Competitive

Full Time, Permanent

Summer 2025

15 November 2024

Are you a dynamic and enthusiastic Headteacher or Principal , with experience delivering the English National Curriculum and seeking an exciting opportunity to lead a flagship school through the next stage of development? If so, you will be interested in this fantastic opportunity to join Oryx International School, Qatar as Executive Principal.


About the School
The aim of Oryx International School is to provide the employees of the world’s five-star airline and their children access to a five-star education. The new, bespoke, built-to-specification school offers state-of-the-art facilities and education technology to enrich teaching and learning experiences for our students. The school aspires to foster an ethos of global citizenship, the celebration of cultural diversity and a wide international perspective to equip students with the skills and aspirations to become future leaders across the world.
The facilities offered at the school site combined with our creative approach which incorporates a full English National curriculum enhanced by local Qatari identity, history, culture and tradition, allows Oryx International School to offer the highest standards of Education.


About you
This is a high-profile opportunity for an intelligent, ambitious, and experienced Headteacher or Principal to impact and shape international education and its delivery, by leading this first-class school through its next phase of development.
You should have a demonstrable track record of outstanding senior educational leadership, preferably with experience in British style international schools, and in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC). You should be a visionary, strategic leader and a committed team player, able to demonstrate a collaborative approach to working with others. You should have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain strong and positive relationships with all school stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience leading a large growing school.
• A proven track record of achievement in senior leadership positions at an all through/ K12 UK curriculum school.
• Substantial experience of working in a British international school environment outside the UK in a multi-lingual, multi-cultural setting.
• Experience of working within the GCC and understanding of Islamic and Arab culture.
• Comfortable interacting at a corporate and board level with the ability to lead change and achieve sustained improvements through engagement with key stakeholders.

Benefits of working at an Orbital Education School
Orbital Education focuses on delivering quality education to its students around the globe. We educate more than 7,000 young people from 128 nationalities, sending them on to high quality universities. We are an expanding group with schools already in Spain, Hungary, Slovenia, Albania, China, Mexico, Ecuador and the Middle East, with exciting plans to develop new schools across the globe.
Working closely with Orbital Education colleagues, you will be provided with opportunities develop your expertise and exert influence at a senior level. This is an exciting opportunity to:

• Be part of a global community, and colleagues with a wide range of expertise in both the international school market and business operations.
• Travel and engage with colleagues, business contacts, and networks of influential leaders across the globe.
• Benefit from opportunities for professional growth and continuous improvement in practice.

Living and working in Qatar
Doha, the peninsula’s capital city of over 2.7 million residents, has a huge international community that choose to live and work here. In Doha you will find an extremely safe and vibrant city, an excellent lifestyle with combination of cultures and varied opportunities; to explore the desert, walk along the Corniche, visit museums, shopping malls, beaches, attend sporting events, music festivals, and much more. There are excellent education transportation and other amenities across the city, including a new metro system.


The Process and how to apply
If this opportunity excites you, and you would be enthused by the opportunity to lead and develop our school, we would welcome an application from you.


Closing date – Early applications are requested as selection will take place on a rolling. We anticipate significant interest in this position and anticipate the advert may close prior to the formal closing date once a strong final shortlist of candidates has been identified.
Due to anticipated levels of interest, we regret that we will not be able to feedback to all candidates. Therefore, if you have not heard from us prior to 22nd November 2024 please assume that on this occasion your application has not been successful.


Orbital Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS/ ICPC checks or police vetting will be required for this post.

Oryx International School is a unique project conceptualised by Qatar Airways and Orbital Education, creating a joint venture between a world-renowned, multi-billion dollar turnover airline and a prestigious group of international schools. The objective of this £70 million project is to satisfy the demand for premium quality British style education for the children of Qatar Airways employees in Doha, Qatar.

The vision and mission of Oryx International School is to provide the employees of the world’s five-star airline and their children access to a five-star education. The new campus opened in September 2018 and is situated in Mesaimeer, a fast-growing area of Doha. It will provide state-of-the-art facilities and education technology to enrich teaching and learning experiences for the students. The school aspires to foster an ethos of global citizenship, the celebration of cultural diversity and a wide international perspective to equip their students with the building blocks to become potential leaders of the future across the world.
Oryx International School has already gained membership to the British Schools of the Middle East, the CIS and COBIS. This reflects an already high achieving and forward-thinking school known for its strong personal approach to education which has quickly gained the respect of the school community. We are committed to ensuring excellent learning and teaching in a caring environment. You will find the school a rewarding and friendly place to work with outstanding relationships between staff, students and parents.
The school has a six form capacity from Foundation Stage 1 up to Year 13 and is already almost full in the Primary year groups and most Secondary year groups have four form entry.

Application Process

All applications must be made on the TES ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM - QUICK APPLY
1. Complete all questions and fields.
2. Supporting statement should be no less than 500 words and no more than 1000 words, and should relate directly to the specific role applied for and cover:

• your motivation for working in education

• a brief description of the philosophy of education which shapes your particular style of teaching

• what attracts you to the position

• how you feel your experience, skills and personal qualities qualify you to take on the role with details of any unique teaching methods or techniques that you have developed or employ

• what extra-curricular activities you can lead, supervise or have participated in

• any other information you would like the selection panel to know

Please note:
Incomplete applications will not be considered and all applications will be acknowledged on receipt, however only shortlisted candidates will be contacted with the outcome of their application.
Due to the expected high levels of interest, Oryx International School reserves the right to make an appointment at any stage of the recruitment process.