The School and its Location
Devenish College is an 11-18 post primary school which opened its doors on a £35 million new build in October 2023. Devenish College was established on 1 September 2004, replacing the Duke of Westminster High School and Enniskillen High School. A further amalgamation with Lisnaskea High School in 2013 created the existing Devenish College.
Devenish College is very proud to be designated as a non-selective post-primary school and welcomes students of all ability levels. We are an inclusive school and firmly believe that every young person should be provided with the highest standards of education. Our College is located in the provincial town of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh and has an enrolment of 725 students. We have been providing high-quality education to the young people of Fermanagh for twenty years. At the heart of Devenish College lies the Christian belief that each individual is unique and valuable.
We have the highest expectations of our students, and our staff are extremely committed to providing high-quality learning and teaching experiences for everyone. Our school passionately believes in the power of developing strong working partnerships with our local community and we actively encourage our students to embrace the wealth of experiences, knowledge, and skills available locally to allow them to achieve their full potential. It is essential to the success of all our students that they are happy, supported, and challenged to be the best that they can be. This is captured in our motto of Strive. Support. Succeed.
PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A VICE-PRINCIPAL
Teachers' Terms and Conditions of Employment Regulations(NI)1987
Schedule 2
Regulation 4
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF VICE-PRINCIPALS
A person appointed Vice Principal in a school, in addition to carrying out the professional duties of a teacher, shall play a major role under the overall direction of the principal in:
1. Formulating the aims and objectives of the school;
2. Establishing the policies through which they will be achieved;
3. Managing staff and resources to that end;
4. Monitoring progress towards their achievement;
5. Undertaking any professional duties of the principal delegated to him/her by the principal;
6. Undertaking to the extent required by the principal or the relevant body or employing authority the professional duties of the principal in the event of his/her absence from the school;
7. Entitlement to a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2pm.
JOB DESCRIPTION – VICE PRINCIPAL
The job of the Vice-Principal is neither definitive nor restrictive. The areas of responsibility for the Vice-Principal (Care and Support) and Vice Principal (Curriculum, Learning and Teaching) overlap and interact. They, along with the Principal and Directors of Key Stage Three and Key Stage Four, form the Senior Leadership Team of our College.
The Vice-Principal (Care and Support) will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team participating fully in:
1. Developing strategies which will seek to promote high standards of pupil achievement, attendance, behaviour, appearance and well-being.
2. Assisting the Principal and Vice Principal in the day-to-day management of the school including the preparation of daily rotas and arrangements for lunchtime supervision and other related duties in the absence of the Vice Principal (Curriculum, Learning and Teaching).
3. Deputising for the Principal when required, which may include being in charge when the Principal is off the premises.
4. Covering the responsibilities of another member of the Senior Leadership Team in the event of absence.
5. Arranging cover for absent members of staff as required, especially in Term 3.
6. Being available on a rota basis to undertake any necessary administrative duties during school closure.
7. Liaising and cooperating as necessary on pastoral matters with appropriate parent groups, such as the PFSA, based on the needs of the school and in consultation with the teaching staff.
8. Playing a leading role in decision making relating to major management issues and the formulation and implementation of school policies.
9. The on-going process of whole-school review, development, planning, improvement and self-evaluation.
10. Assuming responsibility for the health and safety of pupils in accordance with the Vice-Principal’s Terms and Conditions of Employment.
11. Assuming shared responsibility for the staff development programme.
12. Assuming shared responsibility for the management and coordination of school events.
13. Liaising with staff with responsibility on matters relating to this post.
14. Promoting the development of the school as an integral part of the local and wider community.
A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate relevant experience, knowledge and skills associated with the following key areas:
Shaping the Future
* Keep abreast of and anticipate educational trends;
* Think strategically to build and communicate a shared coherent vision;
* Create an ethos and provide direction, which promotes a culture of high expectation, successful learning and achievement;
* Inspire, challenge, motivate and empower others to carry the vision and ethos forward;
* Model the values and ethos of the school.
Leading and Managing Staff
* Provide high-quality leadership to secure improvement;
* Collaborate and network with others within and beyond the school;
* Foster a culture of shared/distributed leadership;
* Develop, empower and sustain individuals and teams;
* Support the development of an open, fair, equitable culture and manage conflict effectively;
* Support and challenge performance in order to raise standards;
* Work with others to lead professional development for all staff within the context of the school’s development plan in order to support effective teaching and learning.
Leading Learning and Teaching
* Cultivate enthusiasm for and commitment to the learning process.
* Lead and manage the development of an effective learning and teaching culture.
* Lead and manage the self-evaluation process; work with staff and others to analyse a range of data, interpret outcomes and plan for improvement.
* Ensure effective implementation of the NI Curriculum, share good practice and work with others to challenge and address pupil under-achievement.
Developing the School in the Community
* Lead and manage the development and promotion of a positive image of the school within the local community and beyond;
* Develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with parents and the local and wider community;
* Ensure effective channels of communication are in place between the school and the local and wider community;
* Listen to, reflect and act on community feedback;
* Recognise and lead others to ensure that strategic planning takes account of the richness and diversity of the school’s communities and community feedback;
* Work closely with other relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to enhance the education of all pupils.
Managing the Organisation
* Prioritise, plan and organise themselves and others;
* Think creatively to anticipate and solve problems;
* Make sound decisions based on a range of informed judgments;
* Establish and maintain appropriate structures and systems;
* Lead and manage the development and implementation of the School Development Plan;
* Delegate tasks and monitor their implementation;
* Manage resources efficiently and effectively: human, physical and financial.
Ensuring Accountability
* Create and develop a culture in which all Governors and staff recognise that they are accountable for the success of the school;
* Combine the outcomes of regular self-evaluation, ETI inspection evidence and other external evaluations in order to develop the school;
* Lead and manage the process of monitoring and evaluating effectively school outcomes, policies and procedures;
* Work with the leadership team and others to recognise and disseminate effective practice and challenge and address unacceptable performance;
* Work closely with and provide effective reports to Governors on the school’s progress and development.
Conditions of Service
The conditions of service for this post will be in accordance with the Regulations of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.
Post Primary Vice-Principal - Person Specification
EssentialQualifications
Applicants must at the time of taking up post:
1. Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland;
Preference may be given to those applicants who:
Have successfully completed an additional post graduate (or equivalent or higher) qualification in Education.
Experience
Applicants must at the time of taking up post:
1. Have a minimum of 7 years post qualification teaching experience in post primary education, and/or equivalent experience in an affiliated educational body working in an area that relates to the post primary sector, within the last 13 years;
2. Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 2 years AND within the last 7 years:
* Post with experience of strategic leadership or co-ordination of a whole school area at a minimum level of Senior Leadership Team, to include monitoring, evaluation and the effective use of data, resulting in measurable school improvement;
* A post of Principal or Vice-Principal;
* A post with leadership and management experience within an affiliated body.
The above promoted posts may be in an acting capacity.
1. Have demonstrable evidence of direct involvement in strategic planning at whole school level;
2. Have demonstrable evidence of having successfully led and managed a key aspect of school improvement.
Preference may be given to those applicants who:
1. Have demonstrable evidence of direct involvement in a key aspect of care, support and safeguarding within school/s leading to positive outcome;
2. Have demonstrable evidence of involvement in staff development within school/s.
Essential Knowledge
The successful candidate must demonstrate extensive knowledge of:
* The Northern Ireland Post Primary Curriculum and current policies and procedures;
* Current educational developments and the ability to evaluate and respond to new educational challenges and manage change effectively;
* Effective classroom pedagogy and how to ensure high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school;
* Effective data management;
* Effective organisational management including the appropriate deployment of resources.
Skills
The successful candidate must demonstrate highly developed skills in order to:
* Lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others;
* Create an ethos and articulate vision for the future of the school;
* Develop good relationships at all levels and promote a collaborative and team approach among staff, pupils, parents and governors;
* Lead strategically and develop self and others in order to achieve outcomes;
* Promote, achieve, monitor and evaluate high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school;
* Develop effective partnerships between the school and the local community;
* Communicate effectively orally and in writing;
* Organise and prioritise workload effectively;
* Deal with staffing matters in accordance with EA policies and procedures;
* Manage time effectively.
Personal Qualities
The successful candidate must demonstrate:
* Vision;
* A sound value system;
* Enthusiasm and motivation;
* Assertiveness and confidence;
* A caring child-centred approach;
* Integrity;
* Advocacy and empathy;
* Discretion;
* An ability to cope under pressure;
* Tact and diplomacy;
* Decisiveness;
* Adaptability.
The Board of Governors reserves the right to enhance the essential criteria if necessary in order to facilitate a manageable shortlist.
Applicants must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) upon taking up employment.
Please note the onus is on candidates to provide sufficient detailed information on their application forms in order to demonstrate how they meet each of the criteria. Failure to do so may result in a candidate not being shortlisted since selection panels cannot make assumptions in the absence of essential information.
DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that youWILLbe expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.
Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.
APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES
To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.
To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.
The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer
#J-18808-Ljbffr