Vice Principal in Lisburn

Qualifications

• Essential – Applicants must hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
• Applicants must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) upon taking up employment.

Experience and Selection Criteria

• Evidence of post-qualification experience and leadership is required.
• The criteria to be applied at shortlisting include:

• Minimum of 7 years post-qualification teaching experience in primary education (including Special Education) and/or equivalent experience in an affiliated educational body, within the last 12 years.
• Current or recent leadership experience (within the last 8 years) at a level involving strategic leadership or coordination of a whole-school area at least to the level of Subject Coordinator/Head of Key Stage/SMT/SLT, including monitoring and evaluation leading to measurable school improvement; or experience as a Principal or Vice-Principal; or leadership and management within an affiliated body.
• Evidence of how leadership has led to school improvement and involvement in strategic planning.

• Leading staff development within schools, including pastoral issues;
• Experience of SEN and coordinating SEN across the school;
• Experience of SPiMs and knowledge of SPiMs workings;
• Experience of financial and/or budgetary management within schools.

Knowledge

• The successful candidate must demonstrate extensive knowledge of:

• The Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum and current policies and procedures;
• Current educational developments and ability to evaluate and respond to new challenges and manage change;
• Effective classroom pedagogy and high standards of teaching, learning and achievement;
• Effective data management;
• Effective organisational management including appropriate deployment of resources.

Skills

• The successful candidate must demonstrate highly developed skills to:

• Lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others;
• Create an ethos and articulate a vision for the future of the school;
• Develop good relationships at all levels and promote collaboration among staff, pupils, parents and governors;
• Lead strategically and develop self and others to achieve outcomes;
• Promote and monitor high standards of teaching, learning and achievement;
• Develop effective partnerships between the school and the local community;
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing;
• Organise and prioritise workload; manage staff matters per 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;
• Ability to cope under pressure; tact and diplomacy; decisiveness; adaptability.

Role and Responsibilities

• The Vice-Principal will deputise for the Principal when necessary and participate in all aspects of school life. In addition to a full-time teaching commitment and membership of the School Leadership Team, duties include:

• Leading learning through high standards of teaching and learning;
• Assisting the Principal in leading learning and teaching, administration, management and organisation;
• Leading School Development Planning, School Evaluation Self-Evaluations and Staff Development (INSET);
• Curriculum coordination across Key Stages, planning and monitoring provision;
• Co-ordinating curriculum development including benchmarking, target setting and monitoring quality of provision;
• Assessment coordination for the school;
• Promoting positive behaviour and discipline;
• Chairing the Safeguarding Team and promoting opportunities for Gifted/ Talented pupils;
• Line management for classroom assistants;
• Assisting with financial administration including budget planning, allocations and monitoring spend;
• Responsibility for timetables and rotas;
• Maintaining and promoting links with parents and the community; participating in major school events; responsibility for extra-curricular activities; lunchtime cover;
• Undertaking other duties as required by the Principal.

This job description may be amended after discussion with the Principal. A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate relevant experience, knowledge and skills in the following key areas:

• Shaping the Future: strategic thinking, creating an ethos of high expectations, promoting inclusion of pupils with SEN and additional needs.
• Leading and Managing Staff: leadership, collaboration, distributed leadership, development of staff and conflict management; supporting effective teaching and learning.
• Leading Learning and Teaching: developing a learning and teaching culture, self-evaluation, data analysis and improvement planning, ensuring NI Curriculum implementation.
• Developing the School in the Community: community engagement, parental relationships, transparent communication and feedback.
• Managing the Organisation: planning, decision-making, structure, development and implementation of the School Development Plan, resource management.
• Ensuring Accountability: governance reporting, evaluation and dissemination of effective practice.

Conditions and Equal Opportunities

• The conditions of service for this post will be in accordance with the Regulations of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
• The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
• The post is initially a non-teaching teaching post, to be reviewed annually.
• The post-holder is expected to promote good relations and equality of opportunity and to pay due regard to equality legislation at all times.

Important: The Education Authority reserves the right to enhance the essential criteria to facilitate a manageable shortlist. Applicants may be required to undergo Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background checks if appointed to a post involving regulated activity; applicants will be required to meet the cost of such disclosures. Further information is available at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

Notes: This post may be amended in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.