Head of School

The Head of School is responsible for delivering an exceptional student and family experience while ensuring the school is safe, high-performing, financially sustainable and deeply connected to its community. The role combines educational leadership, people leadership, operational excellence and commercial accountability. You will translate Cognita’s strategy into clear direction for ISHCMC, making decisions in the best interests of the school, bringing people together around shared priorities and building trust by following through on commitments. You will create the conditions for students and colleagues to thrive, while maintaining a clear focus on standards, outcomes and long-term sustainability. In doing so, you will bring Cognita’s Mindsets to life: WE PUT SCHOOLS FIRST. WE GO TOGETHER. WE KEEP OUR PROMISES. What you will be doing: Educational Excellence Set the vision and direction for the school and drive continuous improvement. Ensure consistently strong teaching, learning, student outcomes, and inclusion. Maintain rigorous standards of safeguarding, safety, and regulatory compliance. Use data, technology, and AI thoughtfully to strengthen learning and outcomes. People & Leadership Build and lead a high-performing, collaborative school community. Develop leadership capacity, retain talent, and create a culture of high expectations. Ensure robust, safeguarding-compliant recruitment and effective performance management. Operational & Family Experience Ensure the school is safe, efficient, and operationally strong. Deliver a consistently high-quality experience for students and families. Take ownership of key parent relationships, including enrolment, retention, and key family matters. Balance educational priorities with responsible resource and cost management. Growth & Impact Manage student roll, retention, capacity, and financial performance. Build strong relationships with families, regulators, and the wider community. Develop partnerships that strengthe