Head of Department - PE

Job Title: Head of Department

Reports to: Deputy Principal- Teaching, Learning and Academic affairs

Supervises: Teachers in Department

The Head of Department (HoD) is the curriculum team manager who shares with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) the School’s responsibility for delivering to the students the curriculum within a designated subject area(s), ensuring that each student receives positive encouragement to develop his/her potential to the full according to the stated aims of the School.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational/Strategic Planning

1. To provide leadership and create enthusiasm for teaching among members of the department, to develop team work and balance the strengths of individuals, allocating responsibilities as appropriate. 

2. To chair departmental meetings. 

3. To work with colleagues to formulate aims, objectives and strategic plans for the department which have coherence and relevance to the needs of students and the aims, objectives and strategic plans of the School.

4. To define and develop departmental policy, priorities and schemes of work regularly and to monitor their implementation, setting department targets as necessary, working within the aims of the school and in line with educational developments. 

5. To produce the Department Handbook as needed.

Curriculum

1. To liaise with the Academic Principal and Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning to ensure the delivery of an appropriate, comprehensive, high quality and cost-effective curriculum programme which complements the School’s Improvement Plan.

2. To be accountable for the development and delivery of the Department’s curriculum. 

3. To keep abreast of examination specification changes and, where possible, to attend appropriate examination training/meetings. 

Management of Resources

1. To manage the available resources of staff, space and equipment efficiently within the limits, guidelines and procedures laid down; including deploying the department budget.

2. To work with the Academic Principal to ensure that the Department’s teaching commitments are effectively and efficiently time-tabled and roomed.

Leading and Managing Staff

1. To assist, when required, in the recruitment of new staff and to be responsible for the induction of new staff. All new teachers should be appropriately trained, monitored, supported and assessed. 

2. To be responsible for the day-to-day management of all members of the department.

3. To monitor and assess the work of the subject(s) through the professional development (PD) programme and through internationally recognised guidelines for inspection. To promote and monitor PD within the department. To offer support and advice to members of the department and encourage their professional development.

4. To regularly monitor the work of department members, ensuring that they are following the correct syllabuses and adhering to policies, including marking, and schemes of work and observing their teaching.

5. To establish common standards of practice and to encourage the sharing of good practice within the department and develop the effectiveness of teaching and learning styles.

6. To promote teamwork and to motivate staff to ensure effective working relations.

7. To monitor allocated supervision duties assigned to staff.

Information and Data Management

1. To ensure the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date information concerning the department on the School’s management information system.

2. To ensure that all curriculum information is recorded, backed up and updated (when necessary).

3. To produce an annual examinations analysis and department review. 

4. To ensure that the members of the department fulfil the school’s requirements for reporting to parents and that the school database is kept up-to-date. 

5. Use data effectively to identify students who are underachieving in the subject and create plans of action with target setting

Communication and Liaison

1. To ensure that all members of the department are familiar with departmental aims and objectives within the framework of the School Development Plan.

2. To represent the department at HoD meetings, and to contribute to curriculum development and other relevant whole school development (planning and implementation) through these and other means as appropriate. 

3. To disseminate relevant information to members of the department, and to promote relevant activities outside school. This may include developing aspects of cross-curricular themes such as citizenship and contributing to enrichment as appropriate within the department. 

Teaching

1. To undertake an appropriate programme of teaching in accordance with the duties of a standard scale teacher.

Teaching and Learning

1. To ensure that the department is up-to-date with the implementation of school policies including gifted and talented students.

2. To ensure the development of students' literacy, and information communication technology skills through the subject where relevant.

3. To promote a high standard of teaching within the department, monitoring academic standards and ensuring with others that the students’ learning is effective and continuous, enabling them to achieve the best results of which they are capable. This will include appropriate differentiation of the curriculum to meet the needs of all students and monitoring assessment, recording and reporting at all levels. 

4. To promote teaching and learning styles which stimulate student interest and involvement in learning.

Marketing and Liaison

1. To contribute to the School liaison and marketing activities, e.g. the collection of material for press releases and the school website, Open Days, Parent/Teacher Conferences, etc. 

2. To contribute regularly to the monthly newsletter and similar publications as appropriate.

Pastoral System

1. To be familiar with the School’s Child Protection Policy and to report concerns to the Child Protection Committee (CPC).

2. To ensure that all staff support the School in ensuring students follow school rules and expectations and that appropriate measures are taken when students do not follow school rules, all in accordance with school policies and procedures. 

3. To contribute to the School’s Student Development programme, citizenship, enterprise and other cross-curricula issues according to school policy.

Other Specific Duties

1. To play a full part in the life of the school community, to support its distinctive mission/vision, ethos and policies and to encourage staff and students to follow this example.

2. To continue personal professional development as agreed.

3. To engage actively in the performance review process.

4. To undertake any other duty as specified by the Principal not mentioned in the above.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified.

Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a SLT member to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.

Employees are expected to be courteous to colleagues and provide a welcoming environment to visitors. 

WE CAN OFFER:

- Competitive salary

- Accommodation allowance

- Annual airfares allowance

- Local health insurance

- Annual Trip

- Contract completion bonus depending on performance

- Extensive training and ongoing Professional Development.

- Full paid summer and winter holidays