Belfast Education and Library Board

TE12/09/10

BELFAST EDUCATION AND LIBRARY BOARD

APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL

Re-advertisement

Ashfield Boys' High School

1 Post

Applications are invited for the post of principal of Ashfield Boys' High School.

2 School Information

The school building is an impressive modern complex comprising sports hall, media suite and recording studio, gymnasium, fitness suite, library, music suite, business studies suite, science laboratories, general subjects rooms, remedial support centre, lecture theatre, drama room, mathematics laboratory, art studios, technology suite, workshops, networked computer, curriculum support, counselling and careers suites. It is situated on a large open site including playing fields. The school has a new field turf facility completed through lottery funding, a new Home Economics block and a full refurbishment of the games hall and admin block .

The majority of boys continue their studies in our sixth form. The school offers a wide range of courses for boys in the age group 11-18 e.g. GCE 'A' level, GCSE, non- examination courses and special remedial classes. The post 16 courses are double award Science and Art, Advanced level in Business, Engineering, P.E., Moving Image Art, ICT, History, Geography, Leisure Studies, Travel & Tourism, Music, Drama, Technology, R.E., English Literature.

All pupils follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum and are assessed at the end of Key Stage 3 (age 14) and Key Stage 4 (age 16). On entry the boys are streamed into five groups. The grouping continues for the first three years although boys may be transferred from one group to another at any time depending on their progress. The organisation within the school ensures that each pupil's academic progress and general well being are continually monitored through a system of class teachers, year teachers, heads of school and the school counsellor. Pupils in year 8 receive Literacy support from an additional teacher working alongside their specialist teachers. They also receive Reading support on an individual or small group basis. Class teachers are in daily contact with their group and year teachers regularly check classwork, homework, progress and attendance and contact parents as required. In addition to the reading programme we are offering literacy support, dyslexia support, linguistic phonics and the ‘toe-to-toe’ programme. The full time Counsellor sees pupils on an individual basis during the year and is available to any pupils experiencing difficulties.

At the end of year 10 pupils select appropriate courses to follow in years 11 + 12 (i.e. GCSE or Vocational) which they will study for GCSE. After consultation with parents, all boys follow courses leading to appropriate external examinations. In addition to the subjects from the first 3 years the following subjects are available in years 11 and 12:- Double Award Science (Chemistry, Physics, Biology), English Literature, Health Education, Home Economics, Careers, Business Studies, Media Studies, Information Systems and Office Applications, French, R.E. and Learning for Life and Work. In years 11 and 12 some boys may spend one day per week at a local Further Education College on a vocational education course. Close links with Ashfield Girls' School ensures the widest possible range of courses. A franchise arrangement exists between Ashfield Boys' and BMC (Castlereagh).

The school operates an After School Learning Club for Year 12 pupils sitting GCSE. A grant has been received for an Academic Award System in years 9 and 10.

Extra curricular activities are believed to be of great value to pupils and so clubs and societies including School Newspaper, Chess, Science, Computers, Horticulture, Photography, Pottery, Fitness, Craft/Model making, Sailing, Duke of Edinburgh Award and Badminton meet at lunch time or after school. The school, with a Sports Development Officer from the University of Ulster, provides high quality sports coaching to East Belfast Primary Schools. The sporting aspect includes 6 soccer sides competing each week. Regular Hockey, Basketball, Athletics and Rugby sides also represent the school. The wider interests of boys are catered for by field trips, educational trips to Brussels, Paris, New York / USA (skiing). All Year 8 pupils are given the opportunity to go on a residential trip to an outdoor centre. Music tuition is available in school and from visiting tutors. The school Orchestra plays at school functions inside and outside school. The school has a Drama Production with Ashfield Girls’.

Parents are encouraged to visit the school and make contact with class teachers and other staff involved with their children at any time during a pupil's career. Arrangements are also made for all parents to meet the Principal or senior staff individually during September in a boy's first term and again towards the end of his year 10 and year 12. Parents are kept in contact with boys’ progress through reports which are issued twice per year in Junior school, and up to four per year in the Senior school. It has always been school policy that every parent is given the opportunity each year to discuss their son's school report with all his subject teachers at two parents' evenings and afternoons.

Parents receive a homework report every Friday. Emphasis is placed on careers education and guidance. In years 11 and 12 all boys and their parents are interviewed by school careers staff and Training and Employment Agency Officers. All pupils undertake a session of work experience. The opportunity exists for pupils to experience the world of work in Europe.

Pastoral care is given by a group of experienced Year teachers and Counsellors and there is a whole school Personal and Social Education programme. The Year 14 ‘A’ Level pupils go on a Media and Business Studies visit to New York each year.

All pupils must wear full school uniform which consists of black blazer with school badge, grey or white shirt, school tie, dark grey trousers and black shoes. A compulsory PE kit can be purchased from the school.

Candidates may wish to visit the Department of Education’s web-site and view the report of an inspection in 2008.

2 3 Duties

The person appointed to this post will be required to carry out the duties of principal as stipulated in the Teachers’ (Terms and Conditions of Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 Schedule 1, Regulation 4.

4 Experience and Qualifications

Applicants must at the closing date:

(i) be qualified teachers recognised by the Department of Education (NI);

(ii) have a minimum of 10 years teaching experience* in the post-primary sector;

(iii) have a minimum of 5 years relevant management experience within the last 10 years in a post-primary school as principal, vice-principal or member of a senior management team; and

(iv) show evidence of having successfully led developments in school improvement.

Preference may be given to those applicants who at the closing date:

(i) hold a higher degree in an education-related discipline; and/or

(ii) have successfully completed PQH; and/or

(iii) have experience of having contributed to and successfully managed an aspect of self-evaluation and the school development plan; and/or

(iv) have experience of having successfully led staff development; and/or

(v) have experience of liaison with external agencies including the voluntary and business sectors.

The panel reserves the right to enhance these criteria.

*Please note only post qualification teaching experience will be considered.

It is your responsibility as an applicant to ensure that you provide sufficient information on the application form to enable the selection panel to assess your eligibility for consideration. Failure to do so will result in the application being rejected. You are therefore strongly advised to carefully consider the job description and requirements of the post to ensure all relevant details are included in the form.

On taking up this post the successful applicant must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland.

3 Posts involving work in educational institutions are subject to the provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007. The successful applicant will require an enhanced disclosure check which at present costs £30. Further details regarding the payment of this check will be issued with the contract of employment.

5 Person Specification

The person appointed should:

(i) have knowledge of current educational developments and how these should be implemented;

(ii) have financial management experience in education;

(iii) have excellent interpersonal skills with openness, honesty and integrity;

(iv) be able to demonstrate successful change management;

(v) be able to demonstrate successful leadership/management of teams within school;

(vi) be able to demonstrate involvement in developing a pupil centred learning environment;

(vii) have a commitment to a school ethos of high expectations;

(viii) have ability to think strategically;

(ix) have a commitment to take forward the development of Ashfield Boys' High School as a school at the heart of the local community in partnership with parents and the Board of Governors.

6 Salary

Group 5, Spinal Point L25 (ISR L25-L31) £67,602

7 General Information

(i) Eligibility and shortlisting will be carried out only on the basis of the information contained in the application form and accompanying sheet.

NB Please ensure you show precisely how you meet the essential and preferred criteria.

(ii) Shortlisted candidates will be invited to visit the school on Friday 23 March 2012.

(iii) It is anticipated that interviews will be held the week commencing 26 March 2012.

(iv) No payment in respect of travelling or removal expenses from Great Britain shall be paid to candidates where the post concerned has been advertised in the local press and on the board’s website and not in the national press.

4 (v) The application form and enclosed questionnaire must be returned in the envelope provided to the equality unit.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12.00 NOON ON TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2012.

Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.

CANVASSING WILL DISQUALIFY