Head of Teaching and Learning at Wellspring College

Reports To: Executive Director

Liaises With: Academic Coordinators, Heads of Departments, and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)

Job Purpose:

The Head of Teaching and Learning is a senior academic leader responsible for driving the highest standards of instructional quality across the secondary school. This dual-focus role ensures rigorous quality assurance of classroom practices while designing and executing a world-class Continuous Professional Development (CPD) framework to elevate faculty performance and maximize student outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Assurance & Academic Standards

• Instructional Audits: Establish and lead a transparent, data-driven system of lesson observations, learning walks, and work scrutinies to ensure teaching aligns with international best practices.
• Curriculum Alignment: Partner with Academic Coordinators to ensure the written, taught, and assessed (British and Nigerian) integrated curriculum meets established benchmarks (e.g., Cambridge) and delivers on exceptional learning outcomes
• Data-Informed Intervention: Analyze standardized assessment data alongside classroom observation metrics to identify gaps in instructional quality and implement rapid intervention plans.
• Student-Centric Feedback: Develop and manage student and parent feedback mechanisms regarding teaching quality to ensure a responsive learning environment.
• Training of Observers: Train and calibrate HODs and other observers so that there is uniformity in lesson observation expectations and measurements

2. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) & Faculty Growth

• Strategic CPD Mapping: Design, implement, and evaluate an annual professional development roadmap that aligns individual teacher goals with overall school strategic objectives.
• Instructional Coaching Culture: Establish and oversee a peer-coaching and mentorship framework, moving the school culture from static annual appraisals to active, continuous pedagogical growth.
• Modern Pedagogical Integration: Source and deliver training on cutting-edge educational trends, optimization of tech (including AI integration) in the classroom, 21st century learner skills, differentiated learning for neurodiverse students, and inquiry-based learning.
• Onboarding Excellence: Design and lead the pedagogical onboarding program for newly recruited local and expatriate faculty to ensure rapid integration into the school’s academic culture.

Leadership, Innovation & Culture

• SLT Advisory: Serve as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, presenting regular executive briefs on teaching standards, faculty growth metrics, and instructional risk management.
• Culture of Innovation: Champion action research projects among staff, encouraging teachers to test, document, and share innovative teaching methodologies.
• Resource Optimization: Manage the academic CPD budget and vet external educational consultants, workshops, and certification programs to ensure a high return on investment.

Person Specification & Qualifications

Education & Certifications

• First degree in Education or related discipline
• Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, or a highly relevant academic field would be an added advantage 
• Advanced Certification in the Cambridge curricula framework (e.g., Cambridge Trainer status)
• Relevant certifications in instructional coaching, school leadership, etc., would be an added advantage
• Not older than 45 years

Experience & Skills

• Minimum of 6–8 years of successful teaching experience in a reputable international school offering the Nigerian and Cambridge curriculum
• At least 4 years in a middle or senior leadership role (e.g., Head of Department, Deputy Head Academic) performing similar function
• Proven experience designing and implementing teacher appraisal systems, rubric-based lesson observations, and data-driven school improvement plans.
• Deep understanding of adult learning principles (andragogy) with a documented history of designing and facilitating impactful workshops for diverse, multicultural faculties.
• Exceptional interpersonal, emotional intelligence, and diplomatic skills—able to deliver rigorous, critical feedback in a way that inspires growth rather than defensiveness.