Head of Art (Temporary - Career break))

Education Authority Northern Ireland

About The Position

Heads of Department provide professional leadership and management of their subject area to secure high quality teaching, effective use of resources and ongoing development of learning and achievement for all pupils. As part of the school’s middle management, they play a key role in the school’s strategic planning. Each Head of Department is supported by a member of Senior Leadership Team who acts as an immediate Line Manager and Mentor. The following are key areas of responsibility: Strategic Direction and Development of the Subject To support efficient and effective teaching and learning as a whole school strategy in order to contribute to whole school improvement To contribute to the self evaluative school model including completing a departmental self evaluation on a yearly basis as required by the Principal To be responsible for devising, monitoring and evaluating appropriate action plans to support the School Development Plan in achieving whole school improvement To analyse internal and external examination results, identify areas for development and report these annually to the Principal and Vice Principal and recommend to the department and Senior Team strategies for dealing with any weaknesses and for promoting further the strengths of the department To contribute to the target setting process by establishing agreed, appropriate, targets for pupils and staff both within the department and by regular discussion with the Senior Teacher (SIS & Data) and Vice Principal To keep the Departmental Handbook under review and ensure that an up to date copy is available for all staff in the department as well as for senior staff at the start of each academic year To communicate and cooperate with other departments, including sharing good practice To establish, with colleagues, agreed aims and objectives for the department which must be consistent with the aims and objectives of the school To establish departmental policies in line with School Policies To monitor the implementation of all departmental policies and review them regularly To monitor and review the appropriateness of the curriculum for each pupil and to ensure that there are strategies in place to provide additional support for pupils with special educational needs. To ensure that a range of courses, suited to the needs of the pupils is offered. To draw up, with colleagues, schemes of work which make clear the content of the courses, the learning objectives and the assessment procedures to be followed. To ensure that relevant schemes of work are reviewed annually, followed by all members of the department and made available to the Vice Principal To ensure that there is consistency and internal standardisation within the department To prepare and circulate agendas for department meetings To chair regular department meetings and to act as a channel of communication and consultation on department and curricular matters between the Principal and Leadership Team and other members of the department To ensure that department meetings are accurately minuted and the Vice Principal is provided with minutes To represent the department at Subject Leaders meetings and to provide feedback to department colleagues To play a full part in decision making relating to whole school issues To keep abreast of current developments in the curriculum and in examination specifications by attendance at relevant in-service courses, encouraging departmental colleagues to do likewise and to ensure that there is an efficient and agreed system of reporting back To liaise and develop creative links and constructive working relationships with other subject departments and with other schools and external agencies as appropriate To inform the school’s Examinations Officer of all entries (and any changes) for the public examinations in the subject(s) To be a member of relevant ad hoc working parties in which whole school policy is developed, monitored and reviewed and guidelines for good practice are established To develop effective links and constructive working relationships with the Pastoral team which includes the Senior Leader (Pastoral), LSCO and the Heads of Year To ensure that relevant subject material is made available on the school’s website Teaching and Learning To lead colleagues in the process of regular evaluation of the work of the department in terms of teaching, learning and standards of achievement and thus identifying areas for improvement To monitor teaching standards and teaching methods within the department To ensure that appropriate teaching and learning strategies are employed at all levels of the school to challenge all pupils to achieve as highly as possible To ensure and monitor in the department, effective development of pupils’ individual and collaborative skills to enable them to become independent, creative and critical thinkers To ensure that subject specific support is available for any pupils requiring additional assistance and liaise when appropriate with LSCO or other key personnel To advise pupils at certain times of option choices and at any other times when help is needed for university applications and/or careers guidance To develop and integrate the use of Information and Communications Technology, Communication and Using Mathematics within the teaching of the subject at all levels of the school To promote the skills of literacy and numeracy within the department in line with the whole school approach To set standards and act as a role model for pupils and other staff in the teaching and learning of the subject To ensure that assessment of pupils’ work (classwork, homework, coursework, tests, examinations) is undertaken regularly, that the assessment is valid, moderated and used to inform, develop and enhance teaching and learning in line with school policies To be responsible for the oversight of setting, marking, assessing and moderating the department’s internal assessments and any elements of external examinations as may be necessary To ensure that learning in the subject is enhanced where possible by development of extra curricular activities, special events or projects connected with the work of the department To monitor pupil attainment and to liaise with pupils/parents as appropriate Leading and managing staff To promote the professional development of staff within the department To support effectively all those on Initial Teacher Training, working as a Beginning Teacher or at the Early Professional Development Stage of their career To assume responsibility for the induction, supervision and support of non-teaching staff where this is appropriate To encourage innovative and imaginative curriculum work within the department To oversee the writing of reports and other communications within the department, as appropriate and as required To arrange the department contribution to any prospective pupil occasions eg Open Night and contributions required for any school literature eg curriculum booklets and prospectus To show support and concern for the welfare and wellbeing of staff in the department To build and further develop the team of subject teachers To observe, on a regular basis, members of the department at work in the classroom, to provide relevant feedback on effective practice and to take action to improve further the quality of teaching To support members of the department with disciplinary problems eg general behavioural problems, work, homework, coursework To arrange for devolved responsibilities and delegated tasks as appropriate to members of the department To monitor and evaluate devolved responsibilities and delegated tasks To participate in, according to the guidelines approved by the Board of Governors, the agreed Professional Review and Staff Development process, PRSD, including acting as a Reviewer, for members of the department To encourage appropriate access for members of the department to in-service training opportunities both within school and outside school that will enhance teaching and learning and allow development of an increasing awareness of whole school issues and to ensure that all members of the department receive appropriate feedback from colleagues who have attended INSET To liaise with Senior Team Link as appropriate Efficient and effective deployment of staff and resources To advise the Principal on human resource needs in the department To assist the Board of Governors in the selection of new members of staff for the department as required To identify timetable and staffing requirements in consultation with the Vice Principal, to liaise with the Vice-Principal and Principal to deploy staff to ensure the best use of subject expertise and to support the professional development of colleagues To conduct an audit of resource needs within the context of the overall School Budget and the department’s Development Plan and present to the Principal/Vice Principal annually an analysis of departmental needs in the form of a bid for departmental funding To cooperate and liaise with the Vice Principal in the administration of departmental spending To provide relevant information for the Principal or Vice Principal at any time, if required, regarding departmental priorities, needs and funding To ensure that rooms, furniture, equipment, wall displays etc are maintained to a high standard in order to create an effective and stimulating environment for the teaching and learning of the subject To keep an inventory of equipment which should be updated annually To ensure that resources are stored securely To ensure that the work of the department is effectively displayed in appropriate public areas of the school To aim to ensure a respect for the working environment To oversee the issue and return of books etc to/from pupils and to ensure loss or damage is charged to the individual To liaise with the Librarian over library requirements for the subject To develop/implement a department Health and Safety policy consistent with the school Health and Safety policy which is kept under constant review To aim to ensure that there is a safe working and learning environment in which risks are properly assessed through an annual Risk Assessment To provide careful stewardship of accommodation and equipment used by the department by ensuring prudent management and expenditure of resources at all times

Requirements

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 Art as a main subject to A level or equivalent
Demonstrate a minimum of 5 years experience of teaching Art in a post-primary setting up to and including A level or equivalent with positive outcomes
Demonstrable experience of using a range of effective classroom approaches to provide support and challenge children and young people of all abilities, including those with Special Educational Needs
Have a minimum of 1 year's recent experience (within last 7 years) of leading an Art Department on a permanent or temporary basis, including experience of monitoring pupil progress, performance, target setting and intervention
Have a minimum of 1 year's recent experience (within last 7 years) of acting as a moderator and/or examiner of Art & Design in a paid capacity for an examination board.
Be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up post
Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the CCEA GCSE and A level Art specifications
Demonstrable knowledge of current developments in Art education
Knowledge of Northern Ireland Curriculum
Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection policy/practice
Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice
Knowledge of a range of teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of pupils
Knowledge of Information Technology systems such as digital classroom tools/media and the use of tablets/mobile technologies
Knowledge of current assessment methods to inform teaching
Effective teaching and classroom management skills to inspire and challenge pupils to raise achievement
Proven ability to provide a supportive, inclusive learning environment
Ability to work collaboratively to promote positive relationships with pupils, colleagues, parents and the wider community
Ability to work as an effective member of a team, and to motivate self and others
Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect the School’s Values/ethos

Nice To Haves

Have a minimum of 3 year's experience of leading an Art Department on a permanent or temporary basis, including experience of monitoring pupil progress, performance, target setting and intervention