Foundation Stage​/Key Stage 1 Phase Leader - Al Hamra Campus - Req

The British International School Riyadh (BISR) has provided high-quality education to the expatriate community since 1979. As a well-regarded, not-for-profit, co-educational institution in the Middle East, we serve students aged 3-18 across multiple campuses.

Our school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and as a British School Overseas (BSO). Additionally, BISR is a member of the British Schools of the Middle East (BSME), the Association of British Schools Overseas (AoBSO), the Heads Conference (HMC), and the Council of British International Schools (COBIS).

Following the English curriculum, which is greatly enriched by the local and international context, BISR offers a holistic learning experience. Our broad co-curricular program includes extra-curricular activities, student leadership opportunities, service learning initiatives, and residential trips. We are also committed to strong pastoral care to support student well-being.

Teachers at the British International School Riyadh (BISR) place the education, safeguarding and wellbeing of their students at the heart of everything they do. They are accountable for securing high standards of teaching, learning and care, and for acting with integrity, professionalism and reflective judgement at all times.

The Phase Leader / Assistant Phase Leader (FS/KS1) role is a high-impact leadership opportunity within an already strong, vibrant and highly regarded phase of the school. The role is an opportunity to shape, refine and extend excellent practice, working with a committed team in a phase that is foundational to children’s long-term success.

Alongside high-quality classroom practice, the post-holder provides strategic and operational leadership across the phase. They work closely with the Primary Leadership Team (PLT), Phase Leaders, and colleagues across the school to develop learning environments, pedagogy, and professional practice that are developmentally and age-appropriate, inclusive, nurturing, and ambitious. This work is underpinned by high-quality continuous provision and purposeful play, aligned with best practice in Early Childhood Education, including ECERS-informed principles.

The role offers genuine scope to influence how learning looks, feels and functions across the phase, while building on what is already an exceptional area of the school.

The Job Description is available here:
Foundation Stage/Key Stage 1 Phase Leader JD

The successful candidates will:

• Have previous experience in leadership, including mentoring, coaching, or phase/department leadership, as well as experience designing or evaluating learning environments.
• Be able to lead play-based, age-appropriate learning and be familiar with ECERS-informed environments or similar early childhood quality frameworks.
• Possess a strong understanding of early childhood development and learning principles, with the ability to create calm, purposeful, and inclusive learning environments that promote curiosity, independence, and wellbeing.
• Be skilled at balancing structured learning with exploration and play-based approaches, with competence in planning and implementing high-quality continuous provision, ensuring progression, intentional learning opportunities, and responsiveness to children’s interests.
• Use assessment data thoughtfully to inform teaching and provision and have familiarity with meaningful integration of learning technologies.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, particularly with parents, colleagues, and external agencies, and the ability to build nurturing, trusting relationships within the team.
• Hold a UK or UK-recognised teaching qualification.

We can offer:

• Highly motivated and engaged students
• A school with a strong sense of community
• A learning focused school committed to staff development
• Motivated, hard-working and dedicated colleagues, who are committed to high quality learning, student well-being and the school's enrichment programmes
• The opportunity to live, work and travel in a unique, beautiful and fast changing country.

Key Dates:

• Closing date for applications:
  Thursday, 12th February 2026.

Important Notes:

• Application guidelines are available here:
  Guidelines
• To apply, please follow the  and provide a supporting statement of application following the provided guidelines.
• For non-teaching roles, applicants will need to register as a qualified teacher on the application tracking system (In Teachers) to complete the application.
• BISR reserves the right to make an earlier appointment if a suitable candidate is identified before the closing date.
• Comprehensive background checks will be required for all staff.
• Please link here to our Safer Recruitment Policy.
• For more information about the school, visit:

Safeguarding:

BISR believes very strongly in the role of the school in safeguarding children and young people. All staff, whatever their role in the school, will be required to undergo rigorous background checks before commencing employment.