The School

Deira International School (DIS) is an Outstanding BSO- and KHDA-rated, award-winning school located on a beautiful campus in Festival City, Dubai. In 2023, DIS was awarded the Education Excellence Award for ‘School Team of the Year’ and is also a Platinum Award holder for ‘Best Place to Work’, reflecting our strong commitment to staff wellbeing and a thriving school community.

With students aged 3–18, DIS is a not-for-profit school and part of the Al-Futtaim Education Foundation. Founded in 2005, the school is renowned for providing an outstanding, inclusive, and holistic education. Our most recent inspection highlighted the following strengths:

• Staff are overwhelmingly proud of the school and believe it is well led, safe, and inclusive
• The quality of teaching, learning, and assessment across the school is outstanding
• Teachers have high expectations and consistently challenge pupils to do their best
• Staff feel respected, valued, and treated fairly
• The curriculum is precisely planned, well sequenced, and builds effectively on prior learning
• There is a strong focus on academic progress and achievement

DIS is home to a diverse student body representing over 90 nationalities, which is fundamental to the school’s community ethos. Our exceptional facilities support a holistic approach to education, with rich opportunities across sport, performing arts, technology, leadership, creativity, and academic enrichment.

Although non-selective at admission, our students achieve exceptional examination results, comparable to top UK schools, and progress to leading universities worldwide. Digital literacy is embedded across the curriculum as we prepare students for the demands of a rapidly changing world.

In the Early Years, our personalised, play-based continuous provision ensures students are rigorously assessed against the EYFS framework, developing strong foundations for future learning. In Primary, pupils benefit from a broad and enriching curriculum, including a range of non-core subjects. In Secondary, students complete IGCSEs in Year 11 before progressing to the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) or IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) in Years 12 and 13. DIS is governed by the Al-Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF), a not-for-profit initiative of the Al-Futtaim family, supporting the vision of the Government of Dubai and KHDA to deliver future-ready education while maximising positive social impact.

The Post: Counsellor | Wellbeing & Pastoral

We are seeking to appoint a Counsellor – Wellbeing and Pastoral to promote and support a culture of health and well-being across the secondary school by delivering targeted interventions and whole-school initiatives. This role focuses on developing and implementing proactive programmes that strengthen student, staff, and parent well-being, resilience, and mental health awareness.

The successful candidate will lead the development of a high-quality support service that enhances the mental health and well-being of all students. They will work closely with students, staff, and families to provide tailored support, helping individuals navigate challenges such as bereavement, transitions, body image or eating concerns, self-harm risks, low mood, anxiety, and fear. Early intervention strategies will be employed alongside referrals to external services when necessary, always within recognised professional codes of practice such as those recommended by BABCP, UKCP, or equivalent bodies.

Beyond individual support, the Counsellor – Wellbeing and Pastoral will contribute to shaping a positive and caring school culture. They will play an active role in developing and delivering the secondary well-being curriculum, ensuring it responds to the evolving needs of students. Championing student voice through initiatives such as the Student Well-Being Council and the training of Well-Being Buddies will ensure that young people are empowered to support one another in a safe and structured way.

Working collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team, pastoral staff, the Designated Safeguarding Lead, and external agencies, the role ensures that safeguarding and well-being practices operate effectively across the school. Maintaining confidential and accurate records, reviewing operational practices, and continuously refining support strategies will ensure the school’s approach remains responsive and impactful.

This is an exciting opportunity for a compassionate, strategic, and proactive professional to embed well-being at the heart of school life, ensuring every member of the community feels supported, valued, and able to thrive.

The successful applicant will be required to have the following:

• Masters degree in student counselling / Counselling diploma 
• Minimum of 2 years experience in school counselling