Head of Secondary School – ISR International School on the Rhine

An outstanding opportunity for an experienced and dynamic senior leader in a high-achieving, academically-focused school.

ISR International School on the Rhine is very distinctive among European international schools. Within an inclusive and holistic education environment, it focuses strongly and boldly on academic achievement and preparing students for admission to top universities worldwide. ISR aims to produce multilingual students who have excellent academic results, are equipped with critical thinking and logical reasoning skills, and have a love of learning and a commitment to being active and responsible global citizens – ‘We enable great minds and strong characters’ is the guiding principle at ISR.  

ISR unashamedly takes the approach that ‘It’s cool to be good.’ 

ISR spares no effort to ensure that every student achieves their full potential. The school combines Cambridge curricula up to IGCSE with the IB Diploma Programme. German is taught throughout and from Grade 6 onwards, students choose a third language from French, Spanish, Mandarin or Japanese. Across all its programmes, ISR’s results are well above the German and global averages.  

ISR is located at the heart of the Düsseldorf-Neuss-Meerbusch region of North Rhine-Westphalia, with its main 140,000 square metre campus in the picturesque and historic city of Neuss. There are Kindergartens in Düsseldorf and Meerbusch and an Elementary School campus will open in Düsseldorf in 2026. The school has more than 1,000 students from 60 nationalities and 200 staff – giving a whole-school staff:student ratio of 6:1. ISR is committed to this size – big enough to support a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities, small enough for the connections and relationships that help students to thrive.  

The Proprietor, Peter Soliman, operates ISR with a lean leadership structure, effective decision-making, a fast-paced environment and resources focused on the continued development of teaching and learning, professional development and outstanding facilities. There is a very stable staff, led by Eileen Lyons as School Director. 

ISR bases its approach on three pillars: Embracing Traditional Values; Fostering Respect and Academic Excellence; and Educating Students with the Highest Standards. It is traditional in its focus on academic achievement and is ambitious for its students’ success. However, it is also a thoroughly modern international school with a thriving multilingual environment, technology across the school to support teaching and learning, a truly holistic programme and a laser-like focus on preparing students for university and for life. 

The new Head of Secondary will, above all, subscribe to ISR’s approach – the impactful idea that it’s cool to be good. They will have a passion for supporting each student to achieve their very best and preparing them for a rich and fulfilling life in which they can make a difference. Candidates should have a proven track record of securing strong academic outcomes while recognising the importance of a genuinely holistic education. They will also have significant experience of developing staff – low staff turnover and leaders who come from within are hallmarks of ISR. They will appreciate a fast-paced environment where the focus is always on teaching and learning. While the successful candidate will be a passionate secondary educator, they will also have the commitment, enthusiasm and interest to contribute more widely to the school’s leadership.  

ISR will offer a highly completive package to the successful candidate. The position is available from August 2025.

For a preliminary, confidential conversation about the role, please contact Jean Sullivan, Head of International Search at JeanSullivan@rsacademics.com with a copy of your CV/résumé.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 19 March 2025 at 10:00 (UK) / 11:00 (Germany)  

Preliminary interviews with RSAcademics may commence before the applications deadline and the school reserves the right to appoint a candidate in advance of the intended timeline; 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 and CV/résumé. Please click the Apply Now link on the right side of this page. You will be taken to an online portal where you will be able to download the application materials.

Please follow the instructions provided to complete your application. Guidance on the letter of application can be found in the candidate information. Please make sure your letter is tailored to this role; an application letter that is largely generic is discouraged and may lead to your application not being considered.

Should you have any queries relating to uploading your application documents, please contact Alison Hooper, Project Coordinator, at applications@rsacademics.com. Alison can also be reached by calling +44(0)1858 383163.

ISR International School on the Rhine is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all our students, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. We follow safer recruitment practices according to international standards. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and international child protection authorities; safeguarding-related questions will be asked throughout this appointment process. 

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.