Post Primary Vice‑Principal – Person Specification
Applicants must at the closing date for applications: Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant‑aided schools in Northern Ireland.
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant‑aided schools in Northern Ireland.
Experience
Essential
- Have a minimum of 8 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 13 years.
Desirable
- Have a minimum of 3 years current position AND within last 8 years a post with experience of strategic leadership or co‑ordination of a whole school area at a minimum level of 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 (promoted posts may be in an acting capacity).
- Evidence of how your leadership has led to whole‑school improvement.
- Evidence of involvement in strategic planning.
- Experience of timetabling.
- Experience of leading staff development in learning and teaching.
- Experience of curriculum development at a whole‑school level within an area learning community.
- Experience of training and practice of coaching staff.
- Experience of financial and/or budgetary management within school/s.
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.
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.
Professional Duties of a Vice‑Principal
- Formulating the aims and objectives of the school.
- Establishing the policies through which they will be achieved.
- Managing staff and resources to that end.
- Monitoring progress towards their achievement.
- Undertaking any professional duties of the principal delegated to him/her by the principal.
- Undertaking to the extent required by the principal or the relevant body or employing authority the professional duties of the principal in the event of his/her absence from the school.
- Entitlement to a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2 pm.
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. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
The Board of Governors reserves the right to enhance the essential criteria if necessary in order to facilitate a manageable shortlist.
Applicants must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) upon taking up employment.
In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. You will be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.
The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
All candidates are protected by equality legislation and the same rights apply to all applicants.
