Primary School Education Program Lead - SPARK

About SPARK Schools:

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SPARK Schools is a social impact disruptor and is leading change in the education space through its network of affordable private schools. The SPARK Schools network provides transformational education innovation through Africa’s first blended learning model, which elevates student achievement and provides the tools teachers need to serve their students effectively.

The blended learning model, which combines classroom teaching and online instruction, allows teachers to anticipate student needs and equips schools to provide personalized education at an affordable cost. SPARK Schools is pioneering this transformative education model to ensure the accessibility of university and careers for all.

SPARK Schools has a culture of collaboration, because getting South Africa to lead global education takes a team effort. We are innovators who strive for excellence through persistence and a sense of urgency to achieve SPARK Schools’ vision, mission and social transformational objectives. Our work environment is vibrant/cheerful, fast-paced/dynamic, engaging/stimulating, tech-enabled and data driven.

SPARK Schools is a high growth, mission and values-driven, entrepreneurial organisation, operating 21 primary schools and 5 high schools and serving over 15,500 families in 2025. We are looking for dynamic people to join our team.

Reports To:

Principal

Purpose of Role:

The Education Program Lead drives student achievement and educational excellence across SPARK Schools by leading the design, implementation, and monitoring of a future-focused, inclusive, and data-informed curriculum and assessment model. This role is pivotal in aligning instruction to national standards while integrating project-based learning, character education, technology, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Responsibilities:

Curriculum Leadership and Design

• Design and oversee an inclusive, interdisciplinary, and future-fit curriculum that incorporates project-based learning, SDG-related themes, and 21st-century competencies.
• Ensure alignment with national frameworks (CAPS) and SPARK’s instructional models (e.g., blended and personalised learning).
• Create subject integration maps and pacing guides, and lead the development of instructional content for the online LMS.
• Design character-based learning resources that develop SPARK values:
  Service, Persistence, Achievement, Responsibility, Kindness.
• Coordinate moderation plans and teacher resources that promote consistent instructional quality.

Assessment Strategy & Quality

• Lead a cohesive assessment framework (diagnostic, formative, summative, benchmark) aligned to curriculum goals.
• Develop, curate, and moderate internal and external assessments; monitor implementation and marking fidelity.
• Facilitate data-driven instruction by training staff to analyse student data for continuous improvement.
• Integrate online and classroom-based assessment data for a holistic view of scholar progress.

Capacity Building & Support

• Coach school leaders, instructional coaches, and teachers on curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment literacy.
• Facilitate PD sessions based on curriculum gaps and observed teaching practices.
• Guide teachers in using technology tools and online platforms for personalised and collaborative learning.
• Conduct regular site visits, lesson observations, and book checks to support fidelity and improvement.

Data Informed Improvement

• Analyse academic data to identify trends, close learning gaps, and inform strategic planning.
• Lead termly and annual curriculum reviews and assessment audits across schools.
• Generate internal assessment schedules and reporting templates for performance tracking.

Innovation & Research

• Stay up-to-date on global trends in curriculum, educational technology, and competency-based learning.
• Pilot and evaluate STEAM, coding, SDG-aligned themes, and project-based learning innovations.
• Source and recommend innovative resources and interventions that promote academic equity.

Compliance and Academic Governance

• Represent SPARK in district, provincial, and national compliance forums (e.g. DBE, GDE, WCED, ISASA,…