School Improvement Professional - School Improvement Post-primary and Special Schools - 2 posts

Service Area: Education Directorate – School Development Service

RESPONSIBLE TO: Head of School Improvement Locality South-west or Locality East. Post-primary and Special Schools

RESPONSIBLE FOR: The Locality School Improvement officer will be responsible for leading the provision of high-quality strategic support and challenge to schools across the locality, working as part of the locality school improvement team, in order to improve the quality of educational provision and outcomes for children and young people. It will also include supporting the Education Authority’s implementation of the TransformED programme and other DE and EA priorities.

Job Purpose: The School Development Service (SDS) provides high quality strategic support and challenge to school principals, Boards of Governors and school staff in order to ensure that standards are raised and education outcomes for children and young people are improved. The SDS seeks to develop a network of self-evaluating, sustainable, high performing schools, with effective leadership and teaching, in which pupils are empowered and enabled to achieve their full potential. All schools will be monitored, supported and challenged through the work of School Improvement Locality Teams. Schools will be monitored, identified and prioritised for support and challenge. School Improvement officers draw on a range of intervention strategies, involving direct support and challenge, as well as the brokering, commissioning and facilitation of support services from schools and other providers. The SDS nurtures existing networks of schools and practitioners and will support the development of new ones, in order to facilitate school to school support at local level. All School Improvement Professionals work closely with other officers across the Education Directorate and other Directorates, to ensure that school improvement is integral to other regional services and contributes to improved outcomes for all children and young people.

School Improvement Responsibilities: The School Improvement Professional Locality Officer has the following responsibilities:

• Provide challenge and support to schools in raising standards and enabling the EA to meet Department of Education priorities.
• Act as a School Improvement Professional for schools within the identified locality, ensuring the provision of support and challenge in relation to:

• Leadership and management.
• Self-evaluation.
• School development planning including examination data, and inspection and/or review evidence.

This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the responsibilities and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other reasonable duties may be assigned by the Head of Service in consultation with the post-holder.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the School Improvement Professional is expected to promote good relations and equality of opportunity, and to pay due regard to 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.
• You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Qualifications/Experience: Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
• Experience: Have a minimum of two years' demonstrable experience of leading and contributing to at least three of the following areas within the post-primary/special schools’ sector:

• a. School Improvement;
• b. Teacher Professional Learning;
• c. Development and facilitation of school and teacher networks;
• d. The identification and dissemination of effective practice;
• e. Collaboration and/or consultation with a range of stakeholders.

Other: The successful candidate will be required to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

• Knowledge: Demonstrable knowledge of:

• Current and anticipated challenges facing the wider education sector in Northern Ireland.
• Education Authority’s strategic priorities and corporate objectives.
• Statutory responsibilities, policies and procedures relevant to the work of the Education Directorate.
• The scope of the Education Directorate’s responsibilities and the structures and processes through which its services are delivered.
• The reach of EA services and the relevant stakeholder groups.
• The Northern Ireland Curriculum.

• Ability to build effective working relationships, lead and co‑ordinate teams and work collaboratively with colleagues and a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work autonomously with drive, determination and resilience, make sound decisions, negotiate and influence at a range of levels.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and policy including formulating reports and presenting the information clearly, confidently and unambiguously to a range of audiences.
• Ability to manage time and workloads effectively, creatively and efficiently, working under pressure and to strict deadlines, when required.
• Ability to present and communicate effectively to a range of audiences, clearly demonstrating integrity, initiative, discernment and excellent interpersonal skills.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Qualifications: Evidence of successful completion of an award-bearing or accredited continuing professional development programme.

Our Values: Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

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. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

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.