Assistant Principal - Pastoral - Cranleigh Abu Dhabi (August 2026)

Job DescriptionCranleigh Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Aldar Education, is seeking to appoint an exceptional Assistant Principal – Pastoral to join our Senior Leadership Team from August 2026. This key strategic leadership role is responsible for leading safeguarding, pastoral care and student wellbeing across the whole school. We are seeking an outstanding, values‑driven leader who can champion a culture of care, guidance and support, ensuring every pupil thrives both academically and personally. The successful candidate will bring strong leadership experience, deep expertise in safeguarding and pastoral systems, and the ability to lead with clarity, compassion and impact within a dynamic and ambitious school environment.The closing date for applications is 1st April 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the School reserves the right to appoint earlier should an exceptional candidate be identified.Located on Saadiyat Island, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is a leading British international school delivering an outstanding education inspired by the heritage and ethos of Cranleigh School in the UK. As part of Aldar Education, the school operates within a values‑led, high‑performance environment, delivering excellence across education, operations and community life.ResponsibilitiesOverviewThe Assistant Principal – Pastoral will lead all aspects of student wellbeing, safeguarding and pastoral care, working closely with the Principal, Heads of School, Heads of Year, the Wellbeing Team (School Counsellors and Social Workers) and wider leadership teams. The role will ensure a seamless link between academic, pastoral and operational functions, supporting students to thrive both academically and personally within the Cranleigh community. The post holder will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or oversee the DSL structure across the school and will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all safeguarding, child protection and wellbeing requirements.Whole School ResponsibilitiesPastoral Leadership & StrategyLead and develop a clear, cohesive whole‑school pastoral strategy aligned to Cranleigh valuesOversee the pastoral structures across all phases, ensuring consistency and impactLine manage DDSL’s / pastoral leaders and provide strategic direction and supportLead the Director of Care, Guidance & Support to align wellbeing provision with pastoral systemsMonitor and evaluate the effectiveness of pastoral systems, using data to inform improvementsLead on behaviour, attendance and student conduct frameworks across the schoolSafeguardingAct as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or oversee the safeguarding structure across the schoolEnsure full compliance with safeguarding legislation, ADEK requirements and best practiceLead safeguarding training for staff, students and parentsOversee safeguarding records, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality and complianceLiaise with external agencies where requiredPromote a strong culture of safeguarding across the school communityEnsure robust escalation procedures are followed in line with ADEK and UAE requirementsMaintain oversight of CPOMS (or current system) ensuring consistency, quality and compliance of recordsChair and oversee regular safeguarding review meetingsEnsure safer recruitment practices are embedded across the school, including training and compliance checksLead on policy development, review and implementation of all safeguarding and child protection policiesWellbeingOversee and support the implementation of the school’s wellbeing strategyLead the Wellbeing Team (Counsellors and Social Workers) to ensure high-quality provisionEnsure early identification and intervention for student wellbeing concernsSupport the development and implementation of individual student care plansPromote preventative, research-based approaches to student wellbeingLead initiatives that support resilience, self-regulation and positive mental healthStudent Experience & CultureLead on creating a positive, inclusive and values-driven school cultureOversee student leadership structures and student voice initiativesEnsure effective delivery of tutor time, assemblies and PSHE / wellbeing programmesSupport the organisation of events that enhance student experience, including charity and community initiativesChampion inclusion, equity and UAE national identity across the schoolParents & Community EngagementBuild strong, effective relationships with parents and the wider communitySupport and lead on complex pastoral meetings with parents and studentsCommunicate clearly and proactively regarding pastoral mattersWork with external agencies and partners to support student needsStaff Leadership & DevelopmentSupport and develop staff in delivering high-quality pastoral careProvide training and guidance on safeguarding, behaviour and wellbeingPromote staff wellbeing and contribute to a positive working cultureContribute to whole‑school professional developmentOperational & Strategic Leader