JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Head of Technology, Design, and Construction
REPORTS TO: Principal
The following are the key areas of responsibility of a Head of Department:
Strategic Direction and Development of the Subject
1. To support efficient and effective teaching and learning as a whole school strategy in order to contribute to whole school improvement and standards
2. To contribute to the self-evaluative and reflective school process including completing a departmental self- evaluation on a yearly basis as required by the Principal
3. To be responsible for devising, monitoring and evaluating appropriate department action plans to support the School Development Plan in achieving whole school improvement. This will involve establishing, with colleagues, agreed aims and objectives for the department which will be consistent with the aims and objectives of the school.
4. To analyse internal and external examination results, identify areas for development and report these annually to the Principal and Vice Principal and recommend to the department and Senior Team strategies for dealing with any areas for improvement and for promoting further the strengths of the department
5. To contribute to the target setting process with regard to Public Service Agreement and EA targets by establishing agreed and appropriate predicted grades/targets for pupils and staff both within the department and by regular discussion with the Vice Principals and Principal
6. To keep the Departmental Handbook under review and ensure that an up to date copy is available for all staff in the department as well as for senior staff at the start of each academic year
7. To communicate and cooperate with other departments, including the sharing good practice
8. To establish departmental policies in line with School Policies. To monitor the implementation of these policies and review them regularly
9. To monitor and review the appropriateness of the curriculum for each pupil and to ensure that there are strategies in place to provide additional support for pupils with special educational needs.
10. To ensure that a range of courses, suited to the needs of the pupils is offered and that the curriculum offer is reviewed regularly.
11. To draw up, with colleagues, schemes of work which make clear the content of the courses, the learning objectives and the assessment procedures to be followed.
12. To ensure that relevant schemes of work are reviewed annually, followed by all members of the department and made available to the Vice Principal (Curriculum)
13. To ensure that there is consistency and internal standardisation of key assessment tasks within the department
14. To prepare and circulate agendas for department meetings in conjunction with the Principal and Vice Principals.
15. To chair regular department meetings and to act as a channel of communication and consultation on department and curricular matters between the Principal and Leadership Team and other members of the department
16. To ensure that department meetings are accurately minuted and the Principal and your line manager is provided with minutes
17. To represent the department at Head of Department meetings and to provide feedback to department colleagues. HOD meetings will be twice termly and will be held for 1 hour outside of normal directed time.
18. To play a full part in decision making relating to whole school issues
19. To keep abreast of current developments in the curriculum and in examination specifications by attendance at relevant in-service courses, encouraging departmental colleagues to do likewise and to ensure that there is an efficient and agreed system of reporting back
20. To liaise and develop creative links and constructive working relationships with other subject departments and with other schools and external agencies as appropriate
21. To inform the school’s Examinations Officer of all entries (and any changes) for the public examinations in the subject(s)
22. To be a member of relevant ad hoc working parties in which whole school policy is developed, monitored and reviewed and guidelines for good practice are established
23. To develop effective links and constructive working relationships with the Pastoral team which includes the Vice Principal (Care and Support), SENCO and the Heads of Year
24. To ensure that relevant subject material is posted on the school’s website/VLE and any future ICT platforms
Teaching and Learning
25. To ensure curriculum delivery and that appropriate teaching and learning strategies are employed at all levels of the school to challenge all pupils to achieve as much as possible including appropriate levels of differentiation.
26. To lead colleagues in the process of regular evaluation of the work of the department in terms of teaching, learning and standards of achievement and thus identifying areas for improvement
27. To monitor pupil attainment, teaching standards and teaching methods within the department using all relevant pupil data available
28. To promote the skills of literacy, ICT and numeracy within the department in line with the whole school approach through close collaboration with the area coordinators.
29. To ensure and monitor in the department, effective development of pupils’ individual and collaborative skills to enable them to become independent, creative and critical thinkers
30. To ensure that subject specific support is available for any pupils requiring additional assistance and liaise when appropriate with SENCO or other key personnel
31. To advise pupils at certain times of option choices and at any other times when help is needed for university applications and/or careers guidance
32. To set standards and act as a role model for pupils and other staff in the teaching and learning of the subject
33. To ensure that assessment of pupils’ work (classwork, homework, coursework, tests, examinations) is undertaken regularly, that the assessment is valid, moderated and used to inform, develop and enhance teaching and learning in line with school policies
34. To be responsible for the oversight of setting, marking, assessing and moderating the department’s internal assessments and any elements of external examinations as may be necessary
35. To ensure that learning in the subject is enhanced where possible by development of extra-curricular activities, clubs, special events or projects connected with the work of the department including fieldtrips.
Leading and managing staff
36. To promote the professional development of staff within the department
37. Undertake appropriate professional development to develop personal effectiveness as a Head of department
38. To support effectively all those on Initial Teacher Training, working as a Beginning Teacher or at the Early Professional Development Stage of their career
39. To assume responsibility for the induction, supervision and support of ancillary staff where this is appropriate
40. To encourage innovative and imaginative curriculum work within the department
41. To oversee the writing of reports and other communications within the department, as appropriate and as required
42. To arrange the department contribution to any prospective pupil occasions eg Open Night, Devenish Day and contributions required for any school literature eg curriculum booklets and prospectus
43. To show support and concern for the welfare and wellbeing of staff in the department
44. To build and further develop the team of subject teachers
45. To observe, on a regular basis, members of the department at work in the classroom, to provide relevant feedback on effective practice and to take action to improve further the quality of teaching
46. To support members of the department with disciplinary problems eg general behavioural problems, work, homework, coursework
47. To monitor and evaluate devolved responsibilities and delegated tasks
48. To participate in, according to the guidelines approved by the Board of Governors, the agreed Professional Review and Staff Development process, including acting as a Reviewer, for members of the department
49. To encourage appropriate access for members of the department to in-service training opportunities both within school and outside school that will enhance teaching and learning and allow development of an increasing awareness of whole school issues and to ensure that all members of the department receive appropriate feedback from colleagues who have attended INSET
50. To work closely with other Heads of department to share good practice to improve the quality of teaching and learning and pupil outcomes.
51. To liaise with Principal and line manager as appropriate
Efficient and effective deployment of staff and resources
52. To advise the Principal on human resource needs in the department
53. To assist the Board of Governors in the selection of new members of staff for the department as required
54. To identify timetable and staffing requirements in consultation with the Vice Principal (Curriculum), to liaise with the Vice-Principal (Curriculum) and Principal to deploy staff to ensure the best use of subject expertise and to support the professional development of colleagues
55. To conduct an audit of resource needs within the context of the overall School Budget and the department’s Development Plan and present to the Principal annually an analysis of departmental needs
56. To ensure that rooms, furniture, equipment, wall displays etc are maintained to a high standard in order to create an effective and stimulating environment for the teaching and learning of the subject
57. To work with office and technician staff to keep an inventory of equipment which should be updated annually
58. To ensure that resources are stored securely
59. To ensure that the work of the department is effectively displayed in appropriate public areas of the school
60. To develop/implement a department Health and Safety policy consistent with the school Health and Safety policy which is kept under constant review. This is particularly relevant to those departments who have practical elements to their learning and teaching
61. To aim to ensure that there is a safe working and learning environment in which risks are properly assessed through a risk assessments developed in conjunction with the Vice Principal (Care and Support)
62. To provide careful stewardship of accommodation and equipment used by the departmentby ensuring prudent management and expenditure of resources at all times
Technology and Design Specific roles:
Develop links with other departments in school by taking a lead role in the organisation of STEAM activities and projects.
Ensure the implementation of appropriate health and safety procedures and risk assessments are carried out with specific reference to practical work, safe workshop practice and the handling of dangerous substances.
Assume a line manager responsibility for the work of the TD technician.
This job description is not prescriptive.It is subject to change as determined by the curricular needs of the school and/or requirements stipulated by the Principal.