JOB DESCRIPTION
VICE PRINCIPAL
Curriculum, Learning & Teaching and Standards
(Full Time Permanent from 1st September 2026)
This vacancy arises as a result of Dr Larmour’s retirement after 25 years of exceptional service to the School.
The School
Glenlola Collegiate is a successful and dynamic grammar school for girls set in the heart of Bangor, serving all of the North Down community as well as the wider Ards and North Down area. As a school we focus all our efforts on being child centred and we have high expectations for each and every one of the pupils in our care.
We believe that every girl has her own potential and our teachers and staff strive to help each individual to discover and develop these talents to the fullest extent.
We take immense pride in our grammar school environment which nurtures strong academic achievements and offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities tailored to meet the needs of our pupils.
We have a strong tradition of House Events which help to encourage participation across all age groups and nurture the positive values of the School.
We are proud to note that our pupils regularly outperform girls of the same ability in other schools in both GCSE and A-level examinations. This success is a result of the strong and supportive relationships which are fostered between pupils and staff and which form such an important part of the Glenlola Collegiate ethos.
Both current Vice Principals will retire on 31st August 2026, so this vacancy is one of two being advertised. The Headmaster Mr WE Thompson will remain in post for the autumn term of the 2026-27 school year in order to help the newly appointed Vice Principals establish themselves and he will then retire.
The Position
The post of Vice Principal is the second most senior position in the School after that of the Principal. The postholder will drive and shape a range of specific and whole-school areas of provision which will impact both directly and indirectly on the successful and effective running of the School. The appointee will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team and will be expected to contribute fully to the leadership of the staff and pupils and to school life in general.
The Board of Governors seeks to appoint a person of character, vision and leadership ability who can maintain and develop further the School’s ethos, high standards of strong academic achievement and extensive extra-curricular provision with energy and integrity.
The successful candidate will be responsible to the Principal and will be required to deputise for them when necessary.
In addition to a reduced teaching commitment (approximately 33% class contact time) and membership of the School Leadership Team, the Vice Principal’s duties are detailed below. The successful candidate will be responsible for all duties listed below:
1. Deputising for the Principal as required.
2. Leading by example in all areas of school life and work, exemplifying the values of the School.
3. Assisting the Principal in the promotion of positive behaviour and assertive discipline.
4. Leading/overseeing Learning, Teaching and Assessment, literacy & numeracy.
5. Line managing the Teacher Tutor for beginning teachers/EPD.
6. Line managing the Head of Careers.
7. Line managing the teacher in charge of Digital learning.
8. Line management of Senior Teacher 2.
9. Line management of the timetabler and duty/cover teacher.
10. Line management of all Heads of Department.
11. Line management Head of Senior School.
12. Leading/overseeing Extra-Curricular activities.
13. Relevant School administration.
14. Relevant management, and organisation.
15. School Development Planning.
16. School and Self Evaluation including relevant data analysis and target setting.
17. Staff Development (CPD).
18. Curriculum planning, development and delivery.
19. Benchmarking and target setting.
20. PRSD.
21. Quality assurance of provision and outcomes.
22. Staff welfare.
23. Undertaking such other duties as the Principal may require.
Following appointment, this job description may be amended at any time after discussion with the Principal.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
In their application and at interview, the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge, skills and experience associated with the following key areas:
Shaping the Future
* Keeping abreast of and anticipate educational trends;
* Thinking strategically to build and communicate a shared coherent vision;
* Creating an ethos and providing direction, which promotes a culture of high expectation, successful learning and achievement;
* Inspiring, challenging, motivating and empowering others to carry the vision and ethos forward;
* Modelling/exemplifying the values and ethos of the School.
Leading and Managing Staff
* Providing high quality leadership to secure improvement;
* Collaborating and networking with others within and beyond the school;
* Fostering a culture of shared/ distributed leadership;
* Developing, empowering and sustaining individuals and teams;
* Supporting the development of an open, fair, equitable culture and managing conflict effectively;
* Supporting and challenging performance in order to raise standards;
* Working with others to lead professional development for all staff within the context of the school’s development plan in order to support effective teaching and learning.
Leading Learning and Teaching
* Cultivating enthusiasm for and commitment to the learning process.
* Leading and managing the development of an effective learning and teaching culture.
* Leading and managing the self-evaluation process; working with staff and others to analyse a range of data, interpret outcomes and plan for improvement.
* Ensuring effective implementation of the NI Curriculum, sharing good practice and working with others to challenge and address pupil under-achievement.
Developing the School in the Community
* Leading and managing the development and promotion of a positive image of the school within the local community and beyond;
* Developing and maintaining strong and effective relationships with parents and the local and wider community;
* Ensuring effective channels of communication are in place between the school and the local and wider community;
* Listening to, reflect and act on community feedback;
* Recognising and leading others to ensure that strategic planning takes account of the richness and diversity of the school’s communities and community feedback;
* Working closely with other relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to enhance the education of all pupils.
Managing the Organisation
* Prioritising, planning and organising themselves and others;
* Thinking creatively to anticipate and solve problems;
* Making sound decisions based on a range of informed judgments;
* Establishing and maintaining appropriate structures and systems;
* Leading and managing the development and implementation of the School Development Plan;
* Delegating tasks and monitor their implementation;
* Managing resources efficiently and effectively: human, physical and financial.
Ensuring Accountability
* Creating and developing a culture in which all Governors and staff recognise that they are accountable for the success of the school;
* Combining the outcomes of regular self-evaluation, ETI inspection evidence and other external evaluations in order to develop the school;
* Leading and managing the process of monitoring and evaluating effectively school outcomes, policies and procedures;
* Working with the leadership team and others to recognise and disseminate effective practice and challenge and address unacceptable performance;
* Working closely with and provide effective reports to Governors on the school’s progress and development.
Conditions of Service
The conditions of service for this post will be in accordance with the Regulations of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
Essential Qualifications
* Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
Essential Experience
* A minimum of 5 years post qualification teaching experience in post primary education, and/or equivalent experience in an affiliated educational body working in an area that relates to the post primary sector, within the last 10 years;
* Currently hold or have held for a minimum of 2 years AND within the last 8 years: A post with experience of strategic leadership or co-ordination of a whole school area at a minimum level of Head of Key Stage/Head of Department/SMT/SLT to include monitoring and evaluation resulting in measurable school improvement; and/or A post of Principal or Vice-Principal; and/or A post with leadership and management experience within an affiliated body;
Essential Knowledge
* The Northern Ireland Post Primary Curriculum and current policies and procedures;
* Current educational developments and the ability to evaluate and respond to new educational challenges and manage change effectively;
* Effective classroom pedagogy and how to ensure high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school;
* Effective data management;
* Effective organisational management including the appropriate deployment of resources.
Essential Skills
* Lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others;
* Create an ethos and articulate vision for the future of the school;
* Develop good relationships at all levels and promote a collaborative and team approach among staff, pupils, parents and governors;
* Lead strategically and develop self and others in order to achieve outcomes;
* Promote, achieve, monitor and evaluate high standards of teaching, learning and achievement throughout the school;
* Develop effective partnerships between the school and the local community;
* Communicate effectively orally and in writing;
* Organise and prioritise workload effectively;
* Deal with staffing matters in accordance with EA policies and procedures;
* Manage time effectively.
Personal Qualities
* Vision;
* A sound value system;
* Enthusiasm and motivation;
* Assertiveness and confidence;
* A caring child centred approach;
* Integrity;
* Advocacy and empathy;
* Discretion;
* An ability to cope under pressure;
* Tact and diplomacy;
* Decisiveness;
* Adaptability.
The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer
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