Falkland Islands Government - Education Department

Principal of Secondary School

Position: Principal of Falkland Islands Community School (11-16 age range)
Location: Stanley, Falkland Islands
Responsible to: Executive Headteacher
Contract type: Fixed term, full time
Contract term: 4 years (desired)
Closing Date: Applications by noon on Monday 13 May 2024
Commencement:
September (desired) 2024
Salary: Grade A scale – up to £70,795 dependent on experience (more could be available for exceptional candidates) plus airfares, healthcare, education for accompanying children, subsidised housing and a 25% gratuity at end of contract

The Falkland Islands
Set in the South Atlantic Ocean, around 400 miles east of South America and 8000 miles south-west of the UK, the Falkland Islands are a small, thriving community with a British way of life, benefiting from good local services, a varied social calendar and an absence of traffic jams.

The Falkland Islands’ stunning natural environment provides an unspoiled landscape and amazing wildlife to observe and explore, including penguins, whales and dolphins that can be seen from local beaches.

For those with a sense of adventure, it provides opportunities which are hard to match anywhere else in the world.

Great value is placed on education by Government, parents, students and the whole community. The role of Principal is a unique opportunity to live and work overseas, leading a small secondary school with 220 pupils on roll, in an English school system.

We will provide:
  • an environment for an effective leader to flourish
  • collaborative leadership team
  • well-resourced and financially secure school
  • a unique and beautiful environment to live and work
  • competitive salary plus 25% gratuity at the successful completion of contract
  • favourable income tax rates
  • airfares for the post holder and dependants at the beginning and end of the contract, as well as airfares for return flights after every full year of the contract
  • a relocation grant
  • subsidised accommodation to rent
  • free education locally for dependent children to GCSE level and possible allowance for overseas studies thereafter
  • free medical and dental care
  • fixed term contract for 4 years
Our well-established and small secondary school is looking for an enthusiastic, inspirational, highly skilled and recently UK based, Principal to join our team, preferably in September 2024. The Falkland Islands Community School (FICS) broadly follows the English education system, with pupils studying GCSE and IGCSE at KS4.

FICS delivers secondary level education for the Falkland Islands, with a current roll of 220 students aged from 11 to 16. The improvement in standards at the school has been significant over the last two years, starting with the alignment of policies between primary and secondary, followed up with intelligent accountability measures. A strong focus on developing staff, with much CPD focused on teaching and learning, has enabled the raising of staff and student aspirations. Clear rationales for the curriculum; assessment and reporting have been developed and the KS3 curriculum thoroughly reviewed. The school has achieved a positive Progress 8 score for the last three years. It is vital that applicants have recent UK senior school leadership experience.

The successful applicant will join a well-resourced, financially secure school with a supportive staff team, small class sizes and students who are keen to learn. You will work closely with the Executive Headteacher and Principal of Primary to ensure all learners have opportunities to reach their full potential.

We are looking for a school leader who will build on the recent, excellent progress and ensure it is embedded into the core of our school to enable a sustainable future and good outcomes for all. The capacity to innovate and shape pathways for our all-ability intake is essential. The successful candidate will inspire the Senior Leadership Team, work closely with the Primary School and engage the entire community in the pursuit of continued excellence.

Many pupils progress to Post 16 and Higher Education in the UK, funded by the Falkland Island Government. 

We are looking for a Principal who:
  • is an inspirational and experienced school leader with a track record of successful school leadership in the UK
  • has recent extensive experience in the UK secondary sector
  • is committed to effective partnership working
  • has drive and passion for teaching and learning
  • is approachable, consistent and inspires trust
  • is visible to the school community; has effective communications skills to build excellent relationships with students, staff, parents and community stakeholders
  • is able to lead and manage staff effectively to ensure that the quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management at the Falkland Islands Community School continues to improve. 
Bal Kaur-Pierpoint of ASCL’s Leadership Appointment Service will be providing professional support to the Appointment Panel throughout the selection and recruitment process. If you would like to find out more about this rare and exciting opportunity to be the Principal of Secondary at the Falkland Islands Community School, please contact Bal on 07492 353 368 or email her at Bal.Kaur-Pierpoint@ascl.org.uk.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 13 May 2024 at 12 noon.

Shortlisting will take place on Tuesday 14 May and candidates shortlisted for interview will be notified later that day. References will be sought from the referees you have provided on your application form shortly after shortlisting and prior to the interview.

The selection processes and formal interviews will take place online on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 May 2024.

More details about selection activities and interviews will be provided to shortlisted applicants.

Full details can be found here.

Safeguarding
The Falkland Islands Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Apply now