Assistant Principal
About Cognita
Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 16 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools is proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, ‘thrive in a rapidly evolving world’.
At Cognita, we know every student is unique. We nurture their distinct personalities and strengths. We support them academically, socially, and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, wherever they’re starting from. We protect what’s special about them, while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. And they get to be part of something bigger; ensuring they get an education that’s, quite literally, world class.
About King’s College Riyadh
King’s College Riyadh is the first UK private school brand to establish a branch in Saudi Arabia, in genuine partnership with King’s College UK, which has been educating pupils in the UK and abroad for over 140 years.
Since opening in 2021, King’s has grown rapidly, expanding to Year 7 in August 2025, with plans to extend through to Year 13 (age 18), enabling pupils to complete their full King’s education in Riyadh. Unlike most international schools in the city, King’s is fully co-educational from Pre-School through Year 7.
King’s College Riyadh:
Brings 140 years of educational excellence to Saudi Arabia.
Offers a holistic curriculum, adapted from King’s UK to suit the Saudi context.
Provides exceptional pastoral care and a strong sense of community.
Creates outstanding career development opportunities within an international school network.
The partnership with King’s College UK is central to the school’s success. Collaboration in areas such as vision and ethos, curriculum design, professional development, and co-curricular activities ensures the highest international standards. Pupils and staff in Riyadh benefit directly from the expertise and reputation that King’s College has built over nearly a century and a half.
The school balances academic achievement with a strong emphasis on sport, music, the arts, and a wide range of activities. Central to this is its commitment to pastoral care: pupils thrive when they feel happy, supported, and secure. Staff work to foster a warm, inclusive community where every child has trusted peers and adults to turn to, ensuring they feel valued and connected.
Role overview
The Assistant Principal – EYFS & KS1 Learning & Teaching is responsible for providing strategic leadership of teaching, learning and curriculum across the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. The post holder will drive high standards of teaching, curriculum implementation and pupil outcomes through coaching, quality assurance, professional development and evidence-informed practice.
Working as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Assistant Principal will ensure that every child experiences exceptional learning opportunities, outstanding pastoral care and a curriculum that reflects the values and ambitions of King's College Riyadh.
The role requires an experienced educational leader with a strong understanding of the EYFS Framework and English National Curriculum, a passion for developing teachers, and the ability to inspire a culture of continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities
Teaching and learning leadership
Lead the strategic development of teaching and learning across EYFS and KS1.
Establish consistently high expectations for classroom practice, ensuring learning is engaging, ambitious and inclusive.
Lead the implementation and review of evidence-informed pedagogical approaches.
Ensure consistency in planning, adaptive teaching, assessment and feedback across all year groups.
Promote innovation whilst maintaining fidelity to the school's agreed teaching and learning model.
Curriculum leadership
Lead the implementation and continual refinement of the EYFS Framework and English National Curriculum within EYFS and KS1.
Ensure curriculum progression is coherent, ambitious and well-sequenced.
Work collaboratively with curriculum leaders to ensure consistency across phases and smooth transition into KS2.
Monitor curriculum impact through lesson observations, pupil voice, work scrutiny and assessment outcomes.
Quality assurance & standards
Lead the school's quality assurance programme within EYFS and KS1.
Conduct learning walks, lesson observations, work scrutiny and data reviews to evaluate teaching quality.
Analyse pupil achievement data to identify trends, strengths and areas for improvement.
Develop targeted action plans that accelerate pupil progress and improve outcomes.
Ensure robust moderation processes within and across year groups.
Professional development & staff coaching
Lead professional learning for teachers and teaching assistants across EYFS and KS1.
Coach and mentor staff to continually improve classroom practice.
Support induction programmes for new teachers.
Contribute to performance management through coaching conversations, target setting and professional development planning.
Foster a collaborative culture of reflection, professional dialogue and continuous improvement.
Assessment & achievement
Lead the effective use of formative and summative assessment.
Ensure assessment information is used accurately to inform planning and intervention.
Monitor pupil progress and achievement, ensuring timely support for learners requiring additional challenge or intervention.
Promote high expectations for all pupils, including those with additional learning needs and English as an Additional Language.
Safeguarding, inclusion & wellbeing
Promote a culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
Work closely with safeguarding, inclusion and pastoral leaders to ensure pupils are safe, supported and able to thrive.
Champion inclusive classroom practice and high-quality adaptive teaching.
Support attendance, behaviour and wellbeing strategies that enable excellent learning.
Parent partnership
Build strong relationships with parents through open, professional and proactive communication.
Support teachers in managing parent engagement and resolving concerns constructively.
Promote meaningful parental involvement in children's learning.
Analyse parent feedback and contribute to initiatives that strengthen engagement and retention.
Leadership & strategic development
Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Contribute to the strategic development and implementation of the School Improvement Plan.
Lead whole-school initiatives that improve teaching, learning and curriculum.
Support inspection readiness through rigorous self-evaluation and evidence gathering.
Represent the school professionally with families, external agencies and Cognita colleagues.
Governance & accountability
Contribute to reports for the Executive Principal, Deputy Headteacher, Governors and Cognita.
Monitor progress against school improvement priorities within EYFS and KS1.
Evaluate the impact of improvement initiatives using qualitative and quantitative evidence.
Ensure accountability systems are transparent, supportive and focused on improving pupil outcomes.
Person specification
The successful candidate will have:
Qualified Teacher Status.
Degree and relevant educational leadership qualifications.
Successful leadership experience within EYFS and/or Primary education.
Outstanding knowledge of the EYFS Framework and English National Curriculum.
Proven experience of improving teaching quality and pupil outcomes.
Strong understanding of curriculum design, assessment and evidence-informed pedagogy.
Experience leading professional development and coaching teachers.
Ability to analyse performance data and translate findings into effective school improvement strategies.
Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Highly desirable
Leadership experience within a British international school.
Experience working within the Middle East.
Experience of school inspection frameworks including BSO or equivalent.
Experience implementing whole-school improvement initiatives.
NPQSL, NPQH or equivalent leadership qualification.
Personal attributes
Inspirational educational leader with high expectations.
Passionate advocate for outstanding teaching and learning.
Visible, approachable and collaborative.
Reflective, resilient and solution focused.
Committed to developing others through coaching and professional dialogue.
Strong strategic thinker with excellent organisational skills.
Models integrity, professionalism and the values of King's College Riyadh.
Dedicated to ensuring every pupil achieves their full potential academically, socially and emotionally.
Why join King’s College Riyadh?
At King’s College Riyadh, you’ll be more than just a leader — you’ll be a change-maker shaping the future of a rapidly growing school.
Bring 140+ years of British educational excellence to the heart of Riyadh.
Play a pivotal role in an ambitious school on an exciting growth journey.
Join a supportive leadership team that values innovation, creativity, and collaboration.
Inspire teachers, empower students, and leave a lasting legacy.
Our offer
The successful candidate will benefit from accommodation allowance, private medical cover, flight allowances, end of service gratuity and an attractive tax-free salary. In addition, there will be a significant commitment to supporting the development and career goals of the successful candidates.
Applications will be processed only if fully completed. Interviews will take place online or in person. The school reserves the right to interview and appoint strong candidates before the official closing date, and therefore we encourage candidates to apply early in the process.
Thank you for your interest in King’s College Riyadh. Due to the large number of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
King’s College Riyadh and Cognita are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expect the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to detailed and enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks for all countries lived in, qualification checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment in the last 10 years.