Vice Principal

Education Authority - Northern Ireland•Hillsborough, NJ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice-Principal 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. Assisting the Principal in co-ordinating curriculum development, including planning, benchmarking, target setting, PRSD, monitoring the quality of provision within the school. Assessment coordinator for the school. Assisting the Principal in the promotion of positive behaviour and assertive discipline. Chair of the Safeguarding Team and ensure that children have the best opportunity to reach their potential (with a particular interest in the Gifted/ Talented). Act as line manager for classroom assistants. Assisting the Principal with financial administration including budget planning and projections, allocations and monitoring spend and reconciliations. Responsibility for timetables and rotas. Maintaining, developing and promoting formal and informal links with parents including membership of the school PTFA committee. 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. This job description may be amended at any time after discussion with the Principal.

Requirements

Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland
Have a minimum of 7 years post qualification teaching experience in mainstream primary education, within the last 12 years
Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 5 years AND within the last 10 years: A post with experience of strategic leadership or co-ordination of a whole school area at a minimum level of Subject Co-ordinator/Head of Key Stage/SMT/SLT to include monitoring and evaluation resulting in measurable school improvement; and/or A post of Principal or Vice-Principal; and/or A post with leadership and management experience within an affiliated body
Evidence of how your leadership has led to school improvement
Evidence of involvement in strategic planning
Extensive knowledge of the Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum and current policies and procedures
Extensive knowledge of current educational developments and the ability to evaluate and respond to new educational challenges and manage change effectively
Extensive knowledge of effective classroom pedagogy and how to ensure high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school
Extensive knowledge of effective data management
Extensive knowledge of effective organisational management including the appropriate deployment of resources
Highly developed skills to lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others
Highly developed skills to create an ethos and articulate vision for the future of the school
Highly developed skills to develop good relationships at levels and promote a collaborative and team approach among staff, pupils, parents and governors
Highly developed skills to lead strategically and develop self and others in order to achieve outcomes
Highly developed skills to promote, achieve, monitor and evaluate high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school
Highly developed skills to develop effective partnerships between the school and the local community
Highly developed skills to communicate effectively orally and in writing
Highly developed skills to organise and prioritise workload effectively
Highly developed skills to deal with staffing matters in accordance with EA policies and procedures
Highly developed skills to manage time effectively
Vision
A sound value system
Enthusiasm and motivation
Assertiveness and confidence
A caring child centred approach
Integrity
Advocacy and empathy
Discretion
An ability to cope under pressure
Tact and diplomacy
Decisiveness
Adaptability
Registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) upon taking up employment

Nice To Haves

Demonstrate evidence of leading staff development within school/s
Have experience of financial and/or budgetary management within school/s

Responsibilities

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
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
Assisting the Principal in co-ordinating curriculum development, including planning, benchmarking, target setting, PRSD, monitoring the quality of provision within the school
Assessment coordinator for the school
Assisting the Principal in the promotion of positive behaviour and assertive discipline
Chair of the Safeguarding Team and ensure that children have the best opportunity to reach their potential (with a particular interest in the Gifted/ Talented)
Act as line manager for classroom assistants
Assisting the Principal with financial administration including budget planning and projections, allocations and monitoring spend and reconciliations
Responsibility for timetables and rotas
Maintaining, developing and promoting formal and informal links with parents including membership of the school PTFA committee
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
Keep abreast of and anticipate educational trends
Think strategically to build and communicate a shared coherent vision
Create an ethos and provide direction, which promotes a culture of high expectation, successful learning and achievement
Inspire, challenge, motivate and empower others to carry the vision and ethos forward
Model the values and ethos of the school
Provide high quality leadership to secure improvement
Collaborate and network with others within and beyond the school
Foster a culture of shared/ distributed leadership
Develop, empower and sustain individuals and teams
Support the development of an open, fair, equitable culture and manage conflict effectively
Support and challenge performance in order to raise standards
Work with others to lead professional development for all staff within the context of the school’s development plan in order to support effective teaching and learning
Mentor coach and challenge all curriculum leaders individually and as part of a wider school team
Cultivate enthusiasm for and commitment to the learning process
Lead and manage the development of an effective learning and teaching culture
Lead and manage the self-evaluation process; work with staff and others to analyse a range of data, interpret outcomes and plan for improvement
Ensure effective implementation of the NI Curriculum, share good practice and work with others to challenge and address pupil under-achievement
Manage and Lead a minimum of one curricular area across the school which may include SEN
Lead and manage the development and promotion of a positive image of the school within the local community and beyond
Develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with parents and the local and wider community
Ensure effective channels of communication are in place between the school and the local and wider community
Listen to, reflect and act on community feedback
Recognise and lead others to ensure that strategic planning takes account of the richness and diversity of the school’s communities and community feedback
Work closely with other relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to enhance the education of all pupils
Prioritise, plan and organise themselves and others
Think creatively to anticipate and solve problems
Make sound decisions based on a range of informed judgments
Establish and maintain appropriate structures and systems
Lead and manage the development and implementation of the School Development Plan
Delegate tasks and monitor their implementation
Manage resources efficiently and effectively: human, physical and financial
As required manage one or more department or Key Stage
Create and develop a culture in which all Governors and staff recognise that they are accountable for the success of the school
Combine the outcomes of regular self-evaluation, ETI inspection evidence and other external evaluations in order to develop the school
Lead and manage the process of monitoring and evaluating effectively school outcomes, policies and procedures
Work with the leadership team and others to recognise and disseminate effective practice and challenge and address unacceptable performance
Work closely with and provide effective reports to Governors on the school’s progress and development