Head of Business Studies

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Head of Business Studies

Responsible To: Board of Governors through the Headmaster

Reports To: Vice Principal with overall responsibility for Learning & Teaching

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A TEACHER

TEACHERS’ (TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT) REGULATIONS 

(NORTHERN IRELAND) 1987

Schedule 3

Regulation 5

The Board of Governors wishes to appoint a full-time permanent teacher as Head of Business Studies effective from 1 September 2024.

The current staffing complement in the Department is two full-time members of staff.There is a strong tradition of high quality teaching in the Department, with excellent external examination results obtained at GCSE, AS and A2 levels.The person appointed will be expected to demonstrate high quality teaching at all key stages, and have outstanding leadership, administrative and interpersonal skills.Full competence in ICT is necessary.

The role of Head of Department is critical in driving improvement and ensuring high standards of pupil achievement. Successful Heads of Department achieve two important goals. They develop conditions that are highly conducive to student learning and they create a culture of learning among the staff that supports creativity, change and improvement.

Duties/Responsibilities

The person appointed will be responsible to the Headmaster, for the quality of teaching and learning delivered to pupils in Business Studies throughout the School.He/She will be required to deliver the approved specifications and programmes of study and keep abreast of revisions and developments in the subject.

Under the direction of the Headmaster and, where appropriate, Dr Larmour (Vice Principal), the member of staff fulfilling this role will have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Curriculum

(a)To lead the delivery of the curriculum within the department.

(b)To keep departmental staff informed of new developments in the subject areas.

(c)To review regularly the department’s programmes of study and teaching methods and oversee the introduction of appropriate changes.

(d)To maintain up-to-date Departmental Handbooks, course specifications, schemes of work and other necessary resources used by the department.

(e)To co-ordinate arrangements for appropriate assessment of pupils, including coursework/controlled assessments and school examinations.

(f)To ensure that appropriate work is provided for classes when normal teaching staff are not available.

(g)To prepare a Departmental Report & Departmental Development Plan (including action plans) annually for the Headmaster.

(h)To develop appropriate strategies for Literacy, Numeracy and Key Skills.

(i)To oversee the review, development and delivery of effective teaching methods/practices on an ongoing basis.

(j)To liaise with Dr Larmour (Vice Principal) regarding the requirements of the Northern Ireland (Revised) Curriculum and Entitlement Framework.

2. Pupils

(a)To place a strong emphasis on pupil achievement.

(b)To maintain high expectations and to ensure that these are clearly communicated and understood.

(c)To maintain a genuine focus on the individual, promoting a caring ethos within the department.

(d)To monitor pupil progress using a range of data on an ongoing basis, identifying underachievement and ensuring that appropriate strategies are employed to bring about improvement where necessary.

(e)To ensure that pupils are as far as possible placed in appropriate courses and groups.

(f)To deal in the first instance with disciplinary matters which arise within the department.

(g)To liaise with tutors, careers staff etc to provide appropriate advice and guidance for pupils.

(h)To encourage pupils to become involved in extra-curricular activities related to the work of the department.

(i)To encourage pupils to use the School Library and ICT for subject/examination research.

(j)To show concern for pupils and the relationships which exist between them.

(k)To encourage pupils to take an interest in and responsibility for their subject learning, departmental facilities and overall school environment.

(l)To be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the performance of pupils within their subject area(s).

(m)To liaise with Departmental staff to ensure that all pupils have equal opportunities in relation to their educational experiences.

(n)To ensure that the Departmental homework policy is reviewed periodically and adhered to.

(o)To ensure that an effective system of rewards and referrals operates.

(p)To work with Departmental staff to implement an effective system of recording and reporting pupils’ achievements.

(q)To attend meetings of consultation in relation to pupils.

3. Staffing

(a)To undertake a role as the leader in the department, building an innovative and forward looking team with a focus on pupils’ learning and achievement.

(b)To lead by example, developing and maintaining a culture of trust in which good practice is shared.

(c)To set and maintain high expectations for staff and to ensure that these are clearly communicated.

(d)To monitor and maintain standards of teaching and learning within the department on an ongoing basis.

(e)To establish clearly, after discussion with departmental staff the aims, objectives and protocols of the department and to review them periodically.

(f)To co-ordinate the work of the teaching staff in the department.

(g)To promote, build and maintain positive relationships with Departmental colleagues.

(h)To assist in the appointment of new staff and make recommendations to the Headmaster on departmental needs and personal requirements.

(i)To supervise and support departmental teaching staff, including student teachers.

(j)To encourage the professional development of departmental staff, by appropriate allocation of teaching and other duties within the department and by recommending suitable INSET courses, ensuring that CPD is classroom focused and in line with the overall aims of the School and Departmental Development Plans.

(k)Where appropriate, to assist in the appointment, deployment and supervision of ancillary staff.

4. Resources

(a)To be responsible for the management of all resources within the department.

(b)To monitor and advise on the use and care of rooms allocated to the department.

(c)To oversee the use and care of equipment and materials allocated to the department and to advise on the acquisition of alternative and additional resources.

(d)To deploy teaching resources and materials at appropriate levels for the range of classes in Junior, Middle and Senior School.

5. Communication

(a)To meet regularly with departmental staff – formally and informally – to promote discussion and establish consensus on major features of departmental policy.

(b)To ensure that teaching and learning is a regular theme for discussion at departmental meetings.

(c)To ensure that the minutes of departmental meetings are communicated to the Headmaster.

(d)To represent agreed departmental policy at Heads of Departments Meetings, Parents’ Meetings etc and in discussion with the Headmaster and Vice Principal.

(e)To liaise closely with other departments on areas of common or complementary interest eg, Revised Curriculum.

(f)To liaise with Dr Larmour (Vice Principal) and the Timetabler in the preparation of the timetable.

(g)To make arrangements for suitable departmental presentation at P7 Transfer Evening.

6. Other

(a)To employ effective self-evaluation as a means of achieving high standards within the department.

(b)To plan strategically on the basis of current developments in education.

(c)To be meticulous and detailed in their planning.

1) Exercise of general professional duties

A teacher who is not a principal shall carry out the professional duties of a teacher as circumstances may require:- 

(a) if he/she is employed as a teacher in a school under the reasonable direction of the principal of that school;

(b) if he/she is employed by a board on terms under which he is not assigned to any one school, under the reasonable direction of that board and of the principal of any school

in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher.

2) Exercise of particular duties

(a) A teacher employed as a teacher (other than a principal) in a school shall perform, in accordance with any directions which may be reasonably given to him/her by the principal

from time to time, such particular duties as may reasonably be assigned to him/her.

(b) A teacher to whom paragraph 1(b) refers shall perform, in accordance with any direction which may reasonably be given to him/her from time to time by the board or by the

principal of any school in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher, such particular duties as may reasonably be assigned to him/her.

1. Planning 

1.1 Planning and preparing courses and lessons; 

1.2 Teaching, according to their educational needs, the pupils assigned to him/her, including the setting and marking of work to be carried out by the pupils in school and

elsewhere; 

1.3 Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils. 

2. General 

2.1 Promoting the general progress and well-being of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned to him/her; 

2.2 Providing advice and guidance to pupils on educational and social matters and on their further education and future careers including information about sources of more

expert advice on specific questions, making relevant records and reports; 

2.3 Making records of and reports on the personal and social needs of pupils except in instances where to do so might be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position; 

2.4 Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils; 

2.5 Communicating and co-operating with such persons or bodies outside the school as may be approved by the employing authority and the Board of Governors; 

2.6 Participating in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above. 

3. Assessment/Reporting 

Providing or contributing to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils except in instances where to do so might

be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position. 

4. Staff Development/Professional Development 

4.1 Participating, if required, in any scheme of staff development and performance review; 

4.2

a) Reviewing from time to time his/her methods of teaching and programmes of work; 

b) Participating in arrangements for his/her further training and professional development as a teacher. 

4.3 Advising and co-operating with the Principal and other teachers (or any one or more of them) on the preparation and development of courses of study, teaching materials,

teaching programmes, methods of teaching and assessment and pastoral arrangements.

5. Discipline/Health and Safety 

5.1 Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils in accordance with the policies of the employing authority and safeguarding their health and safety both when they are

authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere. 

5.2 Participating in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school or the administration or organisation of the school, including pastoral arrangements. 

6. Public Examinations 

Participating in arrangements for preparing pupils for public examinations and in assessing pupils for the purposes of such examinations; recording and reporting such assessments;

and participating in arrangements for pupils’ presentation for and supervision during such examination. 

7. Review and Development of Management Activities/Administration 

7.1 

a) Contributing to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers, including the induction and assessment of probationary teachers; 

b) Co-ordinating or managing the work of other teachers; 

c) Taking such part as may be required of him/her in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school. 

7.2 

a) Participating in administrative and organisational tasks related to such duties as described above, including the management or supervision of persons providing support for the

teachers in the school and the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials. 

b) Subject to the provisions of Article 22 of the Order, attending assemblies; 

c) Registering the attendance of pupils and supervising pupils, whether these duties are to be performed before, during or after school sessions. 

8. Number of days/Hours of work 

8.1

a) A full-time teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available for work on 195 days in any year of which not more than 190 days

should involve teaching children in a classroom situation; 

b) A teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available to perform such duties at such times and such places as may reasonably be

specified by the Principal, or where he/she is employed by a Board on terms under which he/she is not assigned to any one school by the Board or the Principal of any school

in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher, for 1,265 hours in any year exclusive of time spent off school premises in preparing and marking lessons

and time spent travelling to and from the place of work; 

c) A teacher may not be required to teach as distinct from supervise children in a classroom situation for more than 25 hours in any week in a primary or special school and 23.5

hours in any week in a secondary school; 

d) Unless employed under a separate contract as a mid-day supervisor, a teacher shall not be required to undertake mid-day supervision;

e) Subject to paragraph (f) all teachers shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.00 pm;

f) Teachers in nursery schools and nursery units in primary schools shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.30 pm;

g) For the purposes of this paragraph, a ‘year’ means a period of 12 months commencing on 31st July and a ‘week’ means a period of 7 days commencing on a Sunday.

9. Staff cover 

9.1 Supervising and teaching any pupils whose teacher is not available provided that: 

a) In schools with an average daily enrolment of 222 or less, in primary 1 and primary 2 classes in schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils and in nursery

classes in primary schools a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover:

b) In schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover after the second day on

which a teacher, other than a teacher of primary 1 or primary 2 class or of a nursery class in a primary school, is absent or otherwise not available, or from the first day if the fact

that the teacher would be absent or otherwise not available for a period exceeding 2 days was known to and agreed by the employing authority in advance.