Principal in Magherafelt

This is a teaching Principal post and the school currently has a financial allocation to allow for Principal Release of 2 days per week.

Responsibilities

• A Principal shall be required to carry out his/her professional duties in accordance with the school’s policy and objectives as determined by the employing authority and, in the case of a controlled school, the Board of Governors.
• The Principal shall be responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school.
• In carrying out his/her duties the Principal shall consult, where this is appropriate, with the employing authority, the staff of the school and, in the case of a controlled school, the Board of Governors.

Professional Duties

• Formulating the overall aims and objectives of the school and policies for their implementation.
• Participating in the selection and appointment of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the school.
• Deploying and managing all teaching and non-teaching staff of the school and allocating particular duties to them.
• Maintaining a reasonable balance for each employee.
• Ensuring that the duty of providing cover for absent teachers is shared equitably among all teachers in the school.
• Maintaining relationships with organisations representing teachers and other staff.
• Determining, organising and implementing an appropriate curriculum.
• Keeping under review the work and organisation of the school.
• Evaluating standards of teaching and learning.
• Providing information about staff performance.
• Participating in staff development and performance review.
• Ensuring access to advice and training for staff.
• Ensuring the progress of pupils is monitored and recorded.
• Determining and implementing a policy for pastoral care.
• Promoting self-discipline and proper regard for authority.
• Making relevant information about curriculum and progress available to parents.
• Promoting effective relationships with persons and bodies outside the school.
• Advising and assisting the Board of Governors.
• Liaising with the employing authority.
• Maintaining liaison with other schools and institutions.
• Allocating, controlling and accounting for school resources.
• Ensuring security and supervision of buildings.
• Arranging for vice-principal cover when necessary.
• Participating in teaching when appropriate.
• Ensuring a 30-minute break between 12 noon and 2:00 pm.
• To participate in the Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) for Principals.

Management Of Staff

• Considering how far the duties of the principal may be delegated to any vice-principal.
• Ensuring teachers receive information needed to carry out their duties.

Training and Development of Staff

• Ensuring newly-qualified teachers and those returning to teaching have access to adequate support in their first years of service.

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 vision; create an ethos and provide direction that promotes high expectations, successful learning and achievement; inspire and empower others; model the school’s values and ethos.
• Leading and Managing Staff: Provide high quality leadership to secure improvement; collaborate and network; foster shared leadership; develop, empower and sustain individuals and teams; support open and equitable culture and manage conflict; support performance to raise standards; lead professional development within the school development plan.
• Leading Learning and Teaching: Cultivate enthusiasm for learning; lead development of an effective learning and teaching culture; lead self-evaluation and use data to plan for improvement; implement the NI Curriculum and address pupil under-achievement.
• Developing the School in the Community: Promote a positive image of the school in the local community; maintain strong relationships with parents and community; ensure effective communication channels; respond to community feedback; engage with statutory and voluntary agencies to enhance education.
• Managing the Organisation: Prioritise, plan and organize; solve problems; make sound decisions; establish structures; lead and implement the School Development Plan; delegate tasks; manage resources efficiently (human, physical and financial).
• Ensuring Accountability: Foster accountability among Governors and staff; synthesize self-evaluation, external evaluations and policy outcomes to drive school improvement; monitor and evaluate school outcomes and policies; collaborate with the leadership team to disseminate effective practice and address unacceptable performance; provide reports to Governors.

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. The job description provides guidelines and may be amended. It includes an expectation to promote equality of opportunity and good relations in line with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998).

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
• Experience: Minimum 7 years post-qualification teaching in primary education and/or equivalent experience; strategic leadership or coordination experience; leadership roles such as Principal or Vice-Principal; and experience within an affiliated body.
• Have a minimum of 7 years post-qualification teaching experience in primary education, and/or equivalent experience in an affiliated educational body working in an area that relates to the primary sector, within the last 12 years.
• Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 3 years AND within the last 8 years a post with experience of strategic leadership or coordination of a whole school area to include monitoring and evaluation resulting in measurable school improvement.
• Evidence of how your leadership has led to school improvement.
• Evidence of having held a leadership role in strategic planning and/or organisational management.
• Evidence of building a professional learning community within a school or other organisation.

Preference May Be Given To Those Applicants Who

• Can demonstrate evidence of leading staff development within school/s.
• Have experience of financial and/or budgetary management within school/s.

Essential Knowledge

• The Northern Ireland 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.
• Effective financial management.
• Sound financial governance.

Skills

• Lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others.
• Create an ethos and articulate vision.
• Develop relationships and promote collaboration among staff, pupils, parents and governors.
• Lead strategically and develop self and others to achieve outcomes.
• Promote and evaluate high standards of teaching and achievement.
• Develop partnerships with the local community.
• Communicate effectively; organize and prioritise workload; manage staffing matters per EA policies; manage time.

Personal Qualities

• Vision; a sound value system; enthusiasm; assertiveness; caring child-centered approach; integrity; advocacy and empathy; discretion; ability to cope under pressure; tact and diplomacy; decisiveness; adaptability.

The Board of Governors reserves the right to enhance the essential criteria if necessary to facilitate a shortlist. Applicants must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) upon taking up employment. The onus is on candidates to provide detailed information on their application to demonstrate how they meet criteria. The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.