Senior Vice Principal - Student Welfare & Learning in Belfast

This role will include specific responsibilities in relation to raising standards in student welfare and achievement, including Safeguarding and Child Protection.

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.

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.
• 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;
• Participating in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above.

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

Participating, if required, in any scheme of staff development and performance review;

Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils in accordance with the policies of the employing authority and safeguarding their health and safety.

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

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.
• Taking a leading role in School Development Planning, School Evaluation Self-Evaluation and Staff Development (INSET).
• Curriculum Co-ordination including overseeing the development and delivery of the Pastoral and Preventative curriculum across the Key Stages.
• Leading the promotion of Positive Behaviour, and affirming the ethos, values and standards of the school.
• Ensure that all children have the best opportunity to reach their potential, with particular focus on removing barriers to learning and raising aspiration for FSME learners.
• Lead the Safeguarding Team as Designated Teacher and set standards in support for vulnerable learners.
• Act as line manager for the SENCO, and monitor and maintain standards in SEN delivery.
• Assisting the Principal with financial administration including budget planning and projections, allocations and monitoring spend and reconciliations.
• Maintaining, developing and promoting formal and informal links with parents and other stakeholders.

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.

Essential Qualifications: Applicants must hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.

Essential Experience: Have a minimum of 8 years post qualification teaching experience in post primary education, and/or equivalent experience in an affiliated educational body working in an area that relates to the post primary sector.

Essential Knowledge: The successful candidate must demonstrate extensive knowledge of the Northern Ireland Post Primary Curriculum and current policies and procedures.

Essential Skills: The successful candidate must demonstrate highly developed skills in order to lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others.

Personal Qualities: The successful candidate must demonstrate vision, enthusiasm and motivation, integrity, and an ability to cope under pressure.