Acting Vice Principal

Education Authority; Lisburn; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Authority in Northern Ireland seeks a Vice-Principal to deputise for the Principal and actively participate in all aspects of school life. The role includes leading learning, supporting school administration, and contributing to School Development Planning.

Responsibilities include curriculum coordination, promoting high standards, managing staff, and developing links with parents and the community. This post reports to the Principal and forms part of the School Leadership Team.

Qualifications

• Experience in school leadership and management.
• Ability to deputise for the Principal.
• Experience with School Development Planning and Self-Evaluations (ETI/ Ofsted-style).
• Ability to lead teaching and learning and curriculum coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead learning through high standards of teaching and learning.
• Assist the Principal in school administration, management and organisation.
• Coordinate curriculum development and delivery across Key Stages and oversee a subject area.
• Support development of school policies and positive behaviour strategies.
• Act as line manager for classroom assistants and assist with budget planning and projections.
• Oversee timetables, rotas and major school events; maintain strong links with parents.
• Undertake Teacher tutor roles for Beginning Teachers and Early Professional Development Teachers.
• Assist with lunch-time cover and other duties as required by the Principal.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Team development

Curriculum leadership

Job description

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).
• Contribute towards the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all school policies.
• Curriculum Co‑ordination including overseeing the development and delivery of the curriculum across the Key Stages; co‑ordination of a subject area.
• Co‑ordination of a Key Stage, if required.
• Assisting the Principal in co‑ordinating curriculum development, including planning, benchmarking, target setting, PRSD, monitoring the quality of provision within the school.
• Assisting the Principal in the promotion of positive behaviour and assertive discipline.
• 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.
• Undertaking the role of Teacher tutor for Beginning Teachers, Early Professional Development Teachers and students on placement.
• 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.

A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate relevant experience, knowledge and skills associated with the following key areas.

Shaping the Future

• 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.

Leading and Managing Staff

• 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.

Leading Learning and Teaching

• 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.

Developing the School in the Community

• 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.

Managing the Organisation

• 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.

Ensuring Accountability

• 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.

Conditions of Service

The conditions of service for this post will be in accordance with the Regulations of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.