High School Curriculum and Assessment Lead (Grades 8-12) - SPARK Support Office

About SPARK Schools

SPARK Schools is a social impact disruptor and is leading change in the education space through its network of affordable private schools. The SPARK Schools network provide transformational education innovation through Africa’s first blended learning model, which elevates student achievement and provides the tools teachers need to serve their students effectively.

The blended learning model, which combines classroom teaching and online instruction, allows teachers to anticipate student needs and equips schools to provide personalized education at an affordable cost. SPARK Schools is pioneering this transformative education model to ensure the accessibility of university and careers for all.

SPARK Schools has a culture of collaboration, because getting South Africa to lead global education takes a team effort. We are innovators who strive for excellence through persistence and a sense of urgency to achieve SPARK Schools’ vision, mission and social transformational objectives. Our work environment is vibrant/cheerful, fast-paced/dynamic, engaging/stimulating, tech-enabled and data driven.

SPARK Schools is a high growth, mission and values-driven, entrepreneurial organisation, operating 21 primary schools and 5 high schools and serving over 16, 000 families. We are looking for dynamic people to join our team.

Reports to: Curriculum and Assessment Manager

Purpose of Role:

The High School Curriculum & Assessment Lead is accountable for ensuring curriculum coherence, assessment quality, and moderation integrity across SPARK High Schools (Grades 8–12). The role translates system-level curriculum and assessment strategy into consistent, high-quality execution at school level, ensuring reliable data, strong academic standards, and improved learner outcomes. This is a quality-assurance role, not a classroom teaching post.

Responsibilities:

Key Outcomes of the Role:

• Consistent curriculum coverage and pacing across all High Schools
• High-quality, standardised, and moderated assessments
• Reliable assessment data for instructional and system decision-making
• Improved scholar proficiency (≥60%) and FET outcomes
• Strong alignment between curriculum, assessment, and classroom practice

Core Responsibilities:

Curriculum Implementation & Alignment:

• Implement and maintain approved High School curriculum frameworks (Grades 8–12) in line with CAPS and SPARK learning models.
• Ensure vertical and horizontal alignment of:
• Content
• Skills progression
• Cognitive demand

• Support schools with pacing guides, scope & sequence, and term plans.
• Ensure curriculum supports differentiation, PBL, and blended learning practices.

Assessment Design and Standardisation:

• Develop and standardise:
• Baseline, formative, and summative assessments
• Common assessments across schools
• SBA and exam tasks, particularly in FET

• Ensure all assessments are CAPS-aligned, valid, reliable, and instructionally useful.
• Maintain assessment blueprints and quality standards.

Moderation and Quality Assurance:

• Lead internal moderation processes:
• Pre-assessment moderation
• Post-assessment moderation

• Ensure consistency, fairness, and appropriate standard setting across schools.
• Identify and address assessment quality or performance risks early.
• Support schools with external moderation readiness (especially FET).

Data and Reporting:

• Ensure accurate, timely capture of assessment data.
• Analyse trends in performance to identify:
• Gaps in curriculum coverage
• Assessment quality issues
• Scholar learning needs

• Provide clear insights to the Curriculum & Assessment Manager and school leaders.
• Support use of data to inform instructional improvement.

School and Team Support:

• Work closely with:
• Curriculum Officers
• Academic Leads
• Principals and AP (Associate Principal)

• Build assessment literacy and curriculum understanding at school level.
• Contribute to professional development linked to curriculum and assessment priorities.

FET and Matric Support:

• Support Grades 10–12 curriculum and assessment implementation.
• Assist schools in exam readiness, SBA quality, and moderation processes.
• Track subject-level performance trends and risks.

Key Interfaces:

• Curriculum & Assessment Manager
• Curriculum Officers
• School Principals and Academic Leadership
• Professional Development Team
• Data / BI Teams

Success Measures (KPIs):

• Curriculum coverage and pacing compliance
• Assessment moderation pass rates
• Scholar proficiency (≥60%) trends
• FET pass and Bachelor-pass trajectory
• Quality and timeliness of assessment data

Qualifications Criteria:

Essential:

• Experience in High School / FET teaching or academic leadership
• Strong CAPS curriculum and assessment knowledge
• Assessment design and moderation experience
• Data-literate and improvement-focused
• Strong organisational and collaboration skills

Advantageous:

• Multi-school or network experience
• Exposure to blended or personalised learning models

Requirements:
Personal Attributes:

• Detail-oriented and quality-driven
• Credible and calm with educators
• Strong follow-through and accountability
• Comfortable working across multiple schools

Qualities:

• Grit: Persistence through challenges.
• Excellence: A track record of high expectations personally and professionally.
• Mission and Vision Alignment: Understanding of and passion for the SPARK Schools mission to provide excellent education at an affordable cost.
• Self Reflection: Finding the capacity to bring your best self to challenges and opportunities. Values: Service, Persistence, Achievement, Responsibility, Kindness

Benefits:
SPARK offers:

• fair market linked remuneration

• performance-based annual bonuses and increases

• above average/good annual leave

• life, disability and funeral cover

• employee wellness support

• educational support & study leave

• individualised professional development, support and mentorship

• employee discount on school fees

• opportunities for career growth

Compensation: Market Related

Locations: Randburg, Gauteng

• SPARK Support Office

Position Type: Full Time

SPARK schools is an equal opportunities employer and preference will be given to candidates from designated groups with due consideration of the company’s Employment Equity goals and targets.

SPARK schools encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

SPARK Schools may expire the posting of this advertisement at their own discretion.

Kindly note that should you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date please consider your application unsuccessful.