Helpline

11th October 2002, 1:00am

Share

Helpline

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/helpline-152
CAN you advise on drawing up a deputy head’s job description and on setting targets for annual assessment?

A deputy head would expect to have a job description which included substantial whole-school responsibilities. These might be functional, for example direction of the curriculum or pastoral provision, or they might be sectional, for example overall direction of specified year groups or key stages.

Specific functions, such as liaison with feeder schools and direction of staff professional development, should be listed. For a sole deputy, the duty to cover for the head’s absence would be included; otherwise this might be delegated to another deputy, or shared.

A good job description would indicate that it was not set in stone, but subject to amendment from time to time on either side. It would also allow for additional tasks to be set, at the head’s discretion.

Annual target-setting must be related to both the individual’s job description and to the school’s development plan. Targets should not cover the whole range of a deputy’s work, but should specify particular areas to be assessed for that year. Both parties should agree on the matters that are to have priority for the year. They should be relatively few, capable of being both achieved and assessed, and with clear criteria against which success can be measured.

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared