Head of Department

Role Description
Head of Department

**Reports to**: Head of Teaching and Learning, Principal

**Overall**:The Head of Department takes responsibility for the teaching and learning of his/her
within the Department.***

**Essential Attributes**:
**The Head of Department will have**:

- A love of learning
- The ability to work as part of a team and to build a team
- Excellent leadership, organisational and time management skills
- Well-developed problem-solving skills
- Clear and effective oral and written communication skills

**In managing the Department, the Head of Department**:

- has oversight of all aspects of the operation of the Department
- manages the departmental budget and ensures that the Department is appropriately resourced
- keeps staff informed of School-based activities and requirements
- develops curricula in line with the needs of the students and developments in Australian education
- oversees all departmental administrative tasks and documentation in a timely and accurate fashion
- tracks student progress and achievement in conjunction with the Data Analyst, the Head of Academic
- Support and the Dean of Academic Support- oversees the resolution of any WHS matters
- as appropriate- attends Head of Department meetings.

**For NESA, the Head of Department**:

- liaises with the Principal and senior staff to ensure that all School policies, NESA registration and

accreditation requirements and Work Health and Safety regulations are met
- develops teaching programs and assessment processes which comply with NESA syllabus requirements

and NESA registration and accreditation requirements
- supervises the development of scope and sequence documents and detailed programs for each year/stage

and ensuring that these are based on current curriculum documents
- oversees the preparation of assessment tasks or test papers that mirror both the syllabus and the prepared

programs for each year/stage
- maintains a regular review process with staff about the implementation, scope and sequence, timing and

success of teaching programs and resources
- oversees the timely preparation of all department material for submission to NESA registration and

accreditation processes as required from time to time.
**In leading the Department, the Head of Department**:

- models outstanding teaching and pastoral care of students
- makes decisions for the Department based on quantitative and qualitative data

Updated April 2020
- stays abreast with current issues and developments associated with effective teaching and learning

including differentiation and feedback
- promotes positive and informative communication within the Department
- use of effective ICT strategies- investigates the professional development needs of the department, explores professional learning

opportunities, encourages department staff to undertake professional learning, and values the professional
growth and learning of the staff
- promotes a positive, professional and collegial workplace environment
- takes responsibility for the welfare of the staff within the Department
- mentors teachers new to Meriden and/or new to teaching, especially during the Induction period
- completes professional conversations in a positive and timely manner
- demonstrates a clear understanding of the pastoral and learning needs of teenage girls
- attends to the welfare of students studying within the Department in conjunction with the Year Coordinator
- and the Dean of Academic Care- assists the Principal when required in the selection of department staff
- models the Christian ethos of the School and promotes the values of the School
- implements the Fidelis Model within the Department.

**In representing the School, the Head of Department**:

- contributes to the activities of the whole School community
- communicates positively with parents, as required
- promotes opportunities for effective learning by the students outside the School
- represents the School in a professional manner at all times
- is active in the relevant professional association, as appropriate
- models the values of the School
- works proactively to promote the School.

**In assisting the Principal, the Head of Department**:

- sees herself/himself as the Principal’s representative within the Department, and acts accordingly
- keeps the Principal informed of staffing issues in a timely and frequent way
- contributes actively to the promotion of the Christian message
- undertakes such other duties as may be required by the Principal
- works in a spirit of good will for the benefit of the School and its students and staff
- is loyal to the Principal and publicly supportive of her decisions.

Updated April 2020