Job Title
Head of Psychology
Reports to
Principal through the Vice Principal (Curriculum)
Professional Duties of a Teacher
General: To provide effective leadership and management and thereby continually enhance the high quality of learning, teaching and achievement within the Department.
Leadership
* To inspire by personal example and hard work.
* To lead and manage the Department, including teaching, non‑teaching and support staff, both in terms of deployment of staff and day‑to‑day support.
* To create a vision, sense of purpose and pride in the Department.
* To co‑ordinate the production and maintenance of the department handbook, and to implement, monitor and evaluate all of its policies and documentation.
* To lead and be responsible for the process of continuously monitoring, evaluating and improving the high quality of learning and teaching in the Department.
* To be responsible for maintaining discipline within the Department on a day‑to‑day basis when required.
* To play a major role as a middle manager in the development of all aspects of the School, including its policies and their implementation.
* To assist in the maintenance of good staff relations and ensure that adequate channels of communication are maintained.
* To develop and maintain effective methods of communication with the Principal, SLT, SMT, and other staff, pupils, parents, governors, external agencies and the wider community (including business and industry).
* To identify and applaud areas of success for individual teachers and the department as a whole.
* To promote Psychology within and beyond the school community.
* To help create an effective team by promoting collective approaches to problem‑solving and curricular/department development, e.g. consult when writing the Departmental Development Plan and produce resources as a team.
* To chair and produce the agenda for effective department meetings. To ensure minutes are made, kept secure and others informed as appropriate.
* To attend meetings of Heads of Department and represent the views of department colleagues at such meetings.
* To oversee the implementation of school assessment and target setting policies, and make effective use of data to monitor and evaluate the achievement of pupils in the department.
* To initiate/maintain/oversee the provision of co‑curricular and extra‑curricular activities relevant to the Department, e.g. the use of resources after school or during lunch‑breaks or a club etc.
Curricular/Departmental Development
* To contribute towards continuity and progression within the whole school curriculum.
* To oversee the creation of a Departmental Development Plan, together with its implementation and the part it plays in whole school development.
* To oversee the process of Departmental self‑evaluation, target setting and action planning.
* To oversee the development of comprehensive standardised departmental schemes of work which include a range of teaching and learning styles providing a rich and consistent experience for pupils, including the use of ICT, and to ensure that a variety of assessment methods are incorporated at key points to facilitate formative assessment and to enable accurate judgements on pupil progress.
* To develop departmental strategies for the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, including relevant aspects of Learning for Life and Work.
* To monitor and evaluate the learning and teaching within the Department and to take the initiative in identifying strategies to support consistency of practice and to be a lead practitioner in the department.
* To develop departmental strategies and procedures for learning and teaching including those related to the provision for pupils with special educational needs.
* Oversee the development and implementation of pupil voice practices within the Department and use feedback to inform learning and teaching strategies.
* To work with the LSC to ensure IEPs are used to set subject‑specific targets, and to match curricular materials and approaches to pupil needs.
* To co‑ordinate and organise appropriate visits/trips related to the Psychology curriculum.
* To ensure that appropriate internal examinations are set and marked.
* To ensure that Departmental pupil data is entered into the school system in accordance with tracking and reporting schedules and to monitor pupil data with a view to intervening and supporting pupils where required.
* To promote the subject, e.g. at Open Nights, in publications and online, and to provide pupils with information to help them make option choices.
Stock/Resources/Budget
* To oversee the allocation and management of resources within the Department.
* To maintain an inventory of all stock items and to oversee the annual stock audit.
* To carry out stock disposal in accordance with Department and School policies.
* To digitally store (locally and online) resources in such a way as to enable quick and easy access by all staff. To also store the necessary teaching documents for pupils locally and online for pupil access, in order to facilitate remote learning.
* Manage the department budget to provide for the needs of the pupils and provide value for money.
* To ensure that all equipment and accommodation used is kept in best condition.
Liaison/Communication
* To meet regularly and work with the SLT for professional support and to develop effective departmental leadership and management.
* To oversee and monitor the accuracy of predicted grades, exam entries and dates, and to work effectively with the Examinations Officer/Assistant Examinations Officer.
* To act as the initial person for others to contact regarding all issues relating to the subject.
* To liaise with members of the pastoral team regarding pupil progress/behaviour as required.
* To liaise with colleagues to provide a smooth transition between schools and phases for all pupils.
* To liaise with other curriculum coordinators in order to develop integrated schemes of work, e.g. Numeracy, Literacy, LSC, ICT, PD, and Learning for Life and Work.
* To liaise with and assist, where necessary, other departments in the development of cross‑curricular activities.
* To inform staff about new developments and ideas related to the teaching of the subject.
* To cooperate with the management of Health and Safety and the Inspection process.
* To manage the provision of information to parent/carers and other staff about curricular choices, and choice of teaching groups for individual pupils and groups of pupils.
* To provide timely, accurate and helpful responses to parent/carer enquiries.
* To manage the Department’s contribution to the school prospectus, magazine, newsletter, website, social media platforms and any other relevant media.
* To liaise with relevant external agencies.
Professional Development and Support
* To provide or organise in‑service training for the department staff (teaching, non‑teaching and support staff) as appropriate.
* To have day‑to‑day responsibility for the monitoring, support and assessment of trainee and newly qualified teachers.
* To assist in the short‑listing and interviewing of new members of the department.
* To be responsible for the induction of staff new to the Department and to organise and direct PGCE/placement students when required to support the school.
* To advise the appropriate staff on the allocation of classes within the timetable.
* To assist staff (teaching and support) who may experience behaviour management problems with pupils, and to be available to provide support on a daily basis.
* To identify development opportunities for staff within the Department and through external agencies or courses.
* To maintain a high level of awareness on current initiatives within the subject area and to disseminate relevant information.
* To delegate tasks in a way that maximises the use of available talent, experience and enthusiasm and provides development opportunities for all staff.
* To use the Performance Review Staff Development cycle to assist in enhancing the professional practice and aspirations of colleagues.
* To be concerned for the personal and professional welfare of all teaching staff in the department.
* To keep personally up‑to‑date with developments and new ideas related to subject knowledge and teaching and learning within the Department.
To undertake any other duties that might reasonably be expected of a Head of Department, as directed by the Principal.
Section 2 – Head of Department Duties Specific to Psychology
* To provide additional support to pupils applying to universities when appropriate (e.g. Oxbridge applications for PPE).
* To ensure that the effective running of the Psychology Club.
Points to Note
* No job description can ever fully encompass the complexities of any post, and it is expected that the post‑holder will be adaptable and proactive in his/her role.
* This job description may be reviewed and amended in the light of the developing needs of the school. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of the school in relation to the post‑holder’s professional responsibilities and duties.
* Teaching Staff who accumulate 4 Teaching Allowances are members of the Senior Management Team.
* Exercise of general professional duties.
Essential Criteria
* Qualifications / Professional Membership:
o Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant‑aided schools in Northern Ireland by the date of taking up duty.
o Hold a degree or equivalent Level 6 qualification or teaching qualification which has prepared the applicant to teach Psychology as his/her main subject by the date of taking up duty.
* Experience:
o Demonstrable experience of teaching Psychology to A‑Level within the last five years in a post‑primary school.
o Demonstrable experience of setting targets, evaluating pupils’ progress, and reporting on pupils’ progress so as to effect improvement.
o Demonstrable knowledge of subject‑specific teaching approaches.
o Demonstrable well‑developed and effective planning and organisational skills in the areas of time management, chairing meetings, managing resources, communication skills, and promoting a stimulating learning environment.
* Other:
o Be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up post.
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