Teacher of Art

We are looking for an energetic and creative specialist teacher of Art, to join our successful Arts team from January 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The ideal candidate would be a talented, energetic and collaborative professional with experience of teaching Art to at least GCSE level, and ideally to A level or similar. The ability to teach a second Arts subject, or to offer EAL, would be helpful but is by no means essential. A leadership opportunity may open up for the right candidate over the next year or two.

Art is part of our Arts faculty, which comprises art, drama, music and design technology and Art is a very popular and successful subject at both IGCSE and A level. Facilities for Art include a wonderful bright open plan teaching space and a dedicated sixth form art studio. Our teachers are supported by a specialist technician.

Across the school there is an emphasis on the use of IT in a blended and realistic educational environment, achieving the best outcomes with varied approaches, and students have their own devices.

The faculty leadership team comprises the Curriculum Leader, and three Deputies. Between them they share responsibility for all aspects of the Faculty from subject development and assessment to curriculum mapping, and from internationalism to community links.

Since the foundation of the school in 2011, POWIIS has built a significant academic reputation with excellent results. Our student body is approximately half Malaysian, with international students from over 20 countries. Entry to the school is by test and interview, and the curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales, with students sitting IGCSEs and AS/A2 examinations.

POWIIS is a boarding school and consequently all teachers are expected to contribute to the wider aspects of boarding school life including occasional evening/weekend involvement on a rota basis. Experience of boarding education and independent schools is an advantage, but by no means essential. For a candidate with experience of, or interest in, a greater involvement in boarding, a boarding tutor position may be available, and an additional allowance is paid for this.

Malaysian work permits are usually granted for two or three years. Contracts are therefore fixed term, but continuity is important for the school; it is hoped that appointments will be seen as longer term, with renewal of contracts common in the school. The staff are predominantly British, with a significant number of colleagues from around the world and a small number of high quality Malaysian teachers. Our facilities and resources are excellent and there is low staff turnover; a feature of the school widely acknowledged and highly valued by our parents.

POWIIS is committed to the safety and well-being of all of its students. Those appointed will be subject to thorough background and social media checks and must be able to provide up to date and full police checks/child protection certificates/criminal records disclosures covering all countries in which they have lived and/or worked for at least the last 10 years.

We do our best to acknowledge applications and to keep applicants informed, but the large number of applications sometimes makes this impossible, for which we apologise.

Applicants are requested to download and review ALL of the information provided with this advertisement so that you have it to hand if called to interview.

If, after reading all the information, and perusing our website, you decide you'd like to join us, please complete the TES online application AND submit a current CV with details of at least professional referees who we may contact prior to interview, one of whom must be your current or most recent Headteacher or Principal.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS) is a co-educational day and boarding school (Years 7-13) modelled on the best of British independent and international education. Attracting students from Penang, the whole of Malaysia as well as internationally, POWIIS currently welcomes around 450 students. Around 25% of our students are boarders, and all academic staff are required to contribute to boarding life including occasional evening and weekend involvement. Experience of boarding education is an advantage but by no means essential.

Our KS3 curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales, and we offer IGCSE and A level for senior students. We are not highly selective, and accept students with a broad spread of ability, including students who require EAL support, but our cohorts include many very able students. Results at IGCSE, AS and A level are strong, and most POWIIS graduates head to top universities in the UK, US, Australia or Asia.

Academics are only part of the story at POWIIS, however, and we offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, and every Friday afternoon is devoted to the POWIIS Project, where students select from a wide range of activities designed to enhance their global citizenship and develop their soft skills.

Our campus is located in the attractive rural location of Balik Pulau, on the island of Penang. Facilities at the school are second to none in Penang, and arguably in Malaysia. In addition to our well equipped science laboratories and classrooms, we also boast a substantial and developing library, a multi-purpose sports hall, a dance studio, a 25 metre swimming pool, football and netball pitches, tennis courts, a fitness suite, art studios, and a design technology centre. Our magnificent 500 seat natural acoustic auditorium with full backstage and technical facilities houses our Steinway D concert grand piano, a provision usually found only in professional venues, and is indicative of our leading reputation in the performing arts. We offer an enhanced music and drama programme for students who are part of our Arts Academy.

Our senior staff are from leading schools internationally and many of our teachers have come from other top international schools; their collective experience spans 5 continents and over 40 countries. We are seeking to recruit able and visionary teachers interested in supporting high standards in a friendly and informal, but well-organised and purposeful atmosphere. One of the key attractions for our teachers is the quality of the students, most of whom are utterly delightful, many are very talented and discipline problems are rare and almost always quite minor. The school has a very special atmosphere of purposeful and relaxed co-operation with excellent staff/student relationships.

Because of its beauty and gentle life-style, Penang is an attractive location for teachers at various stages of their careers. It is an excellent and safe place for families, and an ideal location for those who enjoy the outdoors; the comfortable standard of living and exotic travel opportunities make it a wonderful place to live and work. The quality of life is high, not least because of the warmth and generous hospitality of the people of Penang.

Part of the philosophy of our school is that subjects should be taught by specialists at all levels. Candidates should therefore have good academic backgrounds themselves and be able to teach across the range from Year 7 through to A level. One of the great strengths of our school is that teachers have a whole range of interests themselves, enabling contributions beyond their subjects. Teachers are encouraged to follow their own enthusiasms within school and, indeed, to be seen to pursue their areas of interest outside. The school’s trips calendar is impressive, both within Malaysia and overseas.

POWIIS is committed to the safety and well-being of all of its students. Those appointed will be subject to thorough background and social media checks and must be able to provide up to date and full police checks/child protection certificates/criminal records disclosures covering all countries in which they have lived and/or worked for at least the last 10 years.

We do our best to acknowledge applications and to keep applicants informed on the progress of their application, but the large number of applications sometimes makes this impossible, for which we apologise.