Role Profile for the Position of Deputy Principal St. Mary’s College, Naas.

Section A of this document pertains to the role profile of both Deputy Principals in St. Mary’s College, Naas and includes the contractual obligations of the Deputy Principal as set out in circular Letter 4/98.

Section B of this document relates to the specific duties of the Second Deputy Principal in St. Mary’s College, Naas.

Section AThe Deputy Principal is a member of the school’s Senior Management Team. The overall responsibility of the Deputy Principal is, together with the other Deputy Principal, to assist the Principal in the management of the school. The Deputy Principal will participate in the administration of the school. The Deputy Principal must be willing to work in conjunction with/under the direction of the Principal.

The Deputy Principal shall act as Principal when the Principal is absent, assuming the responsibilities and authority of the Principal’s role in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Management. The Deputy Principal shall not, however, have automatic right of succession to the post of Principal or Acting Principal (DES Circular 4/98, 8(v)).

DES Circular 4/98

The Deputy Principal shall assist the Principal through the carrying out of the specific professional duties for which responsibility is delegated. (cf. Schedule One Circular 4/98)

The Deputy Principal will be required to be in attendance for days during the school year when the Board of Management of the school determines that the school should be open for pupils and in accordance with DES regulations.

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The Deputy Principal may also be required by the Board of Management to be present in the school for periods during the State Examinations and for other reasonable periods outside of the normal opening hours and days of the school such as may be necessary from time to time. The Deputy Principal shall enter into an agreement with the Principal in respect of arrangements for such attendances. This agreement shall be subject to endorsement by the Board of Management.

The Deputy Principal’s maximum teaching hours shall be as follows-

Number of teachers in the school Teaching Hours

30 and over 8 hours

Notwithstanding the maximum number of teaching hours stated above, the Deputy Principal will normally be required to be in attendance in the school throughout the school day.

The Deputy Principal shall enter into an agreement with the Principal on the discharge of duties which arise outside of normal school hours or during school vacation periods (DES Circular 4/98, 8(ii)).

Board of Management

The Board of Management has determined that the Deputy Principal is required to be in attendance from 8.15am until 30 minutes after the close of the school day. The Deputy Principal is also required to be available to the Principal until 5.30pm each evening and at all school related events outside of these hours.

The Board has also directed that the successful candidate may be required to teach up to 8 hours as per Circular 4/98, 6, in accordance with their qualifications and the school’s curriculum needs.

The Deputy Principal shall be kept informed about the decisions of the Board in accordance with the terms of the Articles of Management.

The successful applicant will be expected to attend Parent Council meetings, plan for information evenings, enrolment mornings, open evenings, graduations and other school events.

Core Competencies Required to Successfully Undertake the Duties of a Deputy Principal in St. Mary’s College Naas

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In 2011 a group of Principals, Deputy Principals, Chairpersons of Boards of Management and representatives of Trustees working with the JMB identified the key competencies as being essential for the effective performance of the role and function of Principal in a faith school:

Leadership in a Faith School Organisational and Administrative Skills Strategic Development and Management Relationship Management and Interpersonal Skills Self-awareness and Self-management Skills

In 2013 these competencies were examined for their relevance to the role of Deputy Principal. Following discussion with serving Principals and Deputy Principals, Chairpersons of Boards of Management, past Principals and JMB personnel, and given that part of the role of a Deputy Principal is to act as Principal when the Principal is absent, the same five key competencies were identified. The sample behavioural indicators were modified to reflect the role of the Deputy Principal.

Each of these competencies is defined in a school context below, where the all-round development of the student is the key focus.

1. Leadership in a Faith SchoolDefinition: Promotes educational leadership that reaches for the highest academic standards and achievement while at the same time building the school community in a culture and religious tradition that is in accordance with the school’s founding intention, the values of its mission statement and its expressed philosophy. It focuses on improving instruction to enable teachers to teach at their best and students to learn at their utmost. It fosters a climate of trust that motivates and inspires others to commit to ongoing development that will support the educational and spiritual goals/objectives of the school. It ensures that results are achieved in a caring and compassionate environment.This competency will include the ability to articulate clear objectives for faith development in the school, placing faith development appropriately within the whole school planning and review process.

Included within this competency is the expectation that the successful candidate would: Be a reflective practitioner in regard to faith development and to show commitment to the

integration and transmission of Gospel values through the curriculum; Be able to establish a schoolwide vision of commitment to high standards and the success

of all students, based on clear articulated standards; Be able to focus on building a sense of school community encouraging teacher

collaboration and self-evaluation; Be personally familiar with what is required to improve the quality of teaching and

learning.

2. Organisational and Administrative Skills

Definition: Uses a range of system supports and processes to establish a systematic course of action for self and/or others to ensure accomplishment of objectives. Sets priorities, goals and

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timetables to ensure effective use of time and all resources.Included within this competency is the expectation that the successful candidate would:

Manage people, data and processes to foster school improvement; Manage the allocation of finances and maintain accurate records for all financial

information; Prioritise issues and activities according to importance and urgency; Create action plans for achieving performance expectations.

3. Strategic Development & Management

Definition: Demonstrates the ability to take a broad and long term view of the needs of the school’s purpose and objectives.Included within this competency is the expectation that the successful candidate would:

Demonstrate an understanding of how to develop and lead a strategic plan for the school, with the Board of Management and the Patron/Trustees;

Demonstrate personal pedagogical excellence and apply these personal standards in creating a community of learning;

Know how to develop a culture of self-evaluation in the school; Develop strategies for the future and thinks through the consequences of actions taken.

4. Relationship Management & Interpersonal Skills

Definition: Involve using a range of communication skills to build and sustain constructive and supportive relationships with all key partners.Included within this competency is the expectation that the successful candidate would:

Demonstrate an understanding of the key relationship that exists between the Principal, the Board of Management and the Patron/Trustees;

Build and maintain strong relations with staff, students, parents and others by using a range of communication skills to influence and persuade them;

Demonstrate the ability to continue with a course of action despite setbacks; maintains an optimistic approach;

Manage conflict situations effectively.5. Self-awareness & Self-management Skills

Definition: These refer to the ability to be aware of and to understand one’s own emotions and to manage them in one’s dealings with others. It includes the ability to receive and act on feedback.Included within this competency is the expectation that the successful candidate would:

Demonstrate an ability to perceive emotions e.g. recognise non-verbal signals;. Demonstrate a high degree of self-awareness e.g. being able to read one’s emotions and

recognise their impact on others; Show both confidence and humility where/when appropriate.

Section B - the specific duties of this Deputy Principal in St. Mary’s College, Naas.

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The Person appointed to this position will have responsibility for assisting the Principal with School Development Planning, Promoting Teaching and Learning, State Examinations, Supervision and Substitution, responsibility for OLCS and the promotion and recognition of extra–Curricular Activities as described below.

S/he will be expected to lead School Development Planning, School Self Evaluation and to progress the development of Teaching and Learning Initiatives. S/he will prepare the ‘School Development Plan’ each year in consultation with staff, students, parents and the Board of Management. This will be presented each Autumn to the Board of Management for approval and a progress report of The Development Plan will form part of the Annual School Report for CEIST and the Board of Management at the end of each academic year.

Other Areas of Planning

S/he will have specific responsibilities around planning the agenda and minutes for staff meetings, organising and informing parents around matters such as the school calendar, school booklists, school journal for each year group and the programme of events for the first week back at the beginning of the school year. S/he will liaise and prepare for facilitating outside agencies such as HSE, to provide for immunisation in the school premises. S/he will have particular responsibility for ensuring the successful setting up and running of the Student Council in the college.

Promoting Teaching and Learning

S/he will have particular interest in promoting learning and teaching initiatives in the collegeThe Teaching and Learning Initiatives that are in St. Mary’s College at present include: The TL21 Programme, The Instructional Leadership Programme. S/he will be expected to coordinate and lead the In–School Teaching and Learning Leadership Team and the Peer to Peer Evaluation Programme.

S/he will progress, monitor and evaluate the development of Subject Planning for all subject areas, ensure all planning is up to date and available on line or in the Subject Planning Folders. S/he will monitor, store and follow up if necessary on the minutes of subject meetings. S/he will plan teaching and learning in-service for staff at staff in service and staff meetings and will have specific responsibilities with regards the selection, induction and coordination of PME students.S/he will collate and prepare the Leaving and Junior Certificate Results Analysis for presentation to staff and the Board of Management.

State ExaminationsResponsible for Liaising with Department of Education in the preparation, planning, co-ordinating, setting up, supervising and monitoring of State Examinations. This will also extend to the New Junior Cycle examinations both in house and state examinations.

Supervision and Substitution5

The Deputy Principal will be willing to use the E-Portal software to provide the roster for absent teachers, design and plan the Supervision and Substitution Roster in consultation with teachers and use the OLCS to return payments to part-time and substitute teachers on a weekly basis to the Department of Education and Science.

Extra – Curricular Activities

S/he will coordinate, facilitate and promote the development of the extra-curricular programme with teachers and students in events such as sports, debating, young scientist, music, cultural and arts events in St Mary’s College. The Deputy Principal will be responsible for arranging and organising events to give recognition for students from all year groups for involvement in the above each year.

Curriculum and Planning

The Deputy Principal will have responsibility for assisting the Principal to: Develop the educational aims and objectives of the school and to devise strategies to

achieve them Liaise with external monitoring personnel and coordinate in-service for staff in the new

specifications for subject areas Promote, develop and encourage activities and programmes to promote the Catholic faith

and ethos among the students and the school community Promote and develop a wide curriculum for the students in the College.

Other duties include

Attend daily meetings with the Principal and other Deputy Principal, to plan coordinate and evaluate events in the school.

The management and the development of e-portal, e learning and the development of Bring Your Own Devices Initiative (BYOD) which begins in September 2017

The management and development of the school’s ICT infrastructure, and information management software to enhance and improve teaching and learning and the administration of the school

The development of ongoing training for staff in the use of ICT to enhance teaching and learning

Exploration and the development of possible use of media systems to inform students and parents of school events i.e. The development of a Facebook page, Twitter and Apps for the college

Day-to-Day tasks

The Deputy Principal occupies a position of vital importance in the administrative, curricular and pastoral development of the school. Under the direction of the Principal, the Deputy Principal

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together with the other Deputy Principal, shall undertake responsibility for the internal organisation, administration and discipline of the school.

Each year group will be supported by one of the Deputy Principals. While the Year Head has primary responsibility for the overall academic, pastoral and behavioural development of the group he/she will have the support and guidance of a Deputy Principal. Good practice is served when the same Deputy Principal is attached to the group for the duration of their time in the College.

The Deputy Principal will have responsibility:

In the day-to-day management of school, overseeing daily timetabling of classes. In matters of discipline, pastoral care, curricular and extra -curricular activities of all

students In preparing and writing the daily communication to staff on e-portal In preparing e mails to parents keeping them informed on matters relating to their

daughters In meeting parents relating to disciplinary and other matters In meeting the Ancillary Staff and Service Providers regularly, dealing with disciplinary

issues and other matters that may arise and consulting with the Principal on same In planning the break time and lunch time supervision for the S & S Roster In organising the morning supervision prior to school opening and supervision at the end

of the school day. In the promotion of good order and general supervision between classes In assisting Year Heads in taking assemblies as required Planning and preparing with Year Heads for In house Middle Management Meetings,

Parent/Teacher Meetings for their respective year groups Encouraging and leading the Green Schools Initiative in St. Mary’s College Deputising for the Principal in his/her absence

Ongoing tasks

The Deputy Principal together with the other Deputy Principal shall be responsible for:

Using the Facility Options Software to devise and plan the 1st, 2nd and 5th year subject options each year. The Deputy Principal will be responsible for creating the teaching groups in Facility Admin. and using Scheduler to timetable the school curriculum for all year groups each year.

Assisting the Principal with incoming first year enrolment and liaising with the primary schools on information regarding pupil transfer

Organising and coordinating Standardised Testing including incoming 1st Years (Assessment Day & any follow up), retesting at end of 1st Year and Maths and Science standardised tests at such times as laid down by DES, in conjunction with the SEN, ICT and Guidance departments

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Consulting with the Principal to devise a system to ensure incorporation of the 24 Statements of Learning, the 8 Key Skills and the 8 Principles that underpin the Junior Cycle framework in the St Mary’s College New Junior Cycle Curriculum.

Consulting with the Principal and in accordance with SEC Guidelines, developing an assessment model for the Junior Cycle Award

Developing a system whereby SEC generated results and school generated results are combined to produce the St Mary’s College Junior Cycle School Award

Developing a ‘Student Profile’ format for certification The management and co-ordination of open nights/days and information evenings Assisting with the enrolment/assessment for the first year cohort The co-ordination and liaison with the Admin, Caretaking, Maintenance and SNA staff. Teacher and ancillary staff induction Advising substitute/student teachers re: discipline policy, supporting teachers in dealing

with discipline Promoting ongoing staff development and in-service Assisting the Principal in the selection and recruitment processes of new staff Preparing, analysing and presenting results in student performance in standardised tests in

both the academic and wellbeing area of student life for consultation with the principal and management teams. This will involve the tracking of student performance over time, setting targets, putting procedures and programmes in place to address underperformance, over performance and stress related issues that may arise.

Monitoring of student outcomes relative to potential indicated in standardised tests. Monitoring the Transition Year and LCVP Programmes. Co-ordination, consultation and supervision of the production of school newsletters with

relevant personnel in school Liaising with personnel involved in the school website and updating it with recent events

and news. The formation, development and the preparation of Promotional brochures for incoming

students, the Annual Report and the Staff Handbook. Such other tasks as may reasonably be assigned by the Principal.

This list is not exhaustive. Please see Department of Education Circular 4/98.

ReviewThe duties of both Deputy Principals will be reviewed periodically by the Principal and the Deputy Principal or a review will be undertaken at the request of either party. Such a review will take account of the workload and responsibilities of the post, the changing needs of the school and the level of performance of the duties (DES Circular 4/98, 9(i)).

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