The posting
JOB PURPOSE Aiglon College is an international boarding school based in the Swiss Alps with a worldwide reputation for providing a challenging and transformational holistic education in an inspiring setting within a safe, caring and supportive framework. The School is CIS accredited, and caters for 500 students aged 5-18 representing 65 nations. In their final years students prepare for Cambridge IGCSEs and the IB Diploma Programme but our distinct learning philosophy begins to become embedded from our youngest students. The Junior School is a connected part of the whole school but is also a distinct section separate from the Senior School with a dedicated focus on students up to Year 8.
The school wishes to appoint, for August 2027 (possibly January or April 2027 for the right candidate), an innovative and dynamic Head of Junior Curriculum and Academics (Up to Year 8) who will take a whole school role in leading the educational provision of the Junior School and the inspirational ‘wonder’ curriculum for students up to Years 6 including Mountain School.
The ideal candidate for this position would be an experienced Junior/Prep school specialist with leadership experience, ideally in an international setting, who has expertise in the creation and implementation of junior specific curriculum programmes. A knowledge of project based learning, inquiry based learning or biophilic education would be preferable.
This position involves a teaching component but this is a unique opportunity to introduce, develop and promote a world leading junior curriculum.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES To put the students first. To lead the junior school and the educational provision, deputising for the Director of Junior school when required and being a key member of the Junior School Leadership Team. To take a lead role in establishing and implementing a vision for world-class education at Aiglon. To work with the Director of Junior School and to ensure that an Aiglon student’s education is relevant, broad, balanced and effective across all aspects of school life. To carry out tasks as delegated by the Director of Junior School and Deputy School Director (Academics) to the planning, monitoring and promotion of academic and student welfare matters. To uphold the ethos and values of the school and to be a role model for staff and students. To be fully involved in whole school strategic planning, and the implementation and development of the school’s vision for education and wellbeing. To be a member of the extended Leadership Team, including the Academic Leadership Group. Be involved in discipline matters and ensure students behave appropriately and in line with the school’s expectations. To line manage and work in close partnership with the Head of Year (Up to Year 4) (who directly manages the teachers and teaching assistants in these year groups and the Mountain School for those years), maintaining oversight across curriculum implementation, pastoral care, and operational leadership for the lower junior years, as well as line managing Year 5-6 classroom teachers. To liaise closely with Assistant Heads and Heads of Department in the senior school to ensure that the curriculum for Years 7 and 8 is exciting, dynamic, and of a high standard, effectively preparing students for IGCSE and IB programmes. To ensure the Guiding Principles are embedded throughout the school, and specifically within the provision for junior school students. To be actively involved in staff recruitment as required by the School Director and Director of Junior School. To be a teacher with a reduced teaching load (approx 50%). To embrace innovative forms of assessment and holistic reporting.
Responsibility for the Wellbeing and Safeguarding of Students
To lead strategic interventions for junior school students and ensure consistent tracking of student progress from an academic point of view. To appreciate the key role of safeguarding in managing student interventions and work closely with the Director of Junior School and wellbeing team to ensure all students are supported. To work with the Director of Junior School, Deputy School Director (Pastoral) and Junior School DSL in the implementation of policies and statements of good practice for safeguarding, wellbeing and health care. To ensure there is a comprehensive Wellbeing curriculum that is sequential through all years up to Year 8 and links with the Years 9-13 programmes. To work with the Deputy School Director (Pastoral) to help ensure Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are taught formally within the Spirit Curriculum to help promote a positive, kind and inclusive culture at school. To develop service opportunities for junior students within a structured service programme. To liaise with the Director of Junior School, Director of Character and Junior Activities Coordinator to help ensure there is a challenging co-curricular programme in place that includes activities, sports and expeditions for the junior school.
Academic Responsibilities
To manage and develop the Junior curriculum (Up to Year 8) at Aiglon. To work closely with the Head of Junior Expeditions and the Head of Years (Up to Year 4) to plan, deliver, and oversee an experiential Mountain Curriculum spanning up to Year 6. To champion sustainability, environmental stewardship, and biophilic education within the junior curriculum and Mountain School programme. To ensure the Guiding Principles for learning are embedded throughout the academic side of the school as a member of the Academic Leadership Group (ALG) To take the lead on overseeing junior cohorts and courses. Working with the Deputy School Director (Academics) to ensure standards and criteria for these courses are met and supporting the associated year groups. To structure and organise the system of interventions associated with student data and, when appropriate, be involved in those interventions. To assist in overseeing the general provision for personalised learning. To work with the Deputy School Director (Academics) in the preparation and implementation of policies and statements of good practice for the academic curriculum. To work with the Deputy School Director (Academics) in the management of the teacher professional review and development process. Together with the Deputy School Director (Academics), to oversee assessment in the school including internally set examinations and to be responsible for the school reporting and assessment structure and to monitor its delivery. To work with the Head of Learning support and Head of EAL to ensure all learners are supported in making progress. To analyse and disseminate data from year group CEM examinations and to oversee target setting and the administration of other measures of value-added and academic performance. To promote and ensure effective usage of school systems such as Google Apps for Education. Oversee staff development days across the school year in conjunction with the Director of Junior School and Deputy School Director (Academics). To be involved in monitoring and enhancing the standards of teaching and learning throughout the school. Undertake any other task which may be reasonably required by the School Director and Director of Junior School. Understand and implement all school policies and procedures, particularly those relating to safeguarding children and young people. Understand the School’s Guiding Principles and uphold the ethos of the School at all times. Embrace artificial intelligence and other related innovations in order to work towards the creation of the classroom of tomorrow.
This job outline only contains the main accountabilities relating to the post of Head of Junior Curriculum and Academics (Up to Year 8) and does not describe in detail all of the duties required to carry them out. The Head of Junior Curriculum and Academics (Up to Year 8) may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities that are commensurate with the nature and level of the post.
