff training in the international schools remotely or in person.
• To support schools in achieving and maintaining accreditation from recognised bodies such as CIS, COBIS, BOS or BSME
• To keep the UK team updated with educational matters in the overseas school.
• To propose and then operate within a budget for the role.
Qualifications / Experience
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Qualified Teacher Status.
• Fluent English speaker.
• Recent/current experience of working in a senior leadership capacity in a British curriculum school.
• A track record of overseeing and developing academic standards and compliance.
• Familiarity with all K12 age groups.
• Strong understanding of international schools and their context, challenges and opportunities.
• Strong written and oral communicator.
• Highly organised and self motivated.
• Fully aligned with the RGSG values.
• Internationally minded and culturally sensitive.
• Flexible and able to travel throughout the year.
WORKING AT THE RGS
Your career at the RGS begins with a warm welcome and an introductory programme. You will be introduced to key people within the school and learn how the school operates. Most of the training will be on the job, but there are opportunities for external training when appropriate. Our environment is inclusive, friendly and supportive.
Chris Lee
International Operations Director, joined 2018
What’s the best thing about working at the RGS?
The caring nature of the RGS and that there is no mistake that, whatever your role, you are part of the team.
Which staff social groups are you involved in?
Cycling - but I need to do more!
Deborah Banks
Management Accountant, joined 2022
What do you love about your department?
It's a really friendly environment and everyone is very helpful
What would be the title of your autobiography? What was I thinking?
Rebecca Golding
Executive Assistant, International, joined 2024
What’s the best thing about working at the RGS?
The people and community feel.
If you could choose any other career, what would it be? Food critic
Jill Thorpe
Deputy Head, joined 2016
What’s the best thing about working at the RGS?
Working in a school where you are given professional freedom, trust and the resources to do your job.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Anything outdoors. I also run the county Search and Rescue team, which involves a lot of skills and a lot of time outside.
WHY WORK IN GUILDFORD?
Guildford is a vibrant and exciting place. Rich in history, it is a welcoming town with a flourishing and varied cultural life. Entertainment is diverse with lively and nationally renowned venues including G Live, the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and the Electric Theatre. There are outstanding sport and leisure facilities which include the state -ofthe-art training venues and sports complexes of Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum. Guildford offers one of the south east’s best shopping experiences with the iconic High Street combining exclusive and popular national chains as well as independent retailers. Dining options cater for every taste and budget with local traditional and gastro pubs in nearby Surrey villages drawing customers from a wide area.
Educationally, Guildford is thriving. RGS Guildford and Guildford High School are regularly ranked in the top ten single-sex schools in the country. RGS also enjoys close links with other girls’ schools, Tormead School and St Catherine’s, Bramley. The University of Surrey was awarded ‘University of the Year for Graduate Employment’ by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Guildford has the advantage of being very accessible and enjoys excellent transport links. London is just over a 30-mile drive via the A3 and well served by trains (just 29 minutes to Clapham Junction and 39 minutes to London Waterloo). International airports London Gatwick and London Heathrow are only an hour from the town.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are close by; the Surrey Hills and North Downs are on the School's doorstep and provide opportunities to enjoy the stunning countryside; the south coast is approximately one hour by car.
William Cobbett “
The town of Guildford, which I, who have seen so many, many towns, think it is the prettiest, and…most happylooking, that I ever saw in my life.
BENEFITS
In addition to joining a successful and sociable staff body you will also receive the following benefits:
Hours of work
Remuneration
Fee reduction
Annual Leave
Private healthcare
Pension
Commuting Loan
Gym
Dining
Employee Assistance Programme
Full time with potential for some hybrid working following successful completion of probation.
Circa £80K per annum
Fee reduction for son(s) of staff is available (after a qualifying period and subject to success at the entrance examination).
28 days' leave plus bank holidays.
Private medical cover is available for all staff. This is paid for by the School, but is a taxable benefit so there is an indirect cost to the individual.
All support staff are automatically enrolled into the company pension scheme. The level of contribution by the individual is 5% and the School will contribute 10%.
Interest-free loans are available for rail season ticket holders.
Use of on-site gym at certain times of the day.
A free hot lunch, salad bar and range of desserts are available daily in the staff dining room during term time.
A free, confidential counselling & wellbeing support service that can support you, your partner or spouse, and dependent children over 16 still living at home.
GUILDFORD
The setting:
The Surrey Hills
North Downs
South Downs
Picturesque villages
The south coast
Travel by rail:
Clapham Junction 29 minutes
London Waterloo 39 minutes
Portsmouth Harbour 60 minutes
Gatwick Airport 45 minutes
Travel by road:
London 32 miles via the A3; Heathrow 22 miles; Gatwick 34 miles via A3 and M25; Portsmouth 44 miles; Brighton 59 miles
North Downs
The
Guildford Castle
SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN & SECURITY OF DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The Royal Grammar School Guildford meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check from the DBS before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. It is of fundamental importance to The Royal Grammar School to ensure, so far as possible, that those who take up appointments do not pose a risk to the children in its care.
APPLICATIONS
We are proactively committed to creating a diverse staff body, which reflects the community that we teach. At RGS we value diversity and inclusion; we want to attract the best people for the roles available. This is regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, socioeconomic status or religious beliefs.
Please note: applications will be considered on receipt and we reserve the right to close applications early.
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