Principal in Londonderry

Primary Location: Derry/Londonderry-Magherafelt-Bellaghy Primary School

Contract Type: Permanent

Duration of Contract/Contract End Date: N/A

Status: Full-Time

Hours per Week: Full-Time

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday

Grade/Scale: Principal | L7-L13 | £57,728 - £66,634 per annum

School Group: Group 1

Anticipated Interview Date(s): Friday 27th February 2026

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

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A PRINCIPAL

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. Subject to paragraph 1 the Principal shall be responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school.

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;
• Ensuring that the duty of providing cover for absent teachers is shared equitably among all teachers in the school;
• Maintaining relationships, as appropriate, with organisations representing teachers and other persons on the staff of the school;
• Determining, organising and implementing an appropriate curriculum for the school;
• Keeping under review the work and organisation of the school;
• Evaluating the standards of teaching and learning in the school;
• Providing information about the work and performance of the staff employed at the school;
• Participating in any scheme of staff development and performance review of teachers;
• Ensuring that all staff in the school have access to advice and training appropriate to their needs;
• Ensuring that the progress of the pupils of the school is monitored and recorded;
• Determining and ensuring the implementation of a policy for the pastoral care of the pupils;
• Promoting effective relationships with persons and bodies outside the school;
• Advising and assisting the Board of Governors in the exercise of their functions;
• Providing for liaison and co-operation with the employing authority;
• Maintaining liaison with other schools and institutions of further education;
• Allocating, controlling and accounting for those financial and material resources of the school;
• Making arrangements for the security and effective supervision of the school buildings and their contents;
• Arranging for a Vice-Principal or another suitable person to assume responsibility for the discharge of his/her functions as principal at any time when he/she is absent from the school;
• Participating in the Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) for Principals;
• Considering how far the duties of the principal may be delegated to any vice-principal;
• Ensuring that teachers at the school receive information they need in order to carry out their professional duties effectively.

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.
• 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; Ensure effective implementation of the NI Curriculum.
• Developing the School in the Community: Lead and manage the development and promotion of a positive image of the school; Develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with parents and the local community; Ensure effective channels of communication are in place between the school and the community.
• 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; Manage resources efficiently and effectively.
• Ensuring Accountability: Create and develop a culture in which all Governors and staff recognise that they are accountable for the success of the school; Lead and manage the process of monitoring and evaluating effectively school outcomes, policies and procedures.

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.