Full Time, Permanent

August 2025

31 December 2024

Job Description for Careers Counsellor
ISP Principles
Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.
For all staff in school we share a responsibility to ensure that children are safe and properly supervised at all times. Our school is committed to ‘amazing learning’- providing enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences so that every pupil makes as much progress as possible. All staff are expected to adhere to The Aquila Professional Code of Conduct and commit to promoting our vision – ‘A happy community school with amazing learning at its heart where pupils are empowered to make choices, engage in meaningful learning experiences and make exceptional progress’. Our focus is providing children with amazing learning and to be the school of choice for the community we serve.
The Aquila School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.
Core purpose:

• To coordinate and develop a range of programmes and structures to lead our school’s programme of careers advice and guidance service provided to all pupils at school (Years 7-11). Providing and tracking the impact of an inspiring and best practice careers advisory service, in line with the GATSBY benchmarks allowing all learners access to impartial and up to date information which supports them to make successful future careers choices.

Key duties include:

• Act as central point of information and guidance for all pupils and staff in relation to careers information advice and guidance
• Prepare and implement a careers guidance development plan through liaison with the Deputy Headteacher, IB coordinator and Heads of Year.
• Plan the programme of activity in careers guidance in line with the eight GATSBY benchmarks; brief and support teachers involved in careers guidance
• Organisation of careers questionnaires and psychometric testing, and provision of feedback
• Coordinate and conduct individual and group careers interviews with pupils across the school.
• Support pupils through the securing of placements and application procedures for post-16 and work experience
• Provide guidance to pupils on completing application forms, interview techniques and presentation skills
• Monitor, record and communicate leaver destination information to relevant members of the school community and local authority
• Build a network of alumni who can help with the careers guidance programme
• Liaise with external careers services and establish and develop links with further education colleges, apprenticeship providers, university technical colleges and universities
• Organise and attend careers enrichment trips, university fairs and experiences.
• Develop employer engagement opportunities through visits/talks and improve links with local employers
• Managing the careers budget as appropriate and secure funding for careers related projects
• Managing their own CPD and supporting the ongoing CPD of colleagues in the careers team
• Review and evaluate careers guidance and provide information for school improvement planning, KHDA and other purposes
• Manage the careers section of the school’s website, ensuring information is accurate and up to date

Person specification
Qualifications and training
A certified professional qualification at degree level, such as BA, BS or equivalent specialism in Counselling
Experience
A minimum of 4 years experience as a School/Career Counsellor
Experience of working in an IB school and understanding of both the IBDP and IBCP programmes.
Experience of using Unifrog
Familiarity with the GATSBY benchmarking standards
Skills and knowledge

• A knowledge of the UCAS and US Common App application process
• Commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.
• Willingness and ability to use own initiative and work without constant supervision as well as to work cooperatively as part of a team
• Enthusiastic, innovative and highly motivated with a genuine commitment to delivering positive outcomes for pupils
• Highly proficient in the use of IT systems with an excellent knowledge of spreadsheets, database management and internet searches
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present information to staff, pupils and parents both verbally and in written form
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• Ability to prioritise workloads and flexibility in responding to new and changing priorities
• Ability to work to deadlines accurately
• Ability to handle material sensitively and professionally in line with relevant Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Confidentiality and applicable Data Protection regulations and policies
• Excellent attendance and punctuality

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 post holders 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’ 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, 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.

The Aquila School is a happy community school which opened in September 2018. We are proud to be the flagship school for International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global community of 84 international schools across 23 countries with a shared purpose of growing the world’s most curious, confident minds. At The Aquila School we welcome children aged 3 to 18 years old and prepare pupils for a complex, challenging, and competitive future. We have been graded outstanding by British Schools Overseas and in the local inspection framework we are rated as good with many features including inclusion, well being and the UAE national agenda being rated as very good.
The Aquila School offers the English National curriculum adapted to be relevant to meet the diverse community that we serve. In key stage four we offer a range of IGCSEs, GCSEs and BTECs and key stage five we offer IBDP, IBCP and a range of BTECs as well as an Asdan pathway.
Our staff work hard to ensure our children love school, love learning and make as much progress as possible.
The Aquila School Vision and Purpose
Our purpose is safe, happy, learning.
Our vision is known and owned by all members of our community and really does underpin all aspects of our work
A happy community school with amazing learning at its heart where pupils are empowered to make choices, be kind, compassionate learners, engage in meaningful learning experiences, make exceptional progress and understand their role as global citizens.
At ISP
At International Schools Partnership (ISP), we champion a transformative approach to learning that goes beyond the classroom. We ignite our students’ curiosity and grow their self-confidence, empowering them to become the next generation of changemakers.