Head of Physics Department

Education Authority Northern Ireland

7h•Onsite

About The Position

The Head of Physics will initially work alongside the previous Head of Department who is relinquishing the role to devote more time to her role as Senior Leader. Heads of subjects 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.

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 Physics as his/her main subject.
Minimum of 5 years’ (within the last 10 years) demonstrable experience of teaching Physics to GCSE level to achieve positive learning outcomes.
Minimum of 3 years’ (within the last 8 years) demonstrable experience of teaching Physics to A level to achieve positive learning outcomes.
Demonstrable experience of using data/self-evaluation strategies to plan and deliver improvement.
Demonstrable evidence of successfully contributing to a team in a school setting.
Demonstrable evidence of using self-evaluation to effect improvement in an area of school life.
Be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up post.
Knowledge of the GCSE and A Level Physics syllabi.
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 suit pupils with different abilities.
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

Demonstrable experience of managing people and/or co-ordinating an area of the curriculum in a school setting.
Ability and willingness to contribute to the extra-curricular life of the school.

Responsibilities

Support efficient and effective teaching and learning as a whole school strategy in order to contribute to whole school improvement.
Contribute to the self-evaluative school model including completing a departmental self-evaluation on a yearly basis as required by the Principal.
Be responsible for devising, monitoring and evaluating appropriate action plans to support the School Development Plan in achieving whole school improvement.
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.
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.
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.
Communicate and cooperate with other departments, including sharing good practice.
Establish, with colleagues, agreed aims and objectives for the department which must be consistent with the aims and objectives of the school.
Establish departmental policies in line with School Policies.
Monitor the implementation of all departmental policies and review them regularly.
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.
Ensure that a range of courses, suited to the needs of the pupils is offered.
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.
Ensure that relevant schemes of work are reviewed annually, followed by all members of the department and made available to the Vice Principal.
Ensure that there is consistency and internal standardisation within the department.
Prepare and circulate agendas for department meetings.
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.
Ensure that department meetings are accurately minuted and the Vice Principal is provided with minutes.
Represent the department at Subject Leaders meetings and to provide feedback to department colleagues.
Play a full part in decision making relating to whole school issues.
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.
Liaise and develop creative links and constructive working relationships with other subject departments and with other schools and external agencies as appropriate.
Inform the school’s Examinations Officer of all entries (and any changes) for the public examinations in the subject(s).
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.
Develop effective links and constructive working relationships with the Pastoral team which includes the Senior Leader (Pastoral), LSCO and the Heads of Year.
Ensure that relevant subject material is made available on the school’s website.
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.
Monitor teaching standards and teaching methods within the department.
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.
Ensure and monitor in the department, effective development of pupils’ individual and collaborative skills to enable them to become independent, creative and critical thinkers.
Ensure that subject specific support is available for any pupils requiring additional assistance and liaise when appropriate with LSCO or other key personnel.
Advise pupils at certain times of option choices and at any other times when help is needed for university applications and/or careers guidance.
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.
Promote the skills of literacy and numeracy within the department in line with the whole school approach.
Set standards and act as a role model for pupils and other staff in the teaching and learning of the subject.
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.
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.
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.
Monitor pupil attainment and to liaise with pupils/parents as appropriate.
Promote the professional development of staff within the department.
Support effectively all those on Initial Teacher Training, working as a Beginning Teacher or at the Early Professional Development Stage of their career.
Assume responsibility for the induction, supervision and support of non-teaching staff where this is appropriate.
Encourage innovative and imaginative curriculum work within the department.
Oversee the writing of reports and other communications within the department, as appropriate and as required.
Arrange the department contribution to any prospective pupil occasions eg Open Night and contributions required for any school literature eg curriculum booklets and prospectus.
Show support and concern for the welfare and wellbeing of staff in the department.
Build and further develop the team of subject teachers.
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.
Support members of the department with disciplinary problems eg general behavioural problems, work, homework, coursework.
Arrange for devolved responsibilities and delegated tasks as appropriate to members of the department.
Monitor and evaluate devolved responsibilities and delegated tasks.
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.
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.
Liaise with Senior Team Link as appropriate.
Advise the Principal on human resource needs in the department.
Assist the Board of Governors in the selection of new members of staff for the department as required.
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.
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.
Cooperate and liaise with the Vice Principal in the administration of departmental spending.
Provide relevant information for the Principal or Vice Principal at any time, if required, regarding departmental priorities, needs and funding.
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.
Keep an inventory of equipment which should be updated annually.
Ensure that resources are stored securely.
Ensure that the work of the department is effectively displayed in appropriate public areas of the school.
Aim to ensure a respect for the working environment.
Oversee the issue and return of books etc to/from pupils and to ensure loss or damage is charged to the individual.
Liaise with the Librarian over library requirements for the subject.
Develop/implement a department Health and Safety policy consistent with the school Health and Safety policy which is kept under constant review.
Aim to ensure that there is a safe working and learning environment in which risks are properly assessed through an annual Risk Assessment.
Provide careful stewardship of accommodation and equipment used by the department by ensuring prudent management and expenditure of resources at all times.
Exercise general professional duties as circumstances may require, under the reasonable direction of the principal.
Perform particular duties as may reasonably be assigned by the principal.
Plan and prepare courses and lessons.
Teach, according to their educational needs, the pupils assigned, including setting and marking of work.
Assess, record and report on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.
Promote the general progress and well-being of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned.
Provide advice and guidance to pupils on educational and social matters and on their further education and future careers.
Make records of and reports on the personal and social needs of pupils.
Communicate and consult with the parents of pupils.
Communicate and co-operate with external bodies as approved by the employing authority and the Board of Governors.
Participate in meetings arranged for the purposes described above.
Provide or contribute to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils.
Participate in any scheme of staff development and performance review.
Review from time to time teaching methods and programmes of work.
Participate in arrangements for further training and professional development.
Advise and co-operate 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.
Maintain good order and discipline among pupils and safeguard their health and safety.
Participate in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum, organisation or pastoral arrangements.
Participate in arrangements for preparing pupils for public examinations and in assessing pupils for the purposes of such examinations.
Contribute to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers, including the induction and assessment of probationary teachers.
Coordinate or manage the work of other teachers.
Take part in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school.
Participate in administrative and organisational tasks related to duties, including the management or supervision of support staff and the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials.
Attend assemblies.
Register the attendance of pupils and supervise pupils before, during or after school sessions.
Supervise and teach any pupils whose teacher is not available, subject to certain conditions regarding the duration of absence and school size.