Education Director
The King’s School Canterbury International (KSCIL) INFORMATION
Welcome from The Head
Dear Candidate,
Many thanks indeed for your interest in this role as Education Director – The King’s School Canterbury International (KSCIL). I joined King’s as Head in September 2023 and this is a very exciting time to be part of this distinctive and inspiring School as we set out a new strategic vision and chart our course for the future.
King’s is a simply wonderful place to live and to work. Since joining, I have been struck by the remarkable warmth of the welcome that I have received here and by the friendliness, mutual respect and authenticity of the relationships between staff and pupils.
Our incredibly rich and broad curriculum and co-curricular programme create an environment where it feels that anything is possible, where pupils are known and supported as individuals, and where they are encouraged to pursue their own unique path through King’s and beyond.
Around 75% of our pupils are boarders (equal numbers of boys and girls) and our pupil body is drawn from a range of backgrounds both at home and abroad. We have a generous bursary provision and have recently launched an ambitious campaign to turbo charge this and to further widen access to our School. With this diverse and inclusive community, global mindedness and open-mindedness are hallmarks of our School.
Pupils achieve excellent outcomes in external examinations, but a King’s education looks far beyond this. Our remarkably broad curriculum and our enrichment programme serve to develop pupils as thinkers, and as learners, and prepares them to make a positive mark on the world beyond school. We also want to ensure that pupils enjoy their time with us – that their school days are filled with joy, exploration and discovery.
I do look forward to meeting you in due course.
Jude Lowson, Head
About King’s
The King’s School Canterbury is a co-educational, full boarding and day school, educating pupils from aged 3 to 18 in different schools.
The King’s School Canterbury has stood at the forefront of education for over fourteen centuries. Today, through King’s School Canterbury International Ltd (KSCIL), we extend that heritage globally, establishing carefully selected partnerships that reflect the academic ambition, pastoral strength and values-driven ethos that define King’s.
This is a pivotal period of growth, with two established international schools and two major founding projects underway, KSCIL is building a coherent, high-quality global network grounded in educational integrity rather than rapid expansion.
Each school is distinct in context, yet united by shared principles:
• Academic rigour and intellectual curiosity
• Strong pastoral care and safeguarding
• A broad co-curricular life
• Character formation and leadership development
• Deep alignment with King’s Canterbury standards
A Network, Not a Franchise
King’s Canterbury’s international schools are not standalone franchises operating in isolation. They form part of an emerging global network connected through:
• Shared academic standards
• Quality assurance frameworks
• Leadership mentoring
• Professional development exchanges
• Pupil partnerships and collaborative projects
The appointment of an Education Director will further strengthen oversight, alignment and reporting clarity across the portfolio.
King’s School Shenzhen, China
Located in one of China’s most dynamic international cities, The King’s School Shenzhen opened in 2019 and delivers a premium British curriculum within a purpose-built campus designed to support academic excellence and holistic development.
The school offers a full K–12 pathway, culminating in GCSE and A Level qualifications. Enrolment is strong, and there is an increasing strategic focus on senior school progression and pupil futures. The school reflects King’s traditional commitment to scholarship, creativity and co-curricular breadth, adapted thoughtfully to its Chinese context.
King’s School Vattanacville, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
King’s School Vattanacville is located within the Vattanac Tower in the heart of Phnom Penh. Opening in 2023, it represents a significant step in bringing high-quality British education to Cambodia. The school has progressed steadily from when the Pre-Prep opened and is the first COBIS accredited school in Cambodia, a landmark achievement for the country’s international education sector. Vattanacville is a young school, but one developing with purpose, ambition and close alignment to King’s Canterbury expectations.
Our Established Schools Founding schools in Development
King’s School Canterbury, Cairo
King’s Cairo represents one of the most significant new chapters in the school’s international journey.
The Nursery will open in January 2027, laying the cultural and educational foundations for the wider K–12 school opening in 2028. The campus design reflects King’s commitment to high-quality learning environments, with particular emphasis on early years provision, pastoral care and community building. The Nursery will set the tone for the school’s ethos: nurturing, ambitious, intellectually stimulating and values-driven from the earliest years.
King’s School Bengaluru, India
The Bengaluru project marks King’s entry into one of the world’s most rapidly growing international education markets. Opening initially with a Pre-Prep phase in August 2027, the school will expand to full K–12 provision by 2029. Detailed architectural planning, curriculum alignment and governance structures are already in place in partnership with Vidyanidhi Education Trust.
Bengaluru represents disciplined, long-term expansion, designed to build a sustainable school community rather than rapid enrolment growth.
About the Role
The Education Director will play a pivotal strategic and academic role in shaping, safeguarding and advancing the educational vision of The King’s School Canterbury across its expanding international partnership schools. This is an exciting and formative period for King’s School International Ltd, with significant growth underway and clear ambition for further development. The successful candidate will join at a defining moment, helping to shape the direction, coherence and long-term educational impact of a growing global network.
This is a senior teaching leadership position, ideally suited to an experienced Deputy Head, former Head, or equivalent senior leader. The role is rooted in educational practice and academic credibility. The post-holder will remain actively engaged in the academic life of The King’s School Canterbury, including an appropriate teaching commitment.
Working across both strategic development and operational school support, the Education Director will act as the principal guardian of the academic standards, ethos and intellectual ambition of The King’s School Canterbury internationally. The role combines educational thought leadership, quality assurance, school start-up support, mentoring and partnership development across a dynamic and expanding global portfolio.
The working pattern is primarily aligned to term time, reflecting the rhythms of senior school leadership. Flexibility is required to undertake international travel and strategic responsibilities during selected school holiday periods. The role may operate under a dual-contract structure reflecting teaching responsibilities at King’s and international strategic responsibilities, subject to final appointment arrangements.
Key Responsibilities
Educational Leadership and Academic Standards
• Act as the principal custodian and ambassador of the academic ethos, values and educational principles of The King’s School Canterbury across all international partnership schools.
• Ensure coherent alignment of curriculum design, teaching methodologies, pastoral provision and assessment practices with King’s standards, while allowing for appropriate local contextualisation.
• Provide strategic and intellectual leadership in curriculum development and academic innovation across the international portfolio.
• Exercise oversight of academic performance, teaching quality and leadership effectiveness across partner schools.
• Provide clear, analytical and strategic reports to the Managing Director and relevant board/ governing bodies on educational standards, risks and priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
• Design and oversee robust, improvement-led quality assurance frameworks across all international partnership schools.
• Lead educational reviews, evaluation visits and structured professional dialogue with Heads and senior leadership teams.
• Use qualitative and quantitative data, alongside benchmarking and external reference points, to identify strengths, address underperformance and drive sustained academic improvement.
• Support schools through inspection, accreditation and regulatory processes where required.
School Start-Up and Educational Development
• Provide strategic leadership in the educational design and academic start-up of new international schools, from pre-opening through to full operational maturity.
• Lead the development and adaptation of core academic policies, staff handbooks, safeguarding frameworks and curriculum documentation to ensure alignment with King’s standards and ethos.
• Advise partners on staffing structures, pastoral systems, timetabling, co-curricular provision and academic governance frameworks.
• Support the establishment of a strong culture of teaching excellence, intellectual ambition and student-centred practice from inception.
• Contribute educational expertise to feasibility discussions and early-stage partnership development.
Leadership Development and Professional Learning
• Provide mentoring, coaching and professional support to Heads and senior leadership teams across the international network.
• Support partner schools in the recruitment and induction of Heads and senior leaders.
• Design and lead structured professional development initiatives that strengthen pedagogical excellence and leadership capacity.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing and best-practice exchange between The King’s School Canterbury and its partner institutions.
• Contribute to succession planning and the identification and preparation of future academic leaders.
Pupil Partnerships and Global Engagement
• Lead and develop meaningful pupil partnerships between The King’s School Canterbury and its international partner schools.
• Oversee the development of collaborative academic projects, student exchanges, joint competitions, enrichment initiatives and shared events that strengthen the global King’s community.
• Ensure that pupil-facing partnership initiatives reflect the academic ambition, character and values of The King’s School Canterbury.
• Promote international-mindedness, intellectual collaboration and shared educational identity across the network.
Partnership Relations and Governance
• Act as the senior educational point of contact for international partner schools, building trusted and constructive relationships with local leadership teams.
• Serve, where appropriate, on governing bodies of international partner schools, providing educational insight and strategic challenge.
• Advise boards on academic strategy, standards, compliance and long-term sustainabilitRepresent The King’s School Canterbury International Ltd at external forums, conferences and partnership meetings as required.
Teaching and Contribution to King’s Canterbury
• Undertake an appropriate teaching commitment at The King’s School Canterbury, maintaining direct engagement with classroom practice and contributing to the academic life of the school.
• Contribute to the wider academic community of King’s, including participation in INSET, curriculum development and intellectual leadership where appropriate.
Person Specification
Essential
• Qualified teacher status (or equivalent) with a recognised teaching qualification.
• Substantial senior leadership experience, ideally as a Deputy Head, Head or equivalent, within a UK independent school context.
• Strong track record of leading and improving teaching and learning, curriculum design and pastoral systems.
• Demonstrable experience of academic quality assurance and school improvement.
• Excellent understanding of British curriculum frameworks and qualifications (including GCSE and A Level or equivalent).
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the credibility to influence, support and challenge senior leaders.
• Willingness and flexibility to undertake regular international travel.
Desirable
• Experience of international education or cross-cultural educational contexts.
• Experience of inspection, accreditation or regulatory frameworks (e.g., BSO, COBIS or equivalent).
• Experience supporting school start-up or significant whole-school development initiatives.
Personal Attributes
• A values-driven educational leader with a clear moral purpose and student-centred mindset.
• Strategically minded with the ability to translate vision into sustained educational impact.
• Culturally intelligent and adaptable across diverse international contexts.
• Credible, thoughtful and resilient, with sound professional judgement.
• Collaborative, discreet and solutions-focused.
• Committed to safeguarding, inclusion and the highest academic standards.
Living in Canterbury
King’s is at the heart of the city, with much of the School nestled around the Green Court, within the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. This creates a beautiful and tranquil working environment, within a small but bustling city, which is also home to two universities.
The River Stour runs through the heart of the Canterbury, with boat tours giving a chance to see some of the city’s hidden gems. There is a busy high street, gorgeous medieval lanes, and a good range of shops, plenty of places to eat, two cinemas and a city theatre that sees performances ranging from Shakespeare’s The King & I and Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty to stand-up comedy and critically-acclaimed musicals.
If the history in the city is not enough, there are plenty of castles to visit nearby. There is beautiful countryside all around the city with plenty of pretty villages nearby, as well as Blean Woods where wild bison now roam. The coastline is an easy journey away by car or train, with a variety of sandy beaches, cliffs and long coastal walks.
The M25 and M20 are easily accessible making Gatwick and Heathrow within reasonable driving distance, and there is the high-speed train link into London, getting you to St Pancras in just under an hour. For those wanting the continent, Dover and Folkstone are just a short car journey away.
Applications
Applications should be submitted online through the King’s School website (Current Job Vacancies • The King’s School, Canterbury (kings-school.co.uk)) and should include a Cover Letter and a CV, by 19 March 2026.
If you have any queries please contact the HR Recruitment Team: recruitment@kings-school.co.uk.
Working at King’s
Hear from or staff what it’s like to work at The King’s School.
Benefits
Fee remission
Access to generous fee remission for children of teachers to attend at King’s and Junior King’s.
Pension
Option to join either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Royal London (defined contribution) with 23.6% employer contribution to both.
Life Assurance
All employees are automatically enrolled into a life assurance scheme that pays benefits to dependents.
Health Insurance
King’s Private Healthcare Scheme. Please note this is a non-contractual benefit, currently administered by BUPA.
Employee Assistance Programme
A free confidential helpline available 7 days a week, 365 days a year and the option of accessing face to face counselling.
Sports Centre
All employees have gold membership with access to the pool, gym and other facilities.
Cycle to Work Scheme
The school operate a salary sacrifice cycle scheme which could provide savings of up to 40%, dependent on salary and cycle cost.
Eye Care
Regular VDU users can receive a financial contribution to the cost of both eye tests and glasses.
Financial Advice
King’s facilitates regular free impartial financial advice to all employees.
Lunch
Staff enjoy lunch together in our school dining rooms during term time.
Safeguarding
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and all applicants will be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media accounts, as part of their application.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
Our commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equality
King’s is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We seek to recruit staff who share our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and who are dedicated to creating an environment in which every pupil and colleague can thrive.