Principal

Primary Location: Antrim-Belfast-Donegall Road 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 | L13-L19 | £69,300 - £80,136 per annum

School Group: Group 2

Anticipated Interview Date(s): 30 September 2026. A second interview may be held on 01 October if required.

Additional Information: A school visit will be arranged for shortlisted candidates.

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 and shall obey the reasonable directions of 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. 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;
• 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;
• 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 at any time when he/she is absent from the school;
• Participating, to such extent as may be appropriate having regard to his/her other duties, in the teaching of the pupils at the school;
• To participate in the Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) for Principals.

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. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances.

Person Specification

Essential

• Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland;
• Have a minimum of 8 years post qualification teaching experience in primary education;
• Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 5 years a post with experience of strategic leadership or co-ordination of a whole school area;
• Evidence of how your leadership has led to whole school improvement;
• Evidence of building a professional learning community within a school or other organisation.

Desirable

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

Knowledge

The successful candidate must demonstrate extensive knowledge of:

• The Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum and current policies and procedures;
• Current educational developments and the ability to evaluate and respond to new educational challenges;
• 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

The successful candidate must demonstrate highly developed skills in order to:

• Lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others;
• Create an ethos and articulate vision for the future of the school;
• Develop good relationships at all levels and promote a collaborative and team approach;
• Promote, achieve, monitor and evaluate high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school;
• Develop effective partnerships between the school and the local community;
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing;
• Organise and prioritise workload effectively;
• Manage time effectively.

Personal Qualities

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Vision;
• A sound value system;
• Enthusiasm and motivation;
• Assertiveness and confidence;
• A caring child centred approach;
• Integrity;
• Discretion;
• An ability to cope under pressure;
• Tact and diplomacy;
• Decisiveness;
• Adaptability.

The Board of Governors reserves the right to enhance the essential criteria if necessary in order to facilitate a manageable shortlist. Applicants must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) upon taking up employment.

Please note the onus is on candidates to provide sufficient detailed information on their application forms in order to demonstrate how they meet each of the criteria.

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.