Head of KS2 with PDMU in Belfast

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTS TO: Principal

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A TEACHER

A teacher who is not a principal shall carry out the professional duties of a teacher as circumstances may require:

• If he/she is employed as a teacher in a school under the reasonable direction of the principal of that school;
• 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.

1. Planning

• Planning and preparing courses and lessons;
• 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;
• Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.

2. General

• Promoting the general progress and well‐being of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned to him/her;
• 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;
• 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;
• Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils;
• 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;
• 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

• Participating, if required, in any scheme of staff development and performance review;
• Reviewing from time to time his/her methods of teaching and programmes of work;
• Participating in arrangements for his/her further training and professional development as a teacher;
• 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

• 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 authorized to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere;
• 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

• Contributing to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers, including the induction and assessment of probationary teachers;
• Co‐ordinating or managing the work of other teachers;
• 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.

8. Number of days/Hours of work

• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• Unless employed under a separate contract as a mid‐day supervisor, a teacher shall not be required to undertake mid‐day supervision;
• All teachers shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.00 pm.

9. Staff cover

Supervising and teaching any pupils whose teacher is not available provided that:

• 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;
• 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.

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.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant‐aided schools in Northern Ireland.
• Have a minimum of four years' post‐qualification paid teaching experience in primary education within the last nine years.
• Have at least one year of paid teaching experience with Year 6 or 7 pupils within the last six years.
• Have experience, within the last six years, of coordinating an area of school improvement at whole‐school level.

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection policy/practice.
• Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice.
• Knowledge of a range of teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of pupils.
• Knowledge of Information Technology systems such as digital classroom tools/media and the use of tablets/mobile technologies.
• Knowledge of current assessment methods to inform teaching.

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience in coordinating Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU) across a school.
• Experience of coordinating Key Stage 2 and contributing to the strategic direction and improvement priorities of the phase.

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 appointed to a post that involves 'regulated activity', the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background.

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.