The Asia Pacific Schools, in partnership with The International Schools Partnership (ISP), equips students for local and global success by delivering Amazing Learning and offers both the international and Malaysian National curricula in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.
The Asia Pacific Schools promotes equality and is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, as well as providing employees with a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Key benefits:
- A culture of engagement and trust, where staff contributions are recognized and valued.
- A passionate and motivated team of professionals who put children at the heard of decision-making.
- An embedded whole campus commitment to professional development and a commitment to serving others.
- A peer network of like-minded teaching colleagues and support from operations’ staff.
- Access to expertise, best practice sharing and learning opportunities across countries and cultures.
- A commitment to employee well-being.
We also offer:
- Competitive salary
- Pension fund contribution to an Employee Provident Fund (EPF)
- Fee discount for children of employees
- Outpatient and inpatient medical benefits
- Paid leaves: medical, hospitalization, annual leaves, maternity, compassionate, etc.
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ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
We are seeking to hire a Head of Department: English with experience of working in an International School for commencement April 2026.
Purpose of Role
To provide strategic and operational leadership of the English Department, ensuring consistently high-quality teaching, strong student progress and outstanding outcomes in IGCSE English First Language and English as a Second Language. The Head of English will build a culture of high expectations, professional learning and continuous improvement aligned to ISP and inspection standards.
ISP Principles
We begin with our students. Our children and students are at the heart of our business. Simply, their success is our success.
We treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the wellbeing of each other.
We operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference.
We are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of our children, students and schools.
We learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us.
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Main Responsibilities:
- Lead, manage and develop all English teachers, holding them accountable for the quality of teaching, student progress and professional conduct.
- Monitor and improve the quality of teaching and learning through lesson visits, work scrutiny, data analysis and professional dialogue.
- Ensure curriculum coherence and progression from Key Stage 3 through to IGCSE.
- Lead professional development within the department, including coaching, mentoring and targeted training.
- Use attainment and progress data to identify underachievement and implement timely intervention.
- Manage the department budget and resources to maximise learning impact.
- Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing and positive behaviour systems are embedded across the department.
IGCSE English Leadership:
The Head of English is accountable for the strategic leadership, delivery and outcomes of IGCSE English First Language and English as a Second Language.
- Ensure schemes of work, assessment and teaching align with examination board specifications.
- Lead staff training on mark schemes, grade descriptors and exam standards.
- Monitor student progress and outcomes, comparing against targets and international benchmarks.
- Ensure appropriate support and challenge for all learners.
- Lead internal moderation and standardisation to ensure accurate and consistent grading.
- Manage exam-related resources and revision provision.
- Report to senior leadership on department performance and improvement priorities.
Key Performance Indicators
- Positive trends in IGCSE English progress and outcomes.
- Consistently high-quality teaching across the department.
- Accurate and reliable assessment and reporting.
- Effective intervention and support for underachieving students.
- Strong staff performance and professional growth.
Other Duties
- Fully and positively participate in the school’s performance appraisal scheme to enhance personal and departmental performance.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties assigned by SLT or the line manager, particularly with regard to the school’s wider administrative function.
- Follow all school policies and procedures at all times.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in mathematics is essential, and many schools prefer or require a postgraduate teaching qualification, such as a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). A master’s in education or a related field can also be a significant advantage.
- Minimum 5-8 years of teaching experience. This should include a proven track record of teaching mathematics across a range of ages and abilities, particularly at the IGCSE and A-Level.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in an academic or departmental leadership capacity. This could be as a Head of a key stage, a subject coordinator, or a similar middle management position.
- Computer literate with good interpersonal communication skills
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.
Person specification
- Patient, responsible, and passionate about teaching
- A team player and flexible to meet the needs of the department
- Must be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people they are responsible for or come into contact with
ISP Leadership Competencies
You consistently demonstrate and role-model the ISP Leadership Competencies in all that you do.
Cognitive
- Strategic, commercial and financial acumen
- Understands education sector and what drives success
- Outcome-driven with strong a strong focus on results
- Shares our ambition and goals and champions desired change
- Delivers strategic outcomes by inspiring and motivating their team to work towards shared goals
- Demonstrates financial understanding when making decisions and taking action
- Keeps self and team organised and on track
- Tackles challenges in an organized and systematic way and finds solutions
- Sees problems as opportunities to improve and better deliver against organisational priorities
- Creates a safe environment within team to encourage innovation and problem-solving
- Empowers team to apply creativity and flexibility to overcome challenges
- Identifies risks and creates and implements mitigation plans
Interpersonal
- Intentionally connects
- Supports, enables and inspires others to give their best
- Takes time to understand their team and personalise individual experiences
- A skilled identifier of talent who recognises the value of soft skills (emotional intelligence, drive, learnability etc.) as predictors of potential
- Focuses on people development through coaching and mentoring, sharing their experiences and insight
- Recognises and celebrates successes
- Collaborative & Communicative
- Develops and shares our collective vision
- Encourages collaboration and teamwork, making people feel like they are working and succeeding together
- Open-minded; actively listening and seeking and welcoming feedback
- Communicates honestly, transparently and with genuine care and empathy
- Articulates thoughts and ideas clearly and adjusts how they communicate to the person or situation
Self-Leadership
- Amazing learner
- Self-aware, humble and a good listener
- Manages their own personal development, focusing on continuous learning and getting better
- Is open about their own areas for development and encourages their team to be the same
- Builds a team with complementary skillsets to support them in areas where they are not so naturally suited
- Curious; asks questions, explores and builds on ideas
- Resilient
- Practices self-care and encourages their team to do the same
- Uses inner strength when times are challenging or when working outside of their comfort zone
- Understands their own qualities, skills, emotions and triggers and uses this understanding to remain composed and confident in uncertainty
- Recovers positively from setbacks, using them as an opportunity
Digital
- Technologically literate
- Digital collaborator, who works effectively with technical specialists
- Stays up to date with the latest technology and trends and knows how these can be applied in their role
- Demonstrates an adaptive techmindset, constantly evolving their understanding and application of what is possible using tech
- Assesses the impact of new technologies for their role and the organisation
- Digital data fluent
- Effectively interprets digital data and uses it in decision-making
- Collects, shares and analyses evidence to demonstrate impact, make connections and set improvement targets
- Connects data from different digital sources to design, develop and implement action
- Simplifies complex digital data into clear and understandable information for different audiences
- Uses a mix of digital data, experiences, instinct and context to make decisions
Global
- Values-driven
- Role models the ISP Principles
- Prioritises wellbeing, inclusion and belonging and is caring, considerate and supportive of their team
- Demonstrates a multi-cultural mindset and respects the different values, behaviours, attitudes and practices across cultures
- Seeks different perspectives and integrates diversity of thought from team
- Sustainability-focused
- Considers the environmental and social impact of their decisions and finds ways to minimise these
- Uses their passion and credibility to challenge ways of thinking
- Advocates for policies and practices that support a more sustainable future
- Identifies inefficiencies and wastefulness and prioritises productive and balanced use of resources.
ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles
ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All postholders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years of employment history.
ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.
