Exams Officer

Job description

GEMS Wellington Academy Dubai Hills is looking for an experienced Exams Officer to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the effective and efficient administration and coordination of all internal and external examinations, ensuring that the school remains fully compliant with examination board regulations and procedures.

Examination leadership

Lead planning and delivery of all external and internal examinations in the Prep and Senior School.

Ensure compliance with awarding bodies such as Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge Assessment International Education, Oxford AQA and AQA.

Act as the Head of Centre (or delegated lead) in line with regulations and GEMS policies.

Oversee:

Exam entries and registrations

Timetabling and logistics

Invigilation standards and training

Access arrangements (SEN/EAL compliance)

Secure storage and handling of exam materials

Lead results day and post-results services (EARs, appeals, certifications)

Ensure all exam processes meet KHDA inspection expectations, including transparency, fairness, and student safeguarding.

Raise the profile of the school as a centre for private candidates.

Data strategy & KHDA alignment

In collaboration with the Deputy Head Assessment, develop and implement a whole-school data strategy aligned with KHDA inspection frameworks and GEMS performance standards.

Oversee MIS platforms to ensure data accuracy, integrity and efficiency.

Lead the design of assessment cycles, tracking systems, and reporting frameworks.

Produce high-quality data dashboards and reports for:

Senior Leadership Team

GEMS corporate leadership

KHDA inspections

Ensure alignment with KHDA performance indicators (attainment, progress, wellbeing, inclusion) and association data requirements such as BSO.

Inspection readiness & compliance (KHDA focus)

Lead data and exams readiness for KHDA inspections and British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections.

Maintain inspection-ready documentation, including:

Assessment policies

Data reports and impact analysis

Exam compliance records

Conduct internal audits to ensure:

Accuracy of reported attainment and progress

Alignment between internal data and external exam outcomes

Support the school in achieving high-level inspection ratings through robust evidence and data narratives.

Strategic leadership

In line with the School Improvement Plan, drive a data-informed culture embedding accountability and performance tracking.

Line-manage Exams Officers and Data/Assessment teams.

Deliver training for middle and senior leaders and GEMS Wellington Academy School staff on external, internal examinations policies and procedures.

Deliver training for Examinations Office staff in the Wellington Cluster and wider GEMS network as required.

Contribute to the School Improvement Plan.

Benchmark performance against:

GEMS network schools

UK national standards

International British schools

Stakeholder engagement

Communicate effectively with parents regarding:

Exam processes and regulations

Results and performance analysis

Support university guidance teams with accurate predicted grades and transcripts.

Liaise with KHDA, awarding bodies, and GEMS central teams as required.

Provide clear guidance to students on exam expectations and academic pathways.

Present to the Local Advisory Board and GEMS Corporate Office as required.

Cover

To assist with cover and invigilation across the school.

Reports

Ensuring the system for producing reports is effective and efficient providing parents with regular and informative information on pupils’ academic progress and personal qualities and contributions.

Attendance

To ensure that the reporting and recording of attendance is accurate and in line with School, GEMS Education and KHDA policies.

Skills description

Skills / person specification

Advanced data analysis and interpretation (Excel, dashboards, Power BI desirable)

Strong leadership and team management skills

High attention to detail and compliance

Ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels

Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders

Qualifications / experience

Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred in Education, Leadership, or Data-related field)

Significant experience in a British curriculum school, preferably within the UAE or GCC

Proven experience managing exams under UK awarding bodies and JCQ regulations

Strong understanding of KHDA inspection frameworks and expectations

Experience within a school or similar large school group (desirable)