Job Description
Deputy Head of Secondary
Organizational Relationships:
Reporting to: Head of Secondary School
Corresponds with: Staff, Students, Parents
Supervises: (As per approved Organization Chart)
Teaching Load
As per the Academy Timetable. (Up to 10 out of 31 periods)
Main Purposes
The role entails:
- Leadership and Management of both Academic and Pastoral matters.
- Maintaining a high profile throughout the community.
- Fostering key strategies and strong relationships to promote excellence in the quality of education provided.
- Working with the Head of Secondary, staff and Ta’allum Governing Authority to sustain and enhance the standing of the school.
The Deputy Head will:
- Assist the Head of School in managing the school.
- Undertake the professional duties of the Head of School during his/her absence.
- Be a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
- Undertake the normal responsibilities of the class teacher as required.
- Maintain and develop the ethos, values and overall purposes of the school and the Ta’allum Group
- Promote a positive and professional image of the school at all times.
- Develop and improve the quality of education offered to the pupils in the school through the promotion of the highest possible standards of education, equality of opportunity, and an environment conducive to excellence in learning and teaching.
- Ensure the school plays a constructive role in the life of the community.
- Take a lead in the efficient organization, management and supervision of school routines
- Play a major role under the overall direction of the Head of School in formulating and reviewing the Improvement Plan, aims and objectives of the school by:
Establishing and embedding the policies to support the improvement.
Managing staff and resources to that end.
Monitoring progress towards their achievement.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The role of the Deputy Head will encompass both Academic and Pastoral responsibilities in the areas below. However, the specific nature and balance of these responsibilities will vary according to the postholder’s strengths and how these complement the Senior Leadership Team overall.
1. Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The Deputy Head is responsible for ensuring that Teaching, Learning and Assessment at the Academy are of the highest possible quality within a culture of continuing professional development and self‐review.
The Deputy Head will:
- Ensure the learning and teaching provided by different departments and teaching teams form a coordinated, coherent curriculum entitlement for individual students.
- Take responsibility for developing the quality and relevance of the curriculum in the school.
- Work with the relevant Head(s) of School to maintain and raise academic standards through effective tracking and intervention.
- Ensure that information on pupil progress is utilised to improve teaching and learning, to inform and motivate pupils, to inform parents, to provide necessary references for other educational institutions and employers, and to aid the Ta’allum Governing Authority in their future guidance for the school.
- Take a lead on Secondary Quality Assurance through regular monitoring, work scrutiny, formal and informal lesson observations, in line with school and Ta’allum procedures.
- Review departmental and school examination results and subject development plans in liaison with the Head of Secondary,
- Chair the Heads of Department and any other relevant meeting or committee designed to improve the quality of the curriculum, assessment and teaching and learning.
- Line manage Heads of Department, Head of Learning Support and Pastoral Leaders as designated by the Head of School.
- Ensure that teaching staff are aware of new developments in teaching and learning, pedagogical approaches and strategies.
- Promote and advocate the use of IT to enhance teaching and learning across the curriculum.
- Maintain an up‐to‐date knowledge and understanding of current legislation, examination specifications and classroom best practice in order to advise the Head of Secondary, SLT and relevant committees on the school’s academic policies and procedures.
- Oversee the work of Learning Support, EAL departments and G&T Coordinators to ensure effective measures are in place to meet individual students’ learning needs.
- Ensure department handbooks, schemes of work and development plans are reviewed and updated.
- With the Assessment Coordinator, oversee, monitor and review the school’s assessment, recording and reporting procedures.
- Work closely with Deputy Head of Primary to promote effective Pastoral academic and curriculum links between Primary and Secondary Schools.
2. Pastoral Care
- Address the concerns of parents and colleagues regarding the students’ welfare.
- Be responsible for pupil discipline in support of all School staff.
- Chair the Year Leader and any other relevant meeting or committee designed to improve the quality of Pastoral Care
- Organise, implement and monitor the Tutor system in school, including the implementation of a coordinated Values oriented programme, suitable records, meetings conducted, and information shared.
- Ensure supportive and effective induction of new pupils.
- Maintain an overview of Pupil Rewards and Sanctions on SIMS, coordinating detentions and awards.
- Be a visible presence at the start and end of the day, communicating with parents, welcoming students to School, ensuring their safety during the day and at the end of the day.
- Devise the assembly Rota with members of SLT.
- Introduce any initiatives to help prevent bullying at the Academy and co-ordinate arrangements for Anti-Bullying
3. Management of Staff
- Assist the Head of Secondary in the recruitment and appointment of staff.
- Be responsible for coaching programmes, Professional Development Reviews (PDP) and Performance Management.
- Monitor records of staff absences including illness and attendance on training courses.
- Communicate with new staff, ahead of their arrival, on all academic and pastoral aspects of their role.
- Assist with the organisation and planning of the August induction period.
- Assess CPD needs; plan and secure a high quality CPD programme, as identified by the School Improvement plan. Review the impact of CPD on pupil outcomes.
- Support the Head of Secondary with training of NQT’s, teacher training and Secondary work experience placements.
4. Professional Relationship
- Ensure effective liaison and co-operation with Ta’allum Governing Authority officers and support services.
- Help in maintaining and developing effective communications and links with parents and provide positive responses to concerns and problems regarding their children’s education.
- Assist liaison with other educational establishments and organisations in order to promote the continuity of learning, progression of achievement and curriculum development.
- Assist liaison with other professional bodies, agencies and services.
- Develop and maintain positive links and relationships with the community, local organisations, higher education providers and employers.
- Ensure that the school plays a constructive role in the life of the community and that its curriculum draws on the nature and resources of that community.
5. Management of Resources
- Allocate, control and account for those financial and material resources of the school which are delegated by the Head of School.
- Promote an attractive environment which stimulates learning and enhances the appearance of the school.
- Contribute to arrangements for the security and effective supervision of the school buildings, their contents and grounds, including aspects of health and safety.
- Maintain effective working relationships with external agencies and services contracted to the school and the Ta’allum Governing Authority.
6 Safeguarding
- Commit to applying rigour in safeguarding via procedural implementation.
- Promote the continued welfare of children and young people as required by Ta’allum Group Policies and Ministry of Education laws and the expectation of all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
- Undertake the role of Designated Safeguarding Officer and carrying out associated responsibilities.
Qualifications:
Educational Qualification:
B Ed Degree of BA Degree in Education with PGCE
Number of years of Experience:
Minimum of Three years as an Assistant Head or other Senior Leadeship poisition in Secondary school at a International School(s) or in the UK and Five additional years’ experience as Secondary Teacher or Head of Subject.
Certification:
Teaching License from one of the following Countries : (UK, US, CA, AU, NZ, ZA and Scandinavian countries).
Area of expériences required:
- Experience teaching the National Curriculum for England in the UK or an international setting
- A thorough knowledge and experience of working with British Curriculum as well as familiarity with all other key aspects of UK education
- Respect for Islamic religion, Arabic and Qatari traditions, all members of school community, irrespective of position, gender, age and ethnic background.
Competency requirements:
The Ability to:
- Embed successful change across the school and evaluate outcomes.
- Inspire, motivate and empower teams and individuals to achieve high goals.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment along with personal and professional integrity, including modelling values and vision.
- Prioritize, plan and organize self and others.
- Think analytically and creatively in order to solve problems.
- Be aware of own strengths and weaknesses and respond constructively to feedback.
- Show a capacity for sustained hard work, energy, vigor, resilience and optimism.
Children Safeguarding and Welfare
Ta’allum Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and has zero tolerance to any divergence from Children Safeguarding and Welfare. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers, prohibition from teaching and the Disclosure & Barring Service.
The post holder is required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people at all times.
All successful applicants will be required to provide criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before employment is confirmed. Candidates from outside the authority of the DBS will be required to provide an approved Certificate from the similar authority in the Country in which he/she is currently residing.
With Ta’allum Group’s commitment to Child Protection, Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, all staff and volunteers are required to share this commitment.
The following duties are expected of all staff:
- comply with child protection & safeguarding, discipline and health and safety policies and procedures
- promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible for and come into contact with
- ensure full compliance with all Ta’allum Group Policies, statutory regulations, communicating concerns to the line manager and other staff of Group as appropriate.
Confidentiality
The nature of responsibility means that during the course of employment you will see or have access to information of a confidential nature relating to the work of the school or the health or personal affairs of students, parents and staff.Such information should never be divulged to any unauthorized person or organization.
The post holder hereby undertakes and agrees to the Confidentiality Agreement/Policy of Ta’allum Group as stipulated in the HR Staff Handbook.
Additional Information
Education is an ever-changing service. All staff are expected to participate constructively in schools’ activities adopting a flexible approach to their work. The post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary.
This job description will be reviewed from time to time and, where possible, will be varied in the light of the business needs of Ta’allum Group. The job description sets out the main duties of the post. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and do not of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.
The job description allocates duties and responsibilities but does not direct the amount of time to be spent on carrying them out and no part of it may be so construed.
This job description shall be discussed with the relevant employee and he/she should be made aware of his authorities, responsibilities and roles in support of company’s objectives and the competency requirements. An uncontrolled copy of relevant job descriptions can be distributed to employee and modifications made should be communicated to him. This Job Description is made in 2 Copies. 1 copy should be kept in employee file in the HR Dept. and 1 copy handed to the employee.
This job description forms part of the contract of employment of the person appointed to the post. It reflects the position at the present time only and may be reviewed in negotiation with the employee in the future. The appointment is subject to the current Ta’allum conditions of employment.
