Competitive package

Full Time, Permanent

September 2025 or January 2026

20 November 2024

Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (QE), a leading state-funded grammar school in Greater London, and GEDU Global Education, a UK-based education business with a strong track record of growing education brands in the UK and overseas, seek an outstanding Founding Head to launch and lead a new co-educational British curriculum school in Dubai. Opening in September 2026, this exciting new venture will bring the rich heritage and academic excellence of QE to the United Arab Emirates.
This is the first time a UK state school will establish schools overseas. The appointee will have the opportunity to oversee the development of QE Dubai from the earliest stage, drawing on the expertise of QE and GEDU to lead and shape an outstanding school. The Founding Head will set the strategy, oversee the physical development of the school campus and work closely with regulatory authorities to set the highest standards of British international education in one of the most dynamic, ambitious, and diverse cities in the world.
The appointee will combine a track record of highly successful leadership experience with a commitment to high academic standards and the commercial mindset to create a world-class school. An outstanding communicator, the Founding Head will have the gravitas to inspire prospective families and attract talented colleagues, as well as the interpersonal skills to manage diverse stakeholder relationships. Entrepreneurial spirit is crucial, as is a genuine resonance with the ethos and mission of a QE education.
Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) or equivalent.


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In 1573 Elizabeth I issued a Charter “for the establishment of the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth in Barnet for the education, bringing up and instruction of boys in Grammar and other learning and the same to continue for ever.” Today QE remains a non-denominational, non-fee-paying, selective School with a mission of producing confident, able and responsible young men and, as such, continues to reflect the essential tenets of our Tudor Charter. The School has a reputation for academic excellence and our expectations are high: QE boys excel at A Level and go on to places at leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
To understand the factors behind our success, it is important to grasp two essential characteristics of the School. Firstly, QE is a meritocracy. We offer open access, welcoming boys on academic merit, irrespective of parental income, residential location or religious background. The resultant ability range and broad cultural mix of our pupils provide an optimum educational environment in which to prepare boys for life in the 21st Century.
Secondly, it should be clearly understood that, in line with our stated mission above, our aspirations at Queen Elizabeth’s School extend well beyond examination results. A broad range of enriching extra-curricular activities is offered in areas such as Sport, Music and Drama, and we expect all boys to participate in the corporate life of the School and to go on to make a serious contribution to society.
We purposely combine old and new in pursuit of delivering the best possible education for our boys. Our ambitious curriculum is progressive, yet does not lose sight of traditional academic values. And as an ancient School supported by foundation and charitable trusts, we are able to offer excellent, modern facilities on a superb 30-acre landscaped site. The School is situated a short distance from its original Tudor building and borders on Hertfordshire’s green belt. Excellent public and private transport links provide easy access to the School.