Vice Principal - School Improvement in Antrim

Primary Location: Antrim-Ballyclare-Ballyclare High School

Contract Type: Permanent

Status: Full-Time

Hours per Week: Full-time

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday

Grade/Scale: Vice Principal | L19-L23 | £80,136 - £88,269 per annum pro rata

School Group: Group 6

Anticipated Start Date: 1 September 2026

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A VICE-PRINCIPAL

A person appointed Vice Principal in a school, in addition to carrying out the professional duties of a teacher, shall play a major role under the overall direction of the principal in:

• Formulating the aims and objectives of the school;
• Establishing the policies through which they will be achieved;
• Managing staff and resources to that end;
• Monitoring progress towards their achievement;
• Undertaking any professional duties of the principal delegated to him/her by the principal;
• Undertaking to the extent required by the principal or the relevant body or employing authority the professional duties of the principal in the event of his/her absence from the school;
• Entitlement to a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2pm.

JOB DESCRIPTION – TEACHING POSTS

Main duties and Responsibilities:

• 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.

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.

Assessment/Reporting:

• Providing or contributing to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils.

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.

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.

Public Examinations:

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

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.

Staff cover:

• Supervising and teaching any pupils whose teacher is not available.

JOB DESCRIPTION VICE PRINCIPAL

The successful candidate will work within the agreed Terms and Conditions of Service for Vice-Principals. The Vice-Principal will be required to deputise for the Principal when necessary and take an active part in all aspects of school life.

In addition to a full-time teaching commitment and membership of the School Leadership Team, the Vice-Principal’s duties will include:

• Leading learning through example by high standards of teaching and learning;
• Assisting the Principal in all areas of leading learning and teaching, school administration, management and organisation;
• Assisting the Principal in leading School Development Planning, School Evaluation Self-Evaluations and Staff Development (INSET);
• Curriculum Co-ordination including overseeing the development and delivery of the curriculum across the Key Stages;
• Assessment coordinator for the school;
• Assisting the Principal in the promotion of positive behaviour and assertive discipline;
• Chair of the Safeguarding Team;
• Act as line manager for classroom assistants;
• Assisting the Principal with financial administration including budget planning and projections;
• Responsibility for timetables and rotas;
• Maintaining, developing and promoting formal and informal links with parents;
• Assist the Principal in organising major school events;
• Responsibility for extra-curricular activities;
• Assisting with lunch time cover;
• Undertaking such other duties as the Principal may require.

This job description may be amended at any time after discussion with the Principal.

A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate relevant experience, knowledge and skills associated with the following key areas:

• Shaping the Future;
• Leading and Managing Staff;
• Leading Learning and Teaching;
• Developing the School in the Community;
• Managing the Organisation;
• Ensuring Accountability.

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.

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.

Post Primary Vice-Principal - Person Specification

Essential

• Hold an additional degree (2:1 or above) or a 3rd level qualification of an equivalent standard;
• Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland;

Desirable

• Demonstrate evidence of continued and current professional development in school leadership;
• Have successfully completed an additional post-graduate (or equivalent or higher) qualification in education.

Experience

• Have a minimum of 7 years’ experience of teaching in a post-primary school with a sixth form;
• Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 3 years a post with experience of strategic leadership or co-ordination of a whole school area.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of the NI Curriculum and current policies and procedures;
• Current educational developments and how to evaluate and respond to new educational challenges.

Skills

• Highly developed skills to provide leadership to inspire high expectations, innovation and commitment;
• Use verbal and IT communication and presentational skills to promote the brand and messaging of the school.

Personal Qualities

• Assertiveness and confidence;
• A caring child-centred approach;
• Integrity; advocacy and empathy.

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.

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