Head of Department - Physical Education in Derry, Londonderry

Primary Location: Derry/Londonderry-Limavady-Limavady High School

Contract Type: Permanent

Duration of Contract/Contract End Date: N/A

Status: Full-Time

Hours per Week: Full time

Working Pattern: Weekly (Monday - Friday)

Grade/Scale: Teacher | Main Pay Scale, M2 - UPS 3 | £32,916 - £50,876 per annum

Allowance(s): Teaching Allowance 2 as per the DE Teachers' Pay and Allowances circular

Anticipated Interview Date(s): 17 September 2026

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTS TO: Principal

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A TEACHER

• 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 Duties

• 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.

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.

Discipline/Health and Safety

• Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils in accordance with the policies of the employing authority;
• 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.

Number of days/Hours of work

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

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.

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.

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 or equivalent Level 6 qualification which has prepared the applicant to teach Physical Education as his/her main subject;
• Minimum of 1 Year demonstrable experience of teaching Physical Education at Key Stage 3 and 4.

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 to inspire and challenge pupils to raise achievement.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.