The posting
Wellington College International Lagos (WCIL) is a new world-class co-educational day and boarding school opening in September 2027 in Alaro City, Lagos, Nigeria. The school is a partnership between Wellington College International (WCI), the global arm of the prestigious Wellington College in the UK and Rendeavour, Africa’s largest new city developer.
WCIL will serve 1,500 pupils aged 3–18, delivering an outstanding holistic education rooted in the English National Curriculum, leading up to A-Levels. The school will offer exceptional teaching and facilities across academics, sports, music, and the arts, while also pioneering education in AI, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The school reflects the ethos and values of Wellington College, UK, a leading British institution founded in 1853 and renowned for academic excellence, character development, and its commitment to five core values: Kindness, Courage, Respect, Integrity, and Responsibility. WCIL will uphold these values throughout its culture, recruitment, and educational approach.
As part of the Wellington global network which includes successful schools in China, Thailand, and India—WCIL will benefit from deep educational expertise, international collaboration, and continuous quality assurance.
Located in Alaro City, a 2,000-hectare modern, secure, master-planned urban development within the Lekki Free Zone, WCIL offers an inspiring environment for both students and staff. Alaro City provides high-quality infrastructure, growing residential and leisure amenities, and excellent safety standards, making it an attractive destination for top teaching and administrative talent.
WCIL is poised to redefine premium education in West Africa, bringing global best practice and Wellington heritage closer to home for Nigerian and international families.
The Role Overview:
Wellington College International Lagos is currently seeking to recruit a Head of Senior School. He / She will work with colleagues and pupils in order to support outstanding outcomes academically, pastorally and professionally. He / She is expected to play a key role in the strategic development of the College as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Head to lead the learning and teaching of pupils from 11 to 18 years from the senior school.
We are looking for a candidate who understands collaboration and the importance of meaningful relationships to strive for excellence in both their own professional development and passion to help realise our academic, physical, personal and social aspirations.
He/she will report to directly to the Master
Core Responsibilities:
The core vision for the Senior School as part of the whole-School development plan.
- The coordination and effective delivery of the teaching and pastoral care in the Senior School.
- Leading the Senior School SMT.
- Ensuring that the School’s Child Protection & Safeguarding practices are thorough, consistent and fully disseminated.
- Achieving the highest standards of performance and self-discipline amongst the Senior School teaching and non-academic staff.
- Designing the academic calendar, in consultation with the relevant members of the SLT, SMT and subject leaders.
- Sharing in the delivery of the curriculum as necessary, teaching a reduced number of lessons.
- The design, development, implementation and review of all Senior School policy documents and strategic plans.
- Managing parental concerns and communications, in conjunction with SLT and SMT colleagues.
- Disciplinary matters relating to all pupils within the Senior School.
- Ensuring that the pupils abide by the behavioral and uniform regulations, and thereby reflect credit on the College through their appearance and behavior.
- Ensure appropriate and outstanding transition and integration between the Senior and Primary Schools.
- Set an excellent example of professional standards and leadership.
- Any other reasonable requirements or requests from the Master.
Requirements
Basic Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree/ Master’s Degree / Relevant teaching qualifications and certificates
- Business level of spoken and written English
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience in Senior School with Minimum of 5 years’ senior leadership experience in a Senior School.
- Successful teaching experience.
- Proven leadership experience within a senior management role.
- Experience of curriculum leadership and developing whole-school policies and strategies.
- Experience of working in an international setting or of teaching children for whom English is an additional language.
Person Specification:
STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT AND LEADERSHIP:
- Reporting to the Master, establish a strategic vision for the Senior School that aligns with that of the College.
- Design, develop, implement and review all Senior school policy documents and strategic plans, in consultation with the relevant members of the SLT
- Ensure the vision for the Senior School is clearly articulated and shared, demonstrating the vision and values in everyday work and practice; motivating and working with others to create a shared culture and positive climate.
- Understand effective and meaningful use of internal and external assessment tools which support pupil outcomes and insightful comparisons with peer schools.
- Articulate the rationale behind high quality Indoor and outdoor learning environments, ensuring the highest standards of continuous and enhanced provision.
- To lead on the collection and use of Senior School data for both internal and external use.
- Contribute to the Senior College leadership team.
- Lead the team of teaching staff which includes: performance management, ensuring high standards of teaching performance and pupil progress, delivery of appropriate and impactful CPD.
- Contribute to the strategic development of family communication and partnerships and manage parental concerns, in conjunction with SMT and SLT colleagues.
- Evaluate the Senior School programme and identify areas of strength and areas for further development and improvement through SDPs and action planning.
- Ensure highly effective transitions from the Primary School and into the Senior School.
- Pian and budget for overall resourcing of the Senior School to meet the demands of the educational model.
- Attend all Board-level meetings, as required, and prepare requested summary packs.
- Support teaching teams to ensure children have a strong sense of belonging with high levels of wellbeing
PASTORAL CARE AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN
- Support teaching teams to ensure children have a strong sense of belonging with high levels of wellbeing.
- Ensure that all pupils in the Senior School share a practical understanding, and appreciation, of the School Values.
- Ensure that the behaviour expected of students is modelled by staff and understood clearly by pupils.
- Communicate and liaise frequently with parents, using parental forums also, to develop excellent professional relationships.
- Oversee the operation of the Houses, ensuring that they all provide outstanding care and procedures are consistently applied. • Coordinate Senior School assemblies to reinforce the School's ethos and Values, promoting a strong sense of culture. community and identity, celebrating pupil success.
- Chair meetings of the Pastoral Committee and Medical Committee, and be a member of the Health & Safety Committee.
- Liaise with the Head of Primary regarding Juniors-Seniors transition.
- Maintain the highest standards of care, child protection and safeguarding at all times by upholding the 3Ps: Protection, Provision and Participation as outlined in UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMME
- Lead, mentor and monitor the work of all Senior School staff.
- Oversee the induction process for new staff, ensuring it is of the highest standard and that it meets all regulatory requirements.
- Liaise with, and supply accurate information to, the Master on staffing needs.
- Assist in the recruitment process for all Senior School staff.
- Develop the educational model and curriculum for the Senior School and ensure successful progression to the next age phase of the College.
- Communicate curriculum and teaching expectations and oversee the setting of academic targets for pupils and to monitor pathways to achievement.
- Coordinate the academic timetable in 2027-2028.
- Oversee the planning and organizing of the day-to-day class and teacher schedules and adapt as necessary.
- Model and support effective learning and teaching strategies to maximize children`s progress.
- Ensure planning is clear, linked to the College LOs whilst being responsive to pupil needs, taking into account the necessary interventions and extensions for sufficient intellectual challenge.
- Monitor and advise teachers on documentation and reporting of the individual learning progress, ensuring student reports are of a high standard and are proofread effectively.
- Ensure that children’s cultural and linguistic backgrounds are valued and that multiculturalism is reflected in the programme.
- Work with teachers in identifying children with extra learning needs and working with the College SENCO, support communications with parents on the necessary support.
- Track student progress data and information to ensure learning is personalised and meets individual needs as well as informing overall strategies for excellent teaching.
- Ensure compliance to all health and safety requirements – local and College led - so that all environments are safe for children and adults.
- Monitor the quality of risk assessments when arranging fieldtrips for the enrichment of children’s learning.
- Engage parents in a structured programme of events to build understanding of the educational model and curriculum, including developing their capacity to contribute to pupil learning.
- Work with the marketing, admission, and school office staff to promote the Senior School programme, and wider College events.
- Identify teachers’ professional development needs and arrange for training accordingly with a written yearly plan for CPD opportunities.
- Monitor the impact of CPD on the standards of teaching.
- Visit classrooms and observe curriculum implementation regularly and provide feedback to teachers.
- Identify and document exemplary classroom practice for sharing with teachers and parents.
- Organize and participate in regular collaborative learning, sharing and reflection among teachers. • Encourage and develop teamwork among teachers.
- Ensure that appropriate cover work is set in the event of staff absence and that all Senior classes are covered effectively.
- Lead on the performance appraisal of teachers within the section of school. • Oversee the construction and running of all necessary staff duty rotas.
COMMUNICATION, COMMUNITY LIAISON AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:
- Provide a comprehensive plan on all areas within the Senior School.
- Coordinate with local government officials on different requirements regarding any statutory requirements to ensure full compliance.
- Take a strategic and practical role in the marketing of the Senior School and support full implementation.
- Contribute fully to admissions operations so that admissions targets are met and the process is managed effectively.
- Develop a positive relationship between the College and the wider school community through cooperative ventures, publications, competitions and extra-curricular activities.
PREFERRED APTITUDES
- A spirit of collaboration, drive, a sense of humour, a passion for children, positive nature, and a love of professional and lifelong learning.
- A resilient attitude to life and challenges, willing to embrace change as part of the SLT.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to communicate effectively with different types of people and in a cross culture environment.
- Strong grasp and understanding of international best practices in education.
- Ability to understand, use and manage emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathise with others, overcome challenges and diffuse conflict.
- Personal integrity, accountability and credibility.
- Commitment to quality and attention to detail.
- Strong ability to embrace change and to work to tight timelines whilst being innovative in managing change.
- Strong mind-set for continuous improvement to meet or exceed expectations.
- Ability to manage, motivate, support and inspire trust in others.
- Ability to formulate, monitor, evaluate and review plans and policies.
- Proven ability to work with metrics, numbers and trends to articulate recommendations for action based on analysis.
- Confident in Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint) and database systems
Others:
Fulfil any further additional duties as deemed necessary by the Master of the College.
