Vice Principal in Donaghadee

Primary Location: Down-Donaghadee-Killard House School

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Secondment opportunity (May be subject to extension or may be reduced for any valid reason)

Duration of Contract/Contract End Date: 16 November 2026 – 30 June 2027

Status: Full-Time

Hours per Week: Full-time

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday

Grade/Scale: Vice Principal | L16-L20 | £74,642 - £82,096 per annum pro rata

School Group: Group 6

Anticipated Interview Date(s): Tuesday 6 October 2026

Additional Information: School visit for shortlisted candidates: Thursday 1 October 2026. (Candidates will be notified on Tuesday 29 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.

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 teaching experience in a paid capacity in primary/post primary education;
• Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 2 years a post with experience of strategic leadership or co-ordination of a whole school area.

Desirable:

• Have successfully completed an additional post graduate (or equivalent or higher) qualification in Education;
• Can demonstrate evidence of involvement in staff development within school/s;
• Have experience of financial and/or budgetary management within school/s.

Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge of the Northern Ireland Curriculum in the context of a special school setting;
• 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.

Skills:

• 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 among staff, pupils, parents and governors.

Personal Qualities:

• 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.

Disclosure of Criminal Background: In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background.