Co-Head of Division

The job description is not exhaustive and the Division Heads may be asked by the Co-Principals to undertake reasonable extra roles not described in this job description.

The role of the Co-Head of Division is both academic and pastoral and the term of office is ideally a commitment of two years from the beginning of the academic year. Renewal interviews will take place every two years to which existing Heads of Division and prospective applicants can apply.

There are two Co-Heads in each Division (ECE, Primary, Secondary, and Senior Studies) and effective and equal work division will be jointly planned with post-holders. In terms efficiency, for Secondary and Senior Studies then certain roles are best performed by one person in respect of the Secondary/Senior Studies team. Examples include setting cover for absent colleagues, creation and monitoring of a professional development calendar so that on most days, then no more than two members of staff are absent on one day. Each Co-Head of Division will take responsibility for one area on behalf of the team.

Academic

1. Administration

(a) Create and maintain an effective administrative system for handling all aspects of the Co-Head of Division’s brief.

(b) Have, or be able to develop a full working knowledge of the school management information systems platform (MIS) including PowerSchool, GMIS etc and develop the use of the MIS in order to streamline administrative processes at the school and communicate such changes to staff (practical applications) making best use of the MIS.

(c) Organise routine and emergency cover arrangements and ensure the quality of the cover teacher.

(d) Contribute to the formation of the School calendar by SLT

2. Curriculum policy, planning and development

(a) Contribute to a clear policy for curricular provision within the Division, ensuring that this is coherent and consistent with school policy.

(b) Take overall responsibility for the quality of teaching and curriculum implementation in the respective division as part of the school development plan, liaising as appropriate with SLT and Faculty leaders.

(c) Convene, and chair, regular meetings e.g. Faculty for the purpose of developing the curriculum and disseminating and discussing curricular issues.

(d) Liaise with the ECA coordinator with regard to cross/ co-curricular/ ECA initiatives with their respective Division

(e) Monitor and track the use of ICT within Departments and encourage the development of initiatives which promote the educational use of interactive technology

(f) Advise staff regarding changes and developments in the wider education sphere that relate to the curriculum e.g. changes to structures of IGCSE or A-level, ECE, Primary etc. as appropriate.

(g) Develop programme for students left at school for trips such as CCP, WCP and KH.

3. Curriculum delivery, assessment, standards and monitoring

(a) Monitor the work of Heads of Faculty and individual staff in ensuring that the curriculum is delivered effectively to all students and take or advise the SLT, on taking appropriate corrective action when necessary. Act as a professional mentor where necessary.

(b) Monitor and evaluate standards through assessment result analysis and by tracking individual and cohort progress and establish an overall view of the academic profile of the Division, its students, both individually and collectively. Rigorously check that all teachers in their Division are updating Gradebook on a weekly basis with assessment data and that there are no significant discrepancies between class groups in the same Grade level nor between teachers teaching the same subject. Check that there is the required frequency and diversity of formative assessments in each subject area. Consistency and rigour are essential in maintaining excellent assessment information on student progress which could be communicated to parents on a monthly basis. Co-Heads of Division are expected to address any significant discrepancy with the Faculty leader in the first place, and then directly should no significant improvement be made by a member of staff. SLT should be alerted of any specific issues and details of any follow-up actions.

(c) To produce reports for the SLT regarding the analysis of school data: exam performance (IGCSE & A-level); student referenced analysis; student target setting based upon ALIS (A-level) and CEM; relative progress and performance for different groups of students e.g. G&T, EAL and SEN. To advise the teaching staff of the process and outcomes of data analyses.

(d) Coordinate the provision to the SLT of information relating to classroom teaching issues.

(e) Implement the school’s policy for the recording and reporting of student progress, based on regular assessments and reports.

(f) Regularly sample student work and conduct student surveys in order to monitor the performance of individual colleagues and Departments as part of a ‘work scrutiny’ programme. Scrutinize the quality of marking/ feedback in the Division.

(g) Optimise the provision for Gifted and Talented children.

(h) Publish setting arrangements to parents and staff as required.

(i) Organisation of all testing arrangements e.g. CEM, WIDA as appropriate

(j) Ensure the successful implementation of subject policies and schemes of work.

4. Academic liaison

(a) To liaise with the Examinations Officer regarding the organisation of internal and external examinations. Co-ordinate and resource school exams (including the checking of the quality/level of challenge/appropriateness of exams papers) of and produce exam timetables and invigilation rotas.

(b) Liaise with the Learning Development Department to optimise provision for children with additional educational needs and to inform of any curricular changes.

(c) Establish effective communication with external agencies providing information and support in relation to the curriculum including CIS and External examining bodies

(d) Obtain, and disseminate to the appropriate staff, curriculum-related material from the above and other external agencies.

5. Staff Appraisal and Development

(a) With an SLT member, coordinate the identification of staff professional development needs and seek to coordinate appropriate training maintaining a log of professional development activities.

(b) With the SLT implement an annual appraisal procedure for reviewing the performance of academic staff, with appropriate target setting and monitoring of progress.

6. Homework

(a) Produce an annual homework timetable, in keeping with school policy.

(b) In conjunction with Heads of Faculty, monitor the setting and effective management and level of challenge of homework.

(c) Conduct regular audits of homework quality, checking marks on a regular basis and follow up the students who fail to complete homework e.g. 3 times.

7. Curriculum Electives

(a) At stages at which students are required to select options within the curriculum, inform parents and students in a clear and effective manner of the options available, and take responsibility for the provision of appropriate guidance.

(b) Coordinate the receiving of electives from parents and students, and produce appropriate lists for publication to staff.

(c) Liaise with Faculty leaders regarding the option choices available to students.

(d) Administration of all option/ set/ timetable changes.

8. Pastoral

1. To take responsibility for discipline, rewards and sanctions in the respective Division in line with school policies.

2. To implement the CDE education of the students in the Division.

3. To oversee academic monitoring from target / baseline assessment grades across the Year group and ensure that performance targets are monitored.

4. To organise and lead Divisional assemblies.

5. To map the provision of trips and outings for individual year groups within the Division.

6. To ensure that specific information about individual learning, health and welfare needs is communicated to the relevant staff.

7. To direct Divisional induction and transition for pupils and staff.

8. To co-ordinate appropriate social events for the pupils.

9. To establish good working relationships with parents, ensuring effective, professional and appropriate communication from all staff.

10. To plan and monitor the effective use of form time in the Division through the development of a pastoral curriculum.

11. To manage the reporting and recording in the respective Division and contribute to the monitoring of the quality of reports and grades.

12. With form teachers, set and monitor termly personal performance targets (PPTs) as relevant to the age group (Secondary).

13. To ensure that pupil information for the Division is logged and maintained on PowerSchool.

14. To liaise with the Head of Dorm with regard to any members of the Division who are boarders.

15. To meet with year Home Room teachers regularly throughout the term.

16. To be a presence from 7.45am to welcome Divisional students, at lunchtimes, and also after school to ensure that pupils participate in extra-curricular activity provision and also study.

The Co-Head of Division is expected to take a very keen interest in the academic and pastoral well-being of all members of the Division, specifically:

Students

• To raise standards of student attainment and achievement within all curriculum areas

• To track performance of all students, those who are at risk as well as those needing extension

• To supervise the process for and implementation of curriculum plans, behaviour plans and divisional goals

• To ensure all learning plans and exam specifications that are in place are fully supported by and reinforced by all teachers and learning plans are centrally stored for access by teachers.

• To liaise with school counselor regarding the mental health needs of all students

• To ensure all students follow the code of conduct and behave appropriately

• To coordinate the celebration of student performances

• To coordinate the weekly assemblies (Primary & Secondary)

• To assist, when asked, in making decisions regarding the admission of new students (e.g. trial classes, interviews etc)

Teachers

• To develop and enhance the teaching practice of all staff in your division through the staff appraisal system (e.g. classroom observations, goal setting at the start of the year), learning walks, student pursuits (shadowing a class or student for a day or part-day)

• To ensure all teachers understand and follow the department and building crisis plan

• To assist all teachers in adapting the CHERI curriculum to meet the needs of students at YW-GZ

• To regularly discuss ways that the Character Education themes can be integrated into all of our planning

• To ensure all staff have completed all necessary documents (annual plans, semester plans, behaviour plans & weekly lesson plans) and submitted these when requested (check PowerSchool, Gradebook and server weekly)

• To regularly attend the various curriculum planning meetings and provide guidance and insight to teachers

• To ensure all teachers are differentiating their planning and teaching to meet the individual needs of students

• To be informed and approve all parent contact made by teachers in the division

• To oversee the assessment and reporting processes in the division including the completion of school reports and the preparation for parent / teacher interviews. To ensure that teaching staff are fully prepared for parent teacher consultations with extensive data and evidence to support progress and attainment measures.

• To hold regular divisional meetings and to set the agenda for these meetings. The minutes of these meetings should be circulated to the Co-Principals and the other Divisional Coordinators and saved on our server.

• To identify staff development needs of teachers in the division and work with the Co-Principals to develop programs to meet these needs

• To assist Learning Support Department in setting professional goals and to meet regularly with staff to monitor progress toward their goals.

• To mentor and coach all staff in the department to help them reach their professional goals.

• To develop the next generation of departmental leadership.

Division / Whole School

• To develop an annual divisional development plan identifying goals and needs for the year

• To effectively manage and deploy financial and physical resources within the division to support the development plan

• To promote the division and its activities wherever possible, including the school newsletter, workshops, open days and assemblies

• As a member of the School Management Team, to represent the division’s views and interests in meetings of the Leadership Team and to disseminate information from the Leadership Team and the Co-Principals to the teachers.

• To take part in various whole school activities organized by the HR or Marketing/Admissions department as requested by the Co-Principals

• Quality control: supervise faculty leaders and their achievements

• Quality control: set standards and expectations of student’s and staff performance

• Quality control: supervise individual teacher’s in their classrooms

• Management/pastoral care and delivery of academic programmes

• Develop a clear “positive culture” within the division (this is how we act, communicate, respond, praise, share concerns, etc.)

• Supervise and act timely on issues regarding student behaviour or academic performance

• Organise regular division meetings (agenda, minutes, report to Co-Principals)

• Appraisal, observation and recruitment of staff

• Provide staff training and parent workshops

• Liaise with all other departments in the school (academic and non-academic)

• Liaise with event/ field trip visits organisers to ensure quality control. Attend events with relevance to their respective Division.

• Budget preparation and purchases, e.g. text books and equipment (control budget)