Academic Principal – HD Ningbo

The first of the HD Schools opened in August 2014 in the modern, vibrant city of Ningbo, and now the group educates over 8,000 students across schools in Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao and Nanjing.

The group is leading the way in what it believes to be a vital and exciting educational project: cultivating globally-fluent Chinese who lead, innovate and impact.

HD Schools is respectful of the need for academic rigour, but also recognises that education is broader than this: so it provides opportunities for students to develop new skills and interests outside the core academic curriculum in a happy, creative environment where critical thinking is nurtured. HD Schools offers a broad, balanced, and caring approach to character development.

The Academic Principal of HD Ningbo High School will serve as the school’s academic leader, shaping curriculum across IGCSE, A‑Level, and AP pathways while ensuring rigorous, engaging learning for every student. Working closely with the Secondary Principal and key academic teams, the role oversees teacher development, classroom observation, and evaluation to build a shared understanding of excellent teaching and a coherent professional learning culture. This will require clear vision, excellent communication and outstanding listening skills. It will also demand considerable technical ability, since the Academic Principal monitors student progress, strengthens core skills, ensures meaningful assessment, and leads scheduling, academic planning, and resource management. Empathetic collaboration with coordinators, counsellors, parents, and subject heads is central to creating an aligned, student‑centred environment that reflects the school’s mission and supports strong academic outcomes.

The role will suit a kind, charismatic leader with appropriate expertise in academic leadership, and a passion for HD Schools’ belief in innovative, bilingual-bicultural education.

For an initial, confidential conversation about the role, please contact Hannah Green (hannahgreen@rsacademics.com) including a copy of your CV/resume.

Closing date: This is a rolling process, and applications will be considered as they arrive. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

To apply, candidates should complete an application form electronically and submit it to RSAcademics, together with a letter of application, CV/résumé and international data sharing agreement. Your covering letter, preferably of no more than two pages, should be addressed to Chris Edwards, Senior Advisor (International) at RSAcademics. The letter should explain your reasons for applying, the relevance of your experience, and how you relate your personal educational philosophy to your understanding of the College and the role. Please click the Apply Now link on the right side of this page to complete your application.

Should you have any queries relating to uploading your application documents, please contact Amy Murphy, Operations Administrator, at applications@rsacademics.com. Amy can also be reached by calling +44 (0) 204 6269 791.

All HD Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and to uphold the highest standards of professional and personal conduct in line with our safeguarding policies.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the role are indicated in the candidate information.

RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.