Head of School (British-Nigerian School)

VACANCY: Head of School (British-Nigerian School)

LOCATION: Ikeja, Lagos

Position Summary

The post-holder is responsible for translating the Board’s strategic vision into operational reality, driving academic excellence, leading and developing faculty and staff, managing day-to-day operations, safeguarding every child, and serving as the principal ambassador of the School to parents, regulators, and the wider community.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Translate the Board’s strategic vision into actionable, measurable school-wide development plans.
  
• Act as the primary liaison between school operations and the Governing Board, providing transparent, regular reporting on academic, financial, and operational metrics.
  
• Maintain institutional compliance with the Federal Ministry of Education, the Lagos State Ministry of Education, and all other applicable regulatory bodies.
  
• Oversee the School’s pursuitand maintenance of relevant international accreditations (e.g. COBIS, BSO).
  

Academic Excellence and Curriculum Administration

• Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the British curriculum across EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4 (IGCSE), and OSSD.
  
• Maintain strong relationships with Cambridge Assessment International Education, Edexcel/Pearson, and other examination boards.
  
• Cultivate an environment of high academic standards, monitoring student performance data and implementing remedial and enrichment programs as required.
  
• Ensure the integration of educational technology, modern pedagogy, and best-in-class learning resources across all year groups.
  
• Oversee the School’s co-curricular, sporting, pastoral, and house systems to support holistic student development.
  

Human Capital Managementand Leadership

• Lead the recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and retention of high-calibre academic and administrative staff.
  
• Implement a robust continuous professional development (CPD) framework to upskill teachers and the leadership team.
  
• Conduct structured performance appraisals, address instructional underperformance, and foster a collaborative, professional, and motivated workplace culture.
  
• Enforce institutional regulations and handle grievance and disciplinary procedures fairly and effectively.
  

Financial Supervision and Resource Optimisation

• Partner with the School’s Business Manager / Bursar to draft, manage,and optimise the annual operating budget for Board approval.
  
• Supervise fee collection workflows and actively drive cost-control measures without compromising the quality of education or student safety.
  
• Identify and eliminate waste across operational lines (utilities, stationery, catering, transport, maintenance).
  
• Provide termly variance reports and forward-looking financial commentary to the Board.
  

Institutional Growth, Marketing, and Enrolment

• Drive student enrolment and retention strategies to meet and exceed campus capacity targets.
  
• Serve as the principal brand ambassador of the School, enhancing its public profile and market reputation.
  
• Lead engagement initiatives with parents, alumni, corporate partners, and the wider community to build brand loyalty.
  
• Oversee admissions, open days, school tours, and the parent-induction experience.
  

Campus Operations,Safeguarding, and Student Welfare

• Ensure a safe, secure, hygienic, and high-functioning learning environment across all campus facilities.
  
• Implement and continuously improve safeguarding and child protection policies aligned with UK “Keeping Children Safe in Education” (KCSIE) standards and applicable Nigerian law.
  
• Oversee emergency management, fire safety, health and hygiene and the safe operation of school transport.
  
• Ensure the School’s dress codes, behavioural codes, and professional expectations are adhered to universally by staff and students alike.
  

External Relations and Regulatory Compliance

• Represent the School at sector forums, accreditation visits, and inter-school events.
  
• Ensure compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 in respect of student, parent, and staff data.
  
• Manage relationships with regulators, professional bodies,and accreditation agencies.
  

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Significant proven experience (minimum 10 years) in school leadership, with at least 5 years in a Head of School, Principal, or Deputy Head role at a British-curriculum or recognised international school.
  
• Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related discipline; Master’s degree preferred
  
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent recognised teaching qualification.
  
• Demonstrable working knowledge of the British National Curriculum across primary and secondary phases, including IGCSE and OSSD.
  
• Familiarity with Cambridge Assessment International Education and/or Edexcel/Pearson examination boards.
  
• Working knowledge of UK safeguarding standards (KCSIE-aligned) and applicable Nigerian regulatory frameworks.
  
• Strong financial literacy and experience managing institutional budgets at scale.
  
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
  

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) or equivalent.
  
• Direct experience with COBIS accreditation and/or BSO inspections.
  
• Proven track record of driving measurable student enrolment growth.
  
• Experience leading multicultural staff and student bodies.
  
• Familiarity with the West African educational landscape.
  

Personal Attributes

• Visionary and strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
  
• Inspiring, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent leader.
  
• Deep personal commitment to academic rigour and holistic student development.
  
• Resilient, adaptable,and culturally sensitive.
  
• Unimpeachable integrity and ethical standards.
  
• Strong public-facing presence and ambassadorial qualities.
  

Key Performance Indicators

Annual performance will be evaluated against the following weighted Key Performance Indicators:

• Academic and Student Performance (25%) - IGCSE/OSSDl outcomes, internal progress data, value-added learning.
  
• Enrolment Growth and Student Retention (20%) - net enrolment increase, term-to-term retention of 95% or higher.
  
• Staff Retention and Professional Development (15%) - voluntary turnover below10%, 100% CPD completion.
  
• Financial Efficiency and Budgetary Adherence (15%) - expenditure within ±3% of approved budget, 98% fee recovery within 4–6 weeks.
  
• Stakeholder Satisfaction and Brand Reputation (15%) - minimum 85% parent satisfaction; critical complaints acknowledged within 24 hours and resolved within 5 working days.
  
• Regulatory Compliance, Health, and Safety (10%) - zero critical compliance citations, zero major preventable incidents.
  

Application Process

Interested and qualified applicants should send CVs to [email protected] using H-SC-26 as subject