Head of Department (HOD) – Secondary (High) School.

Job Title: Head of Department (HOD) – Secondary (High) School

Reports To: Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

Job Summary: The Head of Department (HOD) for CF School oversees the planning, development, and implementation of curricula within their subject area. They lead and motivate department staff, ensure academic excellence, and contribute to the overall educational leadership of the school.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, review, and implement the curriculum aligned with educational standards.
• Lead departmental meetings and coordinate activities for continuous improvement.
• Support and mentor teachers within the department to enhance teaching practices.
• Monitor and evaluate student progress, ensuring effective learning outcomes.
• Manage department budgets and resources efficiently.
• Organize professional development opportunities for department staff.
• Collaborate with other departments and school leadership to achieve school-wide goals.
• Maintain high standards of discipline and professionalism within the department.
• Ensure compliance with curriculum standards, regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Promote a positive learning environment and uphold the school’s values.

1. Teaching and learning and classroom management:
• Consistently plan and provide child-centered learning experiences guided by the revised English National Curriculum (2014) and IGCSE syllabus, which are appropriately relevant, engaging, challenging and balanced and which seek to develop children’s ownership of learning.
• Promote and ensure that teachers within the department support development of children’s universal (not subject specific) key learning skills.
• Promote and ensure that teachers adapt teaching methods and strategies to ensure all children are suitably challenged and actively engaged in order to meet their full potential, to access all areas of the curriculum consistently and successfully, and to promote positive attitudes towards learning across the curriculum.
• Establish a safe, stimulating, nurturing, and organised learning environment within the department ensuring positive behaviours for learning are upheld while fostering an authentic sense of community based on collective support and trust, as well as mutual respect and appreciation for difference.
• Utilise materials, resources and methods which enhance curriculum provision, promote effective and efficient use of learning time, and reflect a holistic knowledge and understanding of the children.

2. Record keeping, reporting and assessment:
• Maintain accurate and current records of children’s attainment and progress while considering a variety of agreed forms of assessment data to inform coherent and cohesive next steps.
• Consistently and competently analyze assessment data ensuring the timely implementation of any necessary adaptations to planning as a result.
• Share children’s achievements, including academic progress and attainment, with a variety of stakeholders and within a variety of contexts.
• Maintain accurate and current records of children’s attendance, communicating this information promptly and clearly when required.
• Track all student progress within the department to ensure that planning and teaching meets all student needs.

3. Planning and Development:
• leading the subject area in a cycle of developing and improving teaching and learning
• establishing priorities and goals for the subject area that integrates with and support CF School’s ethos, mission and policies.
• planning a curriculum which includes developing and maintaining schemes of work in consultation with colleagues across the whole school (vertical and horizontal planning) and in line with the requirements of CF School.
• maintaining and developing assessment practices including oral assessment, standardization, and moderation strategies.
• analyzing and evaluating examination and other student performance data and reporting results to the Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning.
• working closely with the SENCo to ensure all provision can be provided to SEND students within the department.
• monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning within the department in line with school policy
• liaising with colleagues within CF School and in partner schools and representing the subject as necessary
• recommending appropriate professional development for department teachers within the subject area.

4. Pastoral duties and care:
• Supporting the effective provision of high-quality pastoral care within the school, particularly in relation to the school’s safeguarding and child protection policies and including responsibilities for collaborating with members of the school community to ensure children’s physical, social, and emotional needs are continuously met.
• Assume collective responsibility for the continuous development and management of children’s behaviour and conduct centred around commonly held school values to foster a clear understanding of the school’s rules, procedures and expectations.
• Support children, colleagues, and parents through the annual transition processes, particularly with welcoming and settling new children starting at CF School.
• Cultivate a sense of community and school spirit based on mutual respect, appreciation, trust and support where all people are valued.
• Build and maintain positive relationships and effective partnerships with parents/caregivers in support of children’s achievements and to enhance the sense of community.

5. Other Responsibilities:
• Attend all required school meetings, events, and parent/teacher conferences inclusive of those held outside of the regular school day.
• Monitor and supervise children during events held within the school day including assemblies, sports days, and safety drills.
• Carry out assigned duties during nonteaching times of the day such as playtime, lunch duty and after-school.
• Support the implementation of the school’s QA (Quality Assurance) processes as part of our commitment to ongoing improvement.
• Attend and actively engage with school directed CPD.
• Always maintain strict confidentiality with regards to the sharing of student information and with private school matters.
• Support the aims, values and ethos of the school particularly with modelling the school’s expectations.
• Assist with various duties as assigned by the Head and Deputy Head and in accordance with the needs of the school.

6. Safeguarding Responsibilities:
• Attend all safeguarding meetings and trainings required both by the school and by the Cayman Islands Government to ensure theoretical and procedural knowledge is current and correct.
• Always support and ensure the safety and well-being of the children in the school.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries in relationships with children and with all members of the school community, including external agencies and providers.
• Always exercise sound professional judgment focusing on the best interests of the students and the school
• Present a consistently positive image of the school and uphold public trust and confidence.

7. Salary scale:
• KYD$50,000 - KYD72,000 (based on experience)
• Additional responsibility allowance of $5000 for a head of department
• 100% top tier medical insurance paid by the school
• Pension as per labour law
• Triennial resigning bonus of KYD$4,000 if sign a new contract