The Head of Primary & Middle School is to take full responsibility for running Primary & Middle. This means ensuring world-class education for learners, with a strong commitment to building character, learner identity and leadership development.
REPORT TO: Head of School
WORKING RELATIONSHIP: Work effectively with the principal and other Heads.
– The Primary and Middle Head will be responsible to the parents, the leaners, the staff, and the Board of Governors and will need to regularly report and communicate effectively with each group.
– The Primary and Middle Head will make a semesterly report to the Head of School and attend Board meetings. As required the Head of Primary will also attend Board sub-committees.
– The Primary and Middle Head will be required to work closely with members of staff at all levels of the organization.
1. VISION AND LEADERSHIP
– Provide strategic and dynamic leadership for the running of Primary & Middle School.
– Co-ordinate and take responsibility for all school programs and plannings including celebrations, exhibitions and other enrichment programs.
– Direct planning within the Primary & Middle School: Ensuring staff plans suitable for the curriculum and their teaching. The Primary and Middle Head plans for the site, staffing needs, and curriculum development.
2. STAFF:
– Lead the Primary & Middle team to ensure the effective management of the Primary & Middle School.
– Ensure that current and future staffing needs are met by advertising, arranging interviews, and selecting suitable people alongside the Head of School.
– Work with the Head of School to ensure that all staff have relevant job descriptions and allocate appropriate salary scales to staff that ensure staffing costs remain within the budget.
– Oversee the induction and training of new staff.
– Create an ethos and PD program within which all staff are motivated and supported to develop their skills and subject knowledge, and to support each other.
– Identify emerging talents, and coach current and aspiring leaders in a climate where excellence is the standard, leading to clear succession planning.
– Establish rigorous, fair, and transparent systems and measures for managing the performance of all staff, addressing any under-performance, supporting staff to improve, and valuing excellent practice.
– Apply disciplinary measures, when necessary, in consultation with the Head of School and the management team.
– Provide support, advice, and encouragement for colleagues at all levels in the performance of their duties including, on occasion, the need to counsel staff, or to resolve problems between them.
– Ensure the maintenance of good communication through one-to-one contact at different times of the day, staff meetings, written correspondence, and the use of the school’s digital platforms.
– Instilling a strong sense of accountability in staff for the impact of their work on learners’ outcomes and holding all staff to account for their professional conduct and practice.
3. LEARNERS OUTCOMES AND EXPERIENCE (TEACHING AND LEARNING; PASTORAL CARE, SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND ENRICHMENT)
– Demand ambitious standards (both in terms of behavior and academic achievement) for all learners, so that each learner is challenged to achieve their personal best.
– Track the progress of learners across their subjects as well as their involvement in extracurricular activities; develop effective intervention strategies where necessary to maximize progress for all learners.
– Take responsibility for the discipline issues within Primary & Middle School, maintaining high standards, dealing with misdemeanors promptly and according to school policies, and communicating with staff, learners, and parents about disciplinary measures.
– Ensure that suitable child protection policies are in place and effective to ensure staff keep abreast of New Zealand curriculum developments.
4. RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
– Ensure that the school’s systems, organization, and processes are well-considered, efficient, and fit for purpose, upholding the principles of transparency, integrity, and probity.
– Work with the School Management team to prepare an annual budget for the Primary & Middle School and manage expenditures within this budget.
– Evaluate all resources and systems to ensure they enable effective running of the Primary & Middle School.
– Take responsibility for ensuring development work in Primary & Middle School is completed.
5. EXTERNAL RELATIONS
– Liaise regularly with current parents on issues to do with their children and schooling.
– Lay out expectations with parents.
– Market the Primary & Middle School effectively to ensure good recruitment.
– Organize an effective selection and enrolment process for all learners and conduct new parent and learner interviews and orientations.
– Welcome strong governance and actively support the school management team to understand its role and deliver its functions effectively –in particular its functions to set school strategy and hold the Head of Primary & Middle to account for learners and staff performance.
6. GENERAL
– Provide a safe, calm, and well-ordered environment for all learners and staff, focused on safeguarding learners and developing their exemplary behavior in school and the wider society. The Primary and Middle Head holds ultimate responsibility for securing the safety of all learners under school care at all times.
– The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties or tasks as reasonably directed or requested by the Head of School.
7. REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS
This job description should be seen as enabling rather than restrictive and will be subject to regular review in consultation with the postholder.
8. QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:
– Bachelor’s degree in education/ educational management/ educational leadership, and at least two or more years of relevant experience you have.
– Sound knowledge of The New Zealand Curriculum, Te Whāriki the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum and the Project of Reggio Emilia is an advantage but not a requirement.
– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with children, families, and colleagues.
– Strong leadership skills, flexible and adaptable.
– Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and contribute to a positive and supportive work environment.
