Information pack for the post of founding head Appointment for January 2017 (or sooner if possible) Mount Kelly International School, Hong Kong pening in September 2017, Mount Kelly International School (MKIS) will offer an outstanding education for boys and girls aged 5–13 and will be Hong Kong's first preparatory school. Located in So Kwun OWat, Tuen Mun, the school will be the Mount Kelly Foundation’s first international campus and will be only the second HMC school to open in Hong Kong. Pupils will be prepared for the 13+ Common Entrance, the principle examination accepted by the top independent senior schools in the UK. We anticipate that the school will appeal to both expatriate and Hong Kong families. MKIS’s goal is to nurture confident, well-rounded and forward- thinking individuals with a strong sense of pride in their achievements, and the desire to fulfil their ambitions and talents at leading senior schools in Hong Kong and abroad. An MKIS education will develop excellent communication and leadership skills, paving the way for articulate and bright young adults to flourish as global citizens. The school’s curriculum will be taught by highly trained and knowledgeable teachers with UK recognised qualifications and experience. From an early age, pupils at MKIS will benefit from subject specialist teaching. Indeed, by Year 5, all lessons will be delivered by subject specialists, ensuring that consistently high academic standards are maintained and that pupils leave MKIS well prepared for their transition into the senior school of their choice. MKIS will provide the best possible all-round education and care for our pupils. Our curriculum will be enhanced by an extensive co-curricular programme integrated into the main school timetable, creating an extended and fulfilling school day. To ensure that children have opportunities to develop collaborative skills, leadership experience and interests outside the classroom, pupils will be able to choose from a range of activities encompassing the arts, sports, outdoor pursuits, young enterprise and additional languages. Our special focus on the community and the outdoors means that our pupils will have frequent opportunities for field trips and excursions, enabling them to apply their learning to the world around them. Mount Kelly United Kingdom ount Kelly can trace its roots back to late 1870s following a bequest from Admiral Benedictus Marwood Kelly, one of the most successful Admiral’s in British Naval history, to found a Mschool for the 'sons of naval officers and other gentlemen'. In recognition of Kelly’s generosity, William, 8th Duke of Bedford gifted land from his Tavistock estates for its construction. Since its foundation in 1877, the School has flourished, both in numbers and in reputation, merging with Newton College in 1940 and more recently with Mount House in 2014. Mount House also boasts an illustrious heritage. Founded in Plymouth in 1881, it moved to Tavistock 1940 and quickly established itself as the leading boarding prep school in the South West, sending boys and, since 1996, girls on to many of the most prestigious public schools in the country. Pupil numbers across the School are now over 570, and although traditional in many ways, the School is very forward thinking. As the recently published 5 Year Strategic Plan indicates, the future is very exciting for Mount Kelly. A mark of the confidence with which the Foundation is looking to the future is the construction of a new 50m Olympic swimming pool, which will open in August 2016. This will enable the internationally renowned Mount Kelly Swim Programme to grow and develop. Led by former Olympian, Robin Brew, alumni of the swim programme have won a total of 29 Olympic and Commonwealth medals over the last 30 years, counting amongst their number Sharron Davies and two-times Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist Cameron Brodie. Employment details The Appointment he Head of Mount Kelly International School will be a leader of the highest calibre with the vision and expertise to establish Mount Kelly International TSchool as Hong Kong’s premier Preparatory School. The Head is accountable to the Governing Body for the leadership, internal organisation, management and control of the School. It will be for him/her to lead the staff and build up the reputation of our brand new school. Central to this will be the responsibility to enable the children at MKIS to achieve and surpass their potential. The successful candidate will play a critical role in establishing the School’s ethos and embedding a culture of high expectations and excellent pupil outcomes. Working in partnership with Mount Kelly, UK, the Head will be responsible for delivering a curriculum that will enable all pupils to excel and enrich their lives. Our Head will possess excellent communication skills. They will have the ability to speak in a range of different forums to ensure that the school grows to capacity within 3 years of opening in an environment where demand exceeds supply. Ideally, the successful candidate will be able to start their new role in January 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter. Remuneration Package This important position will offer the successful candidate: • An exceptional six-figure salary and significant benefits including: • A housing allowance • Annual return flights to home country • School tuition fee concessions • Medical insurance Key Responsibilities Leadership and Management • Implement the School’s vision and aims with conviction and clarity and in doing so foster a strong and supportive school community. • Embed a school wide commitment to high standards and success for all pupils. • Develop and oversee the pastoral life of MKIS, ensuring that pupils and staff are cared for, supported and nurtured. • Quickly establish the School as an excellent school. • Be responsible for establishing and maintaining good discipline across the School. • Deploy resources effectively and efficiently to ensure high standards in the day-to-day running of the school. • Lead, motivate and challenge staff to be reflective practitioners committed to continuous improvement and developing teaching and learning strategies. • Ensure robust administrative and support structures are in place to enable operational matters to be dealt with efficiently and effectively. • Ensure staff roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and communicated, and ensure appraisals are carried out regularly and professionally. Teaching and Learning • Develop an academically focused and innovative curriculum that enables all pupils to make excellent progress. • Ensure the School’s curriculum is tailored to suit its international context. • Develop and maintain an outstanding learning environment that enables all pupils to fulfil their potential. • Ensure the highest standards of pupil safety and welfare at all times. • Enrich all pupils’ experiences through an extensive co-curricular programme. • Assess, monitor and evaluate teaching standards in order to continuously improve practice and maintain first class learning throughout the School. • Ensure that teachers use appropriate methods of assessment and data to enhance pupil progress. Stakeholder Relationships • Ensure strong partnerships are built and maintained with existing, prospective and former parents. • Be highly-visible and take personal responsibility for attending school events and activities. • Develop and maintain links with the broader community to extend learning opportunities. • Foster and maintain links with industry associations and other bodies for the benefit of the School. Strategy • Work with the School’s Governing Body to develop a programme of continuous improvement and plan for the school’s future development. • Work with the School’s Governing Body to set the annual budget, making sure that money is deployed in a way that takes into account the School’s strategic vision and priorities. • Ensure the School's budget targets are met, that funds are expended wisely and productively and that the School's finances remain in good order. • Remain alert and responsive to the local and wider external environment, adapting plans and strategies in response where necessary. Recruitment and Public Relations • Lead parent engagement, marketing and PR activities to ensure that enrolment targets are met. • Take a lead role in the admissions process to ensure enrolment targets are met. • Have full responsibility for the recruitment of staff, making sure that the school has an extremely high quality senior leadership and teaching team, who are committed to the School’s ethos, values and standards. • Ensure that all recruitment is carried out in line with the highest possible standards for safer recruitment. Communication with the Governing Body • Reporting regularly to the Governing Body on progress towards the strategic priorities and the achievement of policies. • Ensuring that the School’s Governors receive sufficient and timely information and advice in order to make informed decisions. • Ensuring that the School meets all its legal obligations. Person Specification Required Experience and Qualifications: • An outstanding and proven track record of successful school leadership. • A strong academic background, stature and experience that will command the respect of pupils, parents, colleagues and the wider community. • Experience of leading change and/or innovation that has led to even better student outcomes. • Successful teaching experience that illustrates a commitment to academic progress