JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Head of Department
REPORTS TO: Principal
PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A TEACHER
TEACHERS’ (TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT) REGULATIONS
(NORTHERN IRELAND) 1987
Schedule 3
Regulation 5
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBIITIES
The responsibilities of the Head of Department involve providing professional leadership and management for a subject area to: secure high quality teaching; effective use of resources; improved standards of learning and achievement for all pupils within the context of the school’s overall aims and policies; and commitment to high achievement and effective teaching and learning.
CURRICULUM
Strategic direction and development of the subject area:
·develop and implement policies and practices;
·create and maintain a climate of positive attitudes and confidence in teaching;
·establish shared understanding of the importance and role of the subject area;
·identify and plan for supporting underachieving pupils;
·analyse and interpret appropriate data, research and inspection evidence and where relevant take appropriate action;
·establish short, medium and long term plans for development and resourcing of the subject; and
·monitor Action Plans and targets and evaluate these to inform further development;
·contribute to the School Development Plan and its implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
STAFFDEVELOPMENT
Teaching and managing staff – to provide to all those with involvement in the teaching or support of the subject area, the support, challenge, information and development necessary to sustain motivation and secure improvement in teaching namely to:
·help staff achieve constructive working relationships with pupils;
·establish expectations and constructive working relationships amongst staff;
·sustain motivation of themselves and colleagues;
·appraise staff in the context of PRSD;
·audit in-service needs for the department in the context of the school Staff Development Policy and School Development Plan;
·contribute to IEP’s after taking into consideration the results of standardised tests and the class teacher’s contribution.
Support Early Career Teachers by providing:
·Departmental Policy, Schemes of Work and advice on their implementation;
·advise on short, medium and long-term planning;
·advise and support on the availability and use of resources;
·guidance on assessment and record keeping;
·support and advice on classroom management issues; and
·assist in developing and implementing Induction and EPD Action Plans.
·monitor and evaluate progress and provide feedback to Early Career Teacher and the Teacher-tutor;
·continue the development and refinement of teaching approaches and strategies necessary for an effective practitioner; and
·assist the Early Career Teacher in the analysis of difficulties which may been countered.
ADMINISTRATION
Efficient and effective deployment of staff and resources – to identify appropriate resources for the subject and ensure that they are used efficiently, effectively and safely.
·establish and advise on all resources needs, requisition and allocate subject resources efficiently;
·ensure effective and efficient management and organisation of learning resources including ICT;
·maintain existing resources and explore opportunities to develop and incorporate new ones;
·use accommodation to create a stimulating environment;
·ensure a safe working and learning environment; and
·allocation of classes.
QUALITYASSURANCE
To secure and sustain effective teaching of the subject, evaluate the quality of teaching, standards of pupils’ achievements and set targets for improvement.
·ensure curriculum coverage, continuity and progression for all pupils;
·ensure teachers understand and communicate objectives and sequence of teaching and learning;
·provide guidance on teaching and learning methods to meet pupil and subject needs, liaising with SENCO as appropriate;
·ensure development of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills through the subject;
·establish and implement policies and practices for assessing, recording and reporting;
·regularly monitor at Departmental meetings the quality and assessment of pupils’ work;
·ensure assessment on pupils’ achievement is used to secure progress;
·set expectations for staff and pupils and evaluate progress and achievement of pupils;
·evaluate teaching, identify good practice and act to improve the quality of teaching;
·ensure development of pupils’ individual study skills;
·ensure teachers are aware of subject’s contribution to pupils’ understanding of citizenship;
·help to establish partnership and involvement of parents; and
·develop links with the community, business and industry where appropriate.
SCHOOLETHOS
·Promote positive relations amongst staff and assist the Principal and Governors in maintaining the reputation of the school, its progress and public image.
1) Exercise of general professional duties
A teacher who is not a principal shall carry out the professional duties of a teacher as circumstances may require:-
(a) if he/she is employed as a teacher in a school under the reasonable direction of the principal of that school;
(b) if he/she is employed by a board on terms under which he is not assigned to any one school, under the reasonable direction of that board and of the principal of any school
in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher.
2) Exercise of particular duties
(a) A teacher employed as a teacher (other than a principal) in a school shall perform, in accordance with any directions which may be reasonably given to him/her by the principal
from time to time, such particular duties as may reasonably be assigned to him/her.
(b) A teacher to whom paragraph 1(b) refers shall perform, in accordance with any direction which may reasonably be given to him/her from time to time by the board or by the
principal of any school in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher, such particular duties as may reasonably be assigned to him/her.
1. Planning
1.1 Planning and preparing courses and lessons;
1.2 Teaching, according to their educational needs, the pupils assigned to him/her, including the setting and marking of work to be carried out by the pupils in school and
elsewhere;
1.3 Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.
2. General
2.1 Promoting the general progress and well-being of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned to him/her;
2.2 Providing advice and guidance to pupils on educational and social matters and on their further education and future careers including information about sources of more
expert advice on specific questions, making relevant records and reports;
2.3 Making records of and reports on the personal and social needs of pupils except in instances where to do so might be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position;
2.4 Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils;
2.5 Communicating and co-operating with such persons or bodies outside the school as may be approved by the employing authority and the Board of Governors;
2.6 Participating in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above.
3. Assessment/Reporting
Providing or contributing to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils except in instances where to do so might
be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position.
4. Staff Development/Professional Development
4.1 Participating, if required, in any scheme of staff development and performance review;
4.2
a) Reviewing from time to time his/her methods of teaching and programmes of work;
b) Participating in arrangements for his/her further training and professional development as a teacher.
4.3 Advising and co-operating with the Principal and other teachers (or any one or more of them) on the preparation and development of courses of study, teaching materials,
teaching programmes, methods of teaching and assessment and pastoral arrangements.
5. Discipline/Health and Safety
5.1 Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils in accordance with the policies of the employing authority and safeguarding their health and safety both when they are
authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere.
5.2 Participating in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school or the administration or organisation of the school, including pastoral arrangements.
6. Public Examinations
Participating in arrangements for preparing pupils for public examinations and in assessing pupils for the purposes of such examinations; recording and reporting such assessments;
and participating in arrangements for pupils’ presentation for and supervision during such examination.
7. Review and Development of Management Activities/Administration
7.1
a) Contributing to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers, including the induction and assessment of probationary teachers;
b) Co-ordinating or managing the work of other teachers;
c) Taking such part as may be required of him/her in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school.
7.2
a) Participating in administrative and organisational tasks related to such duties as described above, including the management or supervision of persons providing support for the
teachers in the school and the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials.
b) Subject to the provisions of Article 22 of the Order, attending assemblies;
c) Registering the attendance of pupils and supervising pupils, whether these duties are to be performed before, during or after school sessions.
8. Number of days/Hours of work
8.1
a) A full-time teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available for work on 195 days in any year of which not more than 190 days
should involve teaching children in a classroom situation;
b) A teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available to perform such duties at such times and such places as may reasonably be
specified by the Principal, or where he/she is employed by a Board on terms under which he/she is not assigned to any one school by the Board or the Principal of any school
in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher, for 1,265 hours in any year exclusive of time spent off school premises in preparing and marking lessons
and time spent travelling to and from the place of work;
c) A teacher may not be required to teach as distinct from supervise children in a classroom situation for more than 25 hours in any week in a primary or special school and 23.5
hours in any week in a secondary school;
d) Unless employed under a separate contract as a mid-day supervisor, a teacher shall not be required to undertake mid-day supervision;
e) Subject to paragraph (f) all teachers shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.00 pm;
f) Teachers in nursery schools and nursery units in primary schools shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.30 pm;
g) For the purposes of this paragraph, a ‘year’ means a period of 12 months commencing on 31st July and a ‘week’ means a period of 7 days commencing on a Sunday.
9. Staff cover
9.1 Supervising and teaching any pupils whose teacher is not available provided that:
a) In schools with an average daily enrolment of 222 or less, in primary 1 and primary 2 classes in schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils and in nursery
classes in primary schools a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover:
b) In schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover after the second day on
which a teacher, other than a teacher of primary 1 or primary 2 class or of a nursery class in a primary school, is absent or otherwise not available, or from the first day if the fact
that the teacher would be absent or otherwise not available for a period exceeding 2 days was known to and agreed by the employing authority in advance.