Head of Junior School

NLCS Kobe – Head of Junior School

Effective start date: August 2026 (or April 2026)

The school reserves the right to make an appointment before any deadline dates if a suitable candidate is found.

Proposed final interview dates: w/b Monday 17th November 2025 at NLCS London. Screening interviews will take place in the middle of October

Closing date for Applications: Tuesday 30th September 2025

The Position

This is a career defining leadership role for an experienced primary leader.

As our primary school continues to grow due to local popularity and demand, we seek a dynamic and forward-thinking colleague, who has a track record of success, to lead our junior school. The successful candidate will demonstrate the vision and resilience necessary to continue to grow the school in the years to come. They will have significant experience of leading or working within a high performing team that values student happiness, wellbeing and academic success. The successful candidate will have experience leading the PYP and working in a multilingual environment and will work closely with the Founding Principal and leadership team to create one of the leading primary schools in Japan. You will have the autonomy to shape the school over the years to come as it continues to grow and thrive.

The role is full-time with a fixed-term contract for up to three years.

NLCS Kobe

NLCS Kobe serves students in Grades 1 to 6, with plans to expand to Grades 7 and 8 as the school grows. Located on Rokkō Island, the campus offers convenient access to the vibrant commercial centres of both Osaka and Kobe. In partnership with The Hakko Group, NLCS Kobe will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, providing premium education for families in the Kansai region. A world-class Senior School campus is set to open in 2028. This architecturally stunning building, nestled in the Rokkō Mountains above Kobe, is designed to enhance students' educational experiences in a tranquil, natural setting while exemplifying sustainability and modern design.

The Ethos

The ethos of NLCS Kobe will closely mirror that of NLCS (UK), striving to recreate the spirit of the UK school while respecting local culture and context. The school’s aim is to provide an ambitious academic education that inspires a lifelong love of learning, equipping students with the knowledge, attitudes, and confidence to flourish.

At North London Collegiate schools, academic success is achieved not through an emphasis on results alone, but by fostering an atmosphere of rigorous scholarship. Students are encouraged to study beyond examination syllabuses, cultivating intellectual independence and a deep love of their subjects. Pastoral well-being is paramount, and positive relationships are nurtured between students and staff, as well as among the students themselves.

The Curriculum

The curriculum at NLCS Kobe will reflect the academic rigor and aspirations of NLCS (UK), with schemes of work broadly aligned to those of the UK school. This will be complemented by an extensive co-curricular program, offering sports, music, drama, and other activities to enrich students’ education and develop their talents and confidence.

NLCS (UK)

North London Collegiate School (UK) was founded in 1850 by Frances Mary Buss, with a mission to offer academically ambitious education to girls comparable to that available to their brothers. For over 160 years, the School has been a pioneer in women’s education and remains one of the UK’s highest-achieving schools. Exam results consistently place NLCS (UK) at the top of league tables, and the School regularly excels in Oxbridge admissions.

International Schools

In 2011, NLCS opened its first international branch in South Korea. NLCS Jeju, a co-educational day and boarding school that offers the IB Diploma to all Sixth Form students and has achieved outstanding results since the first graduating cohort in 2014. NLCS Jeju alumni continue to gain admission to prestigious universities worldwide, including in the UK, USA, Australia, and Asia.

In 2017, NLCS opened its second branch school, NLCS Dubai, in the UAE. This co-educational day school follows the IB Continuum, with students taking the IB Diploma in Grade 12.

In 2020, NLCS (Singapore) opened as the third branch school. Located in the heart of Singapore, it is a co-educational day school.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. This post is subject to satisfactory background and police checks. Full details are available in the School's Recruitment, Selection & Disclosure Policy and Procedure and the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Terms and Conditions

A competitive package will be offered to the successful candidate, including the following:

● Competitive salary

● Initial three-year contract

● Accommodation

● Relocation allowance

● Annual return flights to home country

● Local health insurance and pension

● Tuition fees for eligible children (Grade 1 to 6, UK Year 2 to Year 7 age only).