Education Authority (Northern Ireland)
Head of Geography
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Head of Geography
Job Title: Teacher – Post-Primary
Reports To: Principal
Professional Duties of a Teacher
(Per Regulations 5, Schedule 3 of the Teachers' (Terms and Conditions of Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987)
Core Responsibilities (General Boundaries of the Role)
A teacher must carry out duties under the reasonable direction of:
- The Principal (if assigned to a particular school)
- The Board of Governance (for teachers not fixed to a single school)
Other teacher must follow reasonable directions from either the Principal or relevant Board or Principal(s) when delegated duties involve participation across multiple schools.
Key Work Areas & Obligations
1. Planning, Teaching & Assessment
- Course/lesson planning and preparation
- Teaching pupils aligned with their educational needs, including:
- Setting, distributing, and marking in-school and out-of-school work
- Assessing development, progress, and attainment
- Providing verbal and written assessments, reports, and references about pupils
2. Supportive & Administrative Role
- Promote well-being: Fostering progress of individual pupils and groups.
- Professional advice: Offering career/educational guidance, referring as needed to experts.
- Pupil records: Maintaining confidentiality-adherent documentation on personal and social needs unless it would compromise their professional position.
- Parent communication: Building partnerships with families.
- Collaboration: Working with external bodies (approved authorities).
- Attendance tracking: Supervising pupils before/during/after formal sessions, managing attendance registers.
3. Assessment & Reporting
- Assess/teach for public exams, recording outcomes, and overseeing exam days.
- Contributing to school leadership roles such as:
- Coaching other teachers, guiding probationary staff.
- Providing leadership in curriculum design, teaching resources, and pastoral initiatives.
4. Teaching & Administrative Workloads
A full-time teacher is required to:
- Be available for duty for 195 days/year (up to 190 days teaching).
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Worker Hours
- Teach for no more than 23.5 hours per week in secondary schools.
- Duty periods: Must include at least 30-minute breaks (12:00–2:00 PM), except in nursery settings (12:00–2:30 PM).
Specific Exclusions
If not under a separate contract, teachers are not required for mid-day supervision.
Support Coverage
In schools with >222 pupils:
- Catch-up teaching after two days of colleague absence (unless specified within advance agreements). Other considerations like supply cover duties apply depending on class structure.
Personal Accountability
This role will evolve with feedback and situational needs. Final selection respects Equality legislation; the appointed teacher must consistently uphold good relations, equality opportunities, and relevant obligatory codes (e.g., Safeguarding Goals of Action 1998).
Person Specification
NOTES TO APPLICANTS
✔ Applicants MUST demonstrate:
- All essential criteria clearly on your form or risk exclusion at shortlisting. Unlike shortlisted candidates, you must explain these by the closing date.
✔ Shortlisting stage tests Section 1 essentials. Interview confirms Section 2. Limitations:
✔ A good proportion of your application time must focus on Section 2-field criteria.
✔ Selection will use Section 3 desirable criteria only if high intake meets the shortlist threshold.
Section 1 – Essential Criteria (Shortlisted by Form)
Required Qualifications & Registration
- Hold a valid Northern Ireland teaching qualification, approved for grant-aided schools.
- Possess a degree or equivalent Level 6 qualifications to teach Geography as a primary specialism.
Experience
- Provide 3 years of demonstrable geography teaching experience, clearly showing positive Key Stage 4 outcomes.
Registration
- Be registered with the General Teaching Council (GTCNI) for appointment validation. (Tested through pre-employment verification process.)
Section 2 – Additional Essential Criteria (Addressed During Interview)
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Needed Knowledge & Practice
- Curriculum-beyond-subject. Current experience with Northern Ireland’s Geography syllabus.
- Safeguarding/Child Protection: Deep understanding of policies (review SEND specifics).
- Inclusive teaching strategies. Tailoring methods to diverse learning styles and needs.
- Evaluating progress: Familiarity with current assessment methods.
- Interactive tech: Confidence using digital tools or mobile tech in classroom contexts.
Core Skills
- Classroom management: Ability to inspire engagement to maximize achievement.
- Advocacy: Proven competence in creating supportive, ethical, and inclusive environments.
- Collaboration: Melting relationships across school teams, students, parents, and broader community.
- Self and team motivation: Positively contributing to your school’s ethos and culture.
School Identity
Show how your pedagogy and values align with the school’s stated mission and guiding principles.
Section 3 – Desirable Criteria
(Limited screening potential subject to peer assessment)
- Experience enhancing and leading:
- 4+ years of K4 outcomes excellence in Geography.
- Experience teaching KS5 Geography, and/or subject coordination (minimum 6 months preferred).
DISCLOSURE PRACTICES
The school operates under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007. Should subsequent assignments involve regulated activity involving children, further disclosure checks will include an Updated Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Certificate.
📋 Applicants should note:
- The school will recover the GBP costs from recommended candidates.
- Links to NIDirect or NI Direct Department of Justice website for guidance.
For applicant guidance notes or to explore [Education Authority benefits], visit their linked directories.
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