School Improvement Manager, Middle East

Due to the continued growth within our Middle East Region of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) we are looking for inspiring individuals who want to join us on this journey and become part of our regional team. from January to March 2023.

At ISP, everyone is a learner.

As a School Improvement Manager, you lead by example and model learning and a growth mindset, demonstrating a desire to learn and build on your knowledge, skills and understanding in leading your own learning and the learning of others. You foster learning and growth in those you work with, be they teachers, school leaders, or regional colleagues.

Learner (ISP definition) 

The ISP learner recognises that their mindset, experiences and actions drive their learning outcomes. With this awareness, they exercise voice, choice, and ownership over their process of learning - leading their learning and the learning of others. 

About the role

As the School Improvement Manager, you are uniquely placed to support the Director of Learning (DOL) and collaborate with a wide spectrum of colleagues within and across schools, the Regional Team, and the Central ISP Learning and Innovation Team. You are critical to the implementation and success of all elements included in the ISP Learning and Innovation Strategy and together with the Regional Director of Learning accountable for delivering the key goals of Embedding Quality and Academic Achievement as well as leading on student retention strategies.

Overarching Responsibilities. You demonstrate and model that our students come first, always. You relentlessly promote and facilitate the use of ISP’s Learning.First. Framework to Embed Quality in all schools. You ensure that all Senior Leaders know and are able to communicate the purpose and value of ISP’s offerings, as well as our expectations, enabling schools to fully access the various elements of the Framework to positively impact on student and adult learning. You will support the development of great learning in schools using data (from assessments) and evidence-based methods. Through the reports and past data, you will be responsible to work in partnership with our school SLT and regional team on retention and engagement related initiatives such as analysis of data on past behavioral responses, tweaking of email campaigns, segmentation for constant improvement. Your role will monitor new student turnover and retention rates as well as identify new ways to attract prospective customers such as promotions and competitions. You will also act as a liaison to at-risk students whether self-identified or faculty identified, including creating programs of support.

Feedback and integration of improvement initiatives. You will be responsible for the twice annual Parent NPS surveys and the annual parent engagement survey, identifying key feedback and addressing solutions. Harness customer attributes (demographical, behavioral as well as transactional) to carve out effective customer journeys. You will be responsible to gather and analyze feedback from all students and parents to ensure well-being and high retention in schools. Your role will be to look deeper into the leavers’ report to understand the reasons and identify patterns and trends. You will further be responsible for making suggestions for areas of change that would increase student success and retention. In partnership with the regional admissions & marketing team you will develop strategies to ramp up customer engagement and growth via multichannel integrated campaigns. You will also create retention strategies in line with the ISP School of Choice model and map the customer journey.

Communication. You work closely with Principals, ISP Regional DOL, and ISP Regional Marketing to optimize the branding of your school and communicate an inspiring vision of the offering to attract the right families and students, as well as making current families ambassadors for the school. Ensure that stories of great learning in your schools - from across the full range of student abilities and dispositions – are continually fed through to the different ways.

Partnerships. Your success and ability to impact on the learning of thousands of students in your region is built upon the positive relationships and partnerships that you create and nurture. You consistently embody the ISP Principles, building trust and enhancing the Atmosphere within the various teams that you work with. Your partnership with the school team involves hiring, managing and aligning with parent/ student ambassadors and form tutors from each school. Help them create personalized support to assist families, recognize milestones, address issues & challenges within the school, and help families understand the academic benefits of continued enrolment. Advise school administration on any student relations issues.

The Learning Improvement Process. You are active in schools and from a distance in effectively supporting Heads, Senior Leadership teams, and other Learning Leaders to know and understand the ISP Learning Improvement Process (LIP) and its purpose. You ensure that schools have the tools and skills to accurately and confidently complete the school self-evaluation against ISP’s 9 Criteria, getting better and better over time. You moderate and challenge schools’ judgements when necessary, considering evidence provided and its visibility and impact on learning, thereby ensuring consistency and accuracy across your region and the wider ISP Group. You will be responsible to apply the same methodology to the school self-evaluation form in accordance with local ministry requirements and any accreditation bodies linked to the school, support the school in preparing for their inspections. You will support on the data requirements and accreditation processes to support the continuous improvement to our local offerings.

You hold schools accountable for annual Learning Improvement Planning that focuses explicitly on student learning, raising academic achievement, and getting better against ISP´s 9 Criteria. You coach and mentor Learning Leaders to develop clear targets and action plans, and strategically monitor and support the schools’ progress against these during the year. Through collecting and evaluating the schools’ learning targets at a Regional level, and through knowing the stories surrounding them, you identify areas for development across the region. You notice and act upon opportunities to facilitate collaborations between schools that drive these improvements in learning, and actively inform the Central Learning and Innovation Team to ensure the ongoing development of their offering to schools, both digital and otherwise.

Evidence of Learning. You are accountable for reporting on all Learning KPIs for your region, both to your Regional and Central colleagues. As such, you are highly informed about the quality of learning taking place in all of the schools in your Region. Through regular evaluation and triangulation of various types and sources of Evidence of Learning, you provide targeted support to school leaders that supports their Learning Improvement Process. This also enables you to effectively communicate the learning stories, the areas of strength, and the opportunities of each school to your Regional and Central teams.

You regularly and systematically initiate conversations with Senior and Learning Leaders that promote high quality analysis of learning evidence (such as external exam results, learning surveys, learning visit data) and you hold these leaders to account in effectively using relevant Evidence of Learning to inform their Learning Improvement Planning and associated actions and investments.

Build Talent. Through collaboration with the Central Learning and Innovation Team, you support the development and delivery of the various Leadership for Learning programmes that ISP offers to schools. You maintain an up-to-date knowledge of all participants in your region, and actively contribute to their development where possible and appropriate. You work closely with the Group Head of Teacher Professional Learning and Development and support Learning Leaders with the ongoing development of teaching practice through the ISP Teacher Role Profile and associated Teacher Self-Evaluation.

You are the primary promotor for the ISP Learning Hub in your region and have a competent knowledge of the learning environment and the courses and resources provided. You coach and support schools to effectively utilise the Learning Hub to develop staff and improve learning, collaborating on launch strategies for all new digital learning experiences with each school.

The Offering. You have a comprehensive knowledge of the ISP Learning and Innovation Strategy.  As such you actively promote the various opportunities for improving each school’s offer. You systematically track schools’ progress within each of the 5 core offerings through the ISP Learning KPIs, collaborating with Heads and Senior Leadership teams to support their focus and action.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Well-being and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences, and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Education
• Experience in the Education sector is preferable. Knowledge and an awareness of how learning happens.
• Excellent spoken and written English communication skills.
• The ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Strong visual communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex concepts and data.
• MS Office (Word, Powerpoint, and Excel) proficiency.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.