Head of Department

Head of Department, Part of the Middle Leadership Team

Salary: Leadership Scale L2 to 6

Contract: Full Time

Location: Haringey

Contract Term: Permanent

Reporting to: Deputy Head Teacher & Head of School

Responsibilities

To support the Senior Leaders to lead the school in providing high quality teaching and learning

opportunities and ensuring exceptional outcomes for students with autism. 

Leadership and Management

● To ensure the effective day to day organisation and running of the department

● Strategic development and contribute to the school development plan and SEF

● Chairing department meetings as defined on the school calendar.

● Attending Middle Leadership Team meetings and providing reports where required for SLT and Governors. 

● Supporting and advising class-based staff.

● Coaching and mentoring staff as needed across the department.

● Management of staff supporting students across the department, including leading on performance management.

● Management of all teaching staff across the department, including the direct line management of teachers.

● Work alongside CPD Lead to ensure all staff within the department receive necessary training and development to fulfil their responsibilities. 

● To be a positive and professional role model, building effective relationships with students as well as parents, staff, professionals and other stakeholders.

● Liaise with cover lead regarding managing absence.

● Manage department HR processes such as return to work and risk assessments of staff 

Curriculum and Outcomes

● Ensuring students’ emotional regulation is well managed, the PLPs are well written and accurate, and that all agreed strategies identified within policies are consistently applied.

● Overseeing and monitoring the department’s curriculum developments to ensure that students with autism have access to broad, balanced, rich and relevant activities.

● Leading transitions into and out of the department, including admissions and referrals and ensuring the organisation, liaison and strategies to achieve success are implemented successfully and most effectively for the students and stakeholders involved. 

● Supporting class teachers to develop suitable outcomes (at AR of EHCP) and learning objectives for students and monitor pupil progress towards them. 

● Supporting class staff in their support for specific families as needed, liaising with the pastoral team and family support.

● Having an overview of any multi agency working within the department, complete relevant referral forms to external professionals when needed and liaise with external professionals as needed. 

● Chairing Annual Review of EHCP meetings, ensure all relevant paperwork is checked and completed in a timely manner. 

● Provide additional support to any students who may, from time to time, present with additional support needs due to the nature of their autism.

● Lead department activities such as assemblies, events and cross group working/projects.

Teaching, Learning & Assessment

● A teaching commitment, including being able to cover for absent teachers or meetings on occasions. 

● To ensure high quality teaching and learning takes place in the classes within the department

● Responsibility for an area (to be agreed) across the whole school

● Monitoring timetables and planning, providing written and verbal feedback to teachers within the first two weeks of each half term.

● Ensuring that any planning revision is carried out by the end of the second week of the half term.

● Supporting the teachers to deliver innovative lessons and additional learning sessions which are motivating to students and maximise their progress.

● Liaising with the Assessment Lead to monitor pupil’s progress across the department, identifying gaps and interventions and provide support where needed. 

Other

● Ensure safeguarding and welfare of students within the department and across the school is paramount

● Ensure the effective promotion of health and safety practices across the school.

● To undertake other tasks as directed by the head teacher and to always operate in the ethos and style that is consistent with the values, ethos and vision of the school. 

● To ensure equal opportunity and access to all throughout the department and support this across the wider school. 

Staff are expected to comply with any reasonable request from the Headteacher to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.  This job description is current at the date shown, but in consultation with you, may be changed to reflect or anticipate changes in the job commensurate with the job title, purpose and grade.