Founding Principal - Pre-School
Malvern College Hong Kong (China/Hong Kong)

PRINCIPAL OF MALVERN COLLEGE HONG KONG PRE-SCHOOL

 Appointment to take effect from January 2017

Date:  Apply by Monday 27 May 
Location:  Hong Kong
Contract type:  Full Time
Contract term:  Three-year Contract (Renewable)

Malvern College Hong Kong Pre-School is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Founding Principal to lead and support the official opening in September 2017 of Malvern College’s first Pre-School in Asia. This is an exciting opportunity for an Early Years specialist with the skills, vision and expertise to establish the Pre-School and to be part of a committed and enthusiastic team eager to develop a new school and bring top-class international pre-school education to Hong Kong. 

BACKGROUND
Malvern College Hong Kong Pre-School will be the newest member of the Malvern College Family of Schools that is now operating in the UK, Mainland China, Egypt, and Hong Kong, with future locations being considered in other parts of Asia.  To find out more about the Malvern College Family of Schools visit www.malverncollege.org.hk or www.malverncollege.org.uk.
Malvern College has 150 years of history and is regarded as one of the best independent schools in the UK.  Malvern College is closely associated with The Downs Malvern, which caters for Early Years, Pre-Prep and Prep.  The College has been a forerunner in innovative education, from pioneering Nuffield Physics in the 1960s to being one of the first schools in the UK to adopt the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the 1990s.   The broad curriculum offered at Malvern College, complemented by an extensive sporting, musical, artistic and dramatic co-curriculum and under-pinned by a strong emphasis on pastoral care, encourages individuals to maximise their potential. In Hong Kong, Malvern College has been allocated a greenfield site, next to the Science Park in Taipo, by the Hong Kong Government for the construction and operation of a new international day school (Malvern College Hong Kong). This main school will open in September 2018, rising to a capacity of 960 places for both girls and boys aged 5-18. The school will inherit the ethos of Malvern College in the UK as well as its tradition of innovation in teaching and learning. 
Our Pre-School will open a year earlier in 2017 for children aged 2-5. The Pre-School will accommodate up to 240 children at capacity.  We envision being the first Forest School in Hong Kong that will cultivate a love of nature, teamwork, and character development in the Early Years. The Pre-School will be located in a new residential development in an upscale neighborhood. Malvern College Hong Kong Pre-School will adopt the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework on which the Early Years curriculum in England is based. English will be the medium of instruction, with Mandarin being taught as a compulsory subject. 

THE ROLE

The Founding Principal of Malvern College Hong Kong Pre-School will lead a team of pre-school specialists in providing a stimulating and nurturing learning environment for children aged 2-5 years, and will help ensure that the curriculum is innovative, meets the needs of students and is delivered through high quality teaching and learning that maximises students’ potential. The successful candidate will be responsible for the development and delivery of Malvern College Hong Kong Pre-School’s mission and values and will be a strategic and supportive member of the leadership team, playing a key role in the development of the Pre-School to ensure its success as a leading school in Hong Kong over coming years.

In broad terms, the role of the Principal is to provide instructional leadership; manage and lead the teaching and non-teaching staff; oversee the school’s facilities and its full operation, and provide for the overall safety and wellbeing of the children.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead by example as an excellent role model of highly effective teaching and caring for children
• Actively promote the wellbeing of all students and uphold safeguarding and child protection procedures within the school
• Manage the daily operations of the school
• Provide effective leadership and mentorship of staff and students
• Oversee the school facilities to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the premises
• Develop, as required, appropriate whole school policies and procedures
• Prepare, administer, and oversee the school budget
• Manage the effective deployment of school resources
• Recruit qualified teachers and other staff
• Induct new teaching staff and plan continuing professional development and other training activities for all staff
• Develop and monitor the delivery of the curriculum and related programs
• Provide instructional leadership and demonstrate a clear understanding of Early Years pedagogy
• Evaluate programme/curriculum standards, instructional practices, and performance reviews of teachers
• Lead the development, management, and implementation of policy on student assessment and attainment
• Implement and monitor quality assurance procedures within the Pre-School to meet the requirements of external Quality Assurance processes
• Initiate and maintain excellent communication with the parents
• Coordinate community activities and involvement and maintain cooperative professional relationships between the school, the community, and other organizations
• Liaise with additional staff (Learning Assistants and Support Staff) to ensure the appropriate staffing of the school, if necessary after school hours
• Support the effective transition of students from the Early Years into Primary School
• Work closely with the School Board on the strategic development of the school and produce annual action plans outlining phase priorities

These job details are a guide to the duties, professional responsibilities and core competencies, and they do not form part of the contract of employment.

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• A university degree 
• A recognized teaching qualification relevant to Early Years education
• Minimum of 6 years of teaching experience in Early Years education, ideally with experience in an international educational setting
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in effective school administration and curriculum leadership and development
• Strong knowledge and/or experience in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum framework
• Experience in teaching second language learners
• Evidence of on-going professional learning and development
• A further qualification in Leadership and Management in Education, such as the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) or the International Leadership and Management Programme for Senior Leaders, is desirable but not essential

REMUNERATION PACKAGE
A highly attractive package will be offered to the successful candidate including a competitive salary, furnished accommodation, generous annual leave, flights, medical insurance, assistance with schooling for children and a pension allowance. 

HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for application is Monday 27 May 2016. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible. 
Please send a letter of application with a full CV addressed to the Chief Executive, Malvern College Hong Kong.  Your letter of application or CV should contain the contact details of three referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer.  All references will be required prior to interview but will only be requested once we have obtained your permission to contact your referees. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.
Please email all documents to the HR department at <hr@malverncollege.org.hk>.
First round interviews will be held the week commencing 30th May, but the school reserves the right to contact candidates before the closing date. The final interviews will be held in the week of 20th June in Hong Kong. 
Shortlisted candidates will be expected to give proof of identify and qualifications before interviews take place. The final employment will be subject to pre-employment and child protection checks.