Head of EYFS

Role overview

Downe House Riyadh is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Head of EYFS to join the school community from August 2026. This role offers the chance to guide early years education in a high-calibre international school setting.

About Cognita

Cognita is an international independent education group established in 2004. It now includes more than 100 schools across 16 countries in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, serving over 85,000 students. While each school has its own identity, the shared mission is to help everyone thrive in a fast-changing world.

The group focuses on recognising each learner as an individual, supporting academic, social, and emotional growth, and providing access to strong teaching, opportunities, and proven educational practice. The aim is to deliver an education that is genuinely world-class.

About Downe House Riyadh

Downe House Riyadh opened in September 2022 and offers a British curriculum in partnership with Downe House UK, one of the most respected girls’ schools in the United Kingdom. With more than 100 years of excellence, the UK school is consistently ranked among the country’s top five all-girls’ schools.

Based in the Aqeeq district in northern Riyadh, the school blends British academic standards with the established Downe House tradition. The curriculum is adapted for Saudi Arabia so that students achieve strong outcomes in Arabic and Islamic Studies alongside core subjects.

The school’s approach centres on the individual learner, with tailored pathways designed to build confidence and success. It provides a first-rate British education leading to IGCSE and A Levels, strong academic standards for girls’ education, excellent pastoral support, and a broad co-curricular programme.

School phases include Pre-Prep (Nursery to Year 2, ages 2–7), Prep (Year 3 to Year 8, ages 7–13), and Senior (Year 9 to Year 13, ages 13–18). Boys and girls are accepted from Pre-School to Year 4. The campus includes libraries, central atriums, science and design laboratories, art studios, a 450-seat theatre, music/dance/drama spaces, IT labs, and swimming pools for senior and younger learners.

Job purpose

The Head of EYFS will build a phase culture that reflects the school’s values and ethos, while ensuring outstanding standards in teaching, learning, behaviour, pupil progress, and attainment across the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The role includes helping deliver a high-quality, broad curriculum and ensuring pupils are fully involved in academic and enrichment activities. The postholder will also support the Principal with school promotion and admissions activity.

Leadership and management

In this role, you will act as a strong example in leadership, classroom practice, and behaviour. You will oversee the daily running of EYFS, ensure excellent educational provision, and organise learning opportunities that deepen and extend progress.

You will make sure planning is well sequenced across long-, medium-, and short-term timescales, and that records, evidence, and tracking systems clearly show pupil development. You will also lead pastoral care in the phase, uphold discipline in line with school policy, and model professionalism at all times.

Additional duties include coordinating weekly assemblies, supporting admissions through tours, assessments, and marketing events, strengthening parent communication, running department meetings, reporting to the Principal, supporting staff wellbeing, keeping up with current educational developments, contributing to school improvement planning, and helping with quality assurance.

Teaching and learning

You will be expected to meet the standards of an excellent teacher at Downe House Riyadh and act as a model for effective classroom practice. The role includes supporting teachers, leading department CPD, mentoring new staff, and monitoring planning, assessment, moderation, and pupil progress tracking.

You will also help ensure smooth transitions between phases, oversee homework and preparation tasks, support extra-curricular provision, and maintain strong EYFS visibility through high-quality learning displays across the school.

Operational responsibilities

The post requires clear communication between teachers and teaching assistants, careful oversight of departmental resources within budget, and leadership of events, productions, assemblies, and curriculum trips.

You will also ensure that risk assessments are completed properly, school policies are followed, and parent meetings and reporting cycles are handled effectively.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a core part of this role. You must follow all child protection and welfare procedures, demonstrate a strong personal commitment to safeguarding, and take part in all mandatory safeguarding training.

Candidate profile

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, QTS, PGCE, or an equivalent qualification. A minimum of five years’ relevant teaching experience is required, along with at least two years of proven leadership experience within EYFS.

Experience in a British curriculum school, curriculum development, awareness of current educational practice, and a genuine commitment to children’s academic and personal development are all essential. Strong communication, collaboration, confidentiality, teamworking, and multicultural working experience are also expected.

Why join

Successful candidates will join a prestigious, internationally connected school with a strong reputation for excellence. The environment is collaborative and professionally supportive, with a focus on innovation and growth.

The role also offers valuable experience in a dynamic international school context and the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful project.

Offer and recruitment process

The school offers an attractive tax-free salary and a strong commitment to supporting the successful candidate’s professional development and career ambitions.

The school may interview and appoint suitable candidates before the official closing date, so early applications are encouraged. Because a high volume of applications is expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Safeguarding, checks, and clearance

Downe House Riyadh School and Cognita are committed to protecting children and young people and expect the same from all employees. New staff will go through detailed pre-employment vetting, including identity verification, criminal background checks for every country of residence, qualification checks, employment checks covering any gaps in employment, and satisfactory references for all employment over the last 10 years.