Higher Learning Support Assistant

Higher Learning Support Assistant - Secondary - Sunmarke School

Fortes Education has been a leading education provider in the UAE for over four decades with premium international schools and nurseries that have experienced outstanding success and growth. Our schools offer the most innovative and character-building education in the entire Middle East region.

Our core ethos and philosophy of education is Positive Education (PosEd). Through PosEd, our schools foster active engagement in learning, celebrating character strengths and accomplishments. We encourage children to cultivate fulfilling relationships with others and seek meaning and purpose in their own lives. We enable children to become happy learners and develop into innovative thinkers, confident young adults, and life-long learners. Our students develop resilience, a growth mindset and deep character strengths that allow them to flourish in an ever-changing world.

About Sunmarke School – Where Amazing Happens

Sunmarke School provides an ambitious and inspiring, values-based education that nurtures the hearts and minds of students so that they can flourish and achieve their dreams. Powered by our suite of signature programmes, Sunmarke is a uniquely innovative school, transforming young lives. This was reflected in Sunmarke School winning the coveted 'Most Innovative School' award at the international Which School Advisor ceremony in Dubai and London.

Sunmarke is an all-through school which offers a premium education across a fantastic range of pathways for students, including the National Curriculum of England, GCSE/IGCSE, 'A' Levels, BTEC and the IB Diploma Programmes. Our students regularly win examination boards' 'best in world', 'best in Middle East' and 'best in country' awards every year, across a diverse range of subjects. The latest incredible IB results show that Sunmarke School is in the top 3 schools in Dubai and 69th in world rankings. Our suite of Signature Programmes is unrivalled in Dubai, with inspiring opportunities for students to experience transformative learning opportunities. These include Environmental and Sustainability Studies, where students learn in Forest School settings, as well as utilising cutting-edge hydroponic technology to examine how science can support sustainability in future terrains; a world-class STEAM centre and curriculum, which offers students an incredible opportunity to apply their learning in solving real-world problems, from Foundation Stage through to Year 9; Augmented and Virtual Reality AR/VR experiences alongside our cutting edge use of Artificial Intelligence for staff and students; outstanding performing arts opportunities with full black box and auditorium facilities alongside peripatetic music spaces and media suites; and a fantastic sports programme augmented with professional coaches, which led Sunmarke to be overall champions at the BSME Games.

Sunmarke School has been judged by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) as a 'Very Good' school since our third year of operation and is consistently judged 'Outstanding' by British Schools Overseas (BSO).

We present an exciting opportunity to join our all through school and to play an important part in our journey beyond "outstanding". Sunmarke School, Dubai is one of our flagship schools, located at a prime location in Jumeirah Village Triangle.

Requirements

About you:

We are seeking to appoint a dedicated and proactive Higher Learning Support Assistant (HLSA) to join our English Language Learning team in Secondary for an August 2025 start.

The role will involve supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) with their GCSE and BTEC subjects. The role involves a combination of in-class support, targeted directed study time, and working closely with subject teachers in Year 10 and 11 and the ELL team.

This person needs good general knowledge of school subjects and would ideally have some specialised understanding of an area of GCSE subject content. This person should have an in-depth understanding of GCSE and/or BTEC assessment systems and the expectations of them.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Attend some GCSE and BTEC lessons as required in order to identify the areas of difficulty for the ELLs there, to support them with the learning within the lesson, and to be exposed to the expectations and input of the subject teacher to help guide your directed study periods.
2. Create and run weekly targeted intervention sessions for the students you see during in-class support sessions. These sessions should focus on the difficulties flagged within the week and could include things such as consolidating writing structures for long answer questions, reviewing technical vocabulary, clarifying exam command words and how to answer each type, etc.
3. Develop and maintain close working relationships with the relevant subject teachers to ensure communication is open and clear to create the best support possible for the students in your care.
4. Remain in close contact with the Head of ELL to keep any required timetable updates or changes to provision clear.
5. Create productive and positive relationships with the students in your care. Pastoral elements naturally develop in this role as the relationship is built. Students often ask for help with organising their time, help with study strategies, or will speak to you about their concerns and frustrations.
6. Attend staff meetings and professional development sessions as required.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

1. The candidate should have at least 4 years of relevant experience working in an international school.
2. The candidate should hold a bachelor's degree; a CELTA, TESOL, etc. is desirable but not essential.
3. Experience and good understanding of the GCSE and/or BTEC assessment systems and expectations is required.
4. General secondary level subject knowledge is required; having in-depth understanding of a certain subject or subjects is preferred.
5. Experience working with children with language barriers, and those from other cultures.
6. Ability to break down content into smaller pieces to help students understand bigger concepts.
7. Strong communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with both students and staff.
8. Ability to work as part of a team and be flexible in response to the evolving needs of the department and students in your care.
9. An understanding of child development and how to support children's learning and well-being.

Application Process:

If you have the passion, energy, and commitment to drive accelerated outcomes for young people, we will welcome your application. In return, you will join a rapidly evolving organisation that can offer you a central role in our future growth plans.

Candidates are invited to complete our Online Application by visiting: Fortes Education Careers

The closing date for applications is the 16th of March 2025. Please note that due to the expected volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. The school reserves the right to make suitable appointments before the official closing date, and therefore we would encourage candidates to apply early in the process. The appointment start date will be August 2025.

Fortes Education is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders in regulated activity are subject to appropriate vetting procedures including a satisfactory International Child Protection Certificate, plus resident country Police checks.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

---