Teacher - Biology

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 employed as a teacher in a school under the reasonable direction of the principal of that school;
• If 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;
• Making records of and reports on the personal and social needs of pupils;
• 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.

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;
• Advising and co-operating with the Principal and other teachers 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;
• Participating in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school or the administration or organisation of the school.

6. Public Examinations

• Participating in arrangements for preparing pupils for public examinations and in assessing pupils for the purposes of such examinations.

7. Review and Development of Management Activities/Administration

• Contributing to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers;
• Co-ordinating or managing the work of other teachers;
• Participating in administrative and organisational tasks related to such duties.

8. Number of days/Hours of work

• A full-time teacher shall be available for work on 195 days in any year;
• A teacher 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 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.

9. Staff cover

• Supervising and teaching any pupils whose teacher is 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.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland;
• Hold a degree (2:2 or above) which has prepared the applicant to teach Biology or Science where Biology is the main subject;
• Demonstrable experience of teaching Biology at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5;
• Demonstrable experience of using a range of teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of pupils;
• Be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up post.

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Knowledge of Northern Ireland Curriculum;
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection policy/practice;
• Effective teaching and classroom management skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively to promote positive relationships with pupils, colleagues, parents and the wider community.

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Minimum of 2 years’ demonstrable experience of teaching Biology to A Level;
• Hold a degree (2:1) in Biology.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.