Head of English Language Department at Discovering Talents Academy

Job Description
Curriculum
The HOD Literacy) will:

• Monitor and evaluate schemes of work, materials and methods used throughout the department, giving help and guidance where appropriate, keeping the Head Teacher and her assistant fully informed at all times;
• Co-ordinate the curriculum offered to ensure balance and continuity;
• Maintain and develop continuity and consistency;
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and learning throughout the section;
• Visit Literacy classes on a regular basis and encourage visits by others.

School Policies and Procedures
The HOD (Literacy) will:

• Play a leading role in providing strategic direction for the section;
• Take a leading role in discussing and negotiating policies and procedures;
• Take an active role in the promotion of good practice throughout the section;
• Ensure that school policies and procedures are carried out at all times in the section.

Overall Responsibilities
The HOD (Literacy) will:

• Implement the Literacy Development Plan;
• Advise and inform the Head Teacher about staffing and resourcing needs; the deployment of Literacy staff; staff training needs; procedures and policies; new developments in the section;
• Have overall responsibility for the efficient administration of the literacy curriculum in such matters as updating schemes of work; recording pupils’ progress; writing assessments and reports; and other similar duties;
• Liaise with the Head teacher concerning the literacy time table;
• Be responsible for the collation of supplies and materials for the department
• Ensure the working environment is pleasant and safe for pupils, and literacy staff and recommend any improvements to the Head Teacher;
• Liaise with the other literacy teachers;
• Be a reference point for literacy staff concerns in the department;
• Have a teaching commitment as appropriate;
• Monitor attendance of parents or guardians at primary parents' meetings and arrange alternative meetings for parents as necessary;
• Oversee the organization of literacy pastoral trips.

Responsibilities to Pupils
The HOD (Literacy) will:

• Ensure pupils have access to a first-class education in the department
• Ensure pupils in the department receive individual attention allowing the teacher to determine whether special assistance is necessary;
• Have a particular concern for the welfare and progress of all pupils in every class in the department
• Seek advice, when necessary, about pupils who are experiencing problems;
• Keep the Head Teacher fully informed about the welfare and progress of primary pupils;
• Establish clear policies and practices are in place for assessing, recording and reporting pupil achievement;
• Oversee the testing and assessment of new pupils in the department;
• Provide above information to the Head Teacher so targets can be set for future improvement;
• Set aims and objectives for individual pupils where necessary.

Responsibilities to ParentsThrough the Head Teacher
The HOD (Literacy) will:

• Keep parents informed concerning literacy curriculum and pastoral matters;
• Ensure the Information for nursery parents is updated as necessary;
• Ensure parents have clear and accurate information about their child's progress.

Responsibilities to Staff
The HOD (Literacy) will:

• Review literacy staff planning files;
• Ensure that all literacy teachers are aware of school policies and guidelines on matters such as homework, assessment, production and use of materials, educational visits;
• Allocate work and responsibilities to literacy teachers and to be concerned for their development as fellow professionals;
• Ensure that new literacy teachers and teaching assistants are inducted into the work of the section and are familiar with all policies;
• Inform the literacy staff about developments in education generally;
• Facilitate opportunities for literacy staff to observe each other teaching.

Reports
The HOD (Literacy) will:

• Liaise with the Head Teacher for the production of Literacy department reports;
• Monitor the reporting progress;
• Review the literacy assessment and reporting systems annually and suggest improvements to the Head Teacher.

Whole School Responsibilities
The HOD (Literacy) will:

• Supervise the organization of school events that relates to literacy.