PEACE IV DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR SHARED EDUCATION x 6 POSTS

Transcription

1 - 1 - POST: PEACE IV DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR SHARED EDUCATION x 6 POSTS DURATION LOCATION LINE MANAGED BY RESPONSIBLE TO For a period of 4.5 years ending on 31 st December 2021 with the possibility of extension to March 2022 The post will be based at an agreed location within NI or the 6 border counties of the Republic of Ireland. Programme Manager Deputy Director with responsibility for Shared Education BACKGROUND: PEACE IV SHARED EDUCATION PROJECT The project will be led by the Education Authority (EA) in partnership with Leargas, and will address specific objective 1 of the Peace IV Programme: Shared Education. This partnership will facilitate a cross border approach, which will capitalise on the skills, knowledge and technical expertise of personnel from both sides of the border in the development, implementation, financing and staffing of the Programme. The Project will aim to build a culture of good relations amongst school children and equip them with the skills and attitudes needed to contribute to a society where the cycle of sectarianism and intolerance is broken. It will create opportunities for school children to have sustained contact with children from another community background within the existing educational structures and will contribute to improved educational outcomes. The Project will aim to promote equality of opportunity, good relations, equality of identity, respect for diversity and community cohesion, and will promote activities which create opportunities for increased cross community and cross-border co-operation. The key aim of the Project will be to provide direct, sustained, curriculum-based contact between children and teachers from all backgrounds, through collaboration between schools and pre-school settings from different sectors in order to promote good relations and enhance children s skills and attitudes to contribute to a cohesive society. This will include: shared partnerships between schools and/or pre-school settings within Northern Ireland; shared partnerships between schools and/or pre-school settings in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland; and shared partnerships within the border counties of Ireland.

2 - 2 - The main beneficiaries of the project will be pre-schools settings, primary schools and post-primary schools The project will be open in particular to schools who have not previously participated in shared education initiatives and those schools at a low level within the collaboration spectrum will be encouraged to participate. Activities will be open to the participation of schools and preschool settings in all sectors. Activities will be supported that contribute to the following outputs: the number of schools/pre-school settings involved in shared education; the number of trained teachers and early years professionals with the capacity to facilitate shared education; the number of participants in shared education spaces (including indoor and outdoor classrooms, early years and youth settings). The Project objectives include: ensuring that sharing in education becomes a central part of every child s educational experience by providing opportunities for the sustained interaction of children from different backgrounds through their participation in curriculum-based common classes. building a culture of good relations amongst school children, and equipping them with the skills and attitudes to contribute to a society where the cycle of sectarianism and intolerance is broken. creating opportunities for children to have sustained contact with children from another community background within the existing educational structures. This will facilitate new and increased friendships and contacts on a cross community basis. The contact facilitated by the project will have positive impacts on intergroup attitudes and behaviours, including a reduction in prejudice and promotion of more harmonious intergroup relations. enhancing pupils and teachers capacity to understand and deal with difference in whatever form it occurs (informed by equality, human rights and the principles contained within the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). The Education Authority is seeking to appoint 6 Development Officers to support schools in the development of shared education. JOB PURPOSE Development Officers will support the development, co-ordination, management and implementation of the Peace IV Shared Education Programme with each having responsibility for approximately 50 schools within Northern Ireland and the 6 border counties of the Republic of Ireland.

3 - 3 - MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1 Strategic Development The postholder will: support the design, development and implementation of the programme in line with the agreed objectives and the terms of the agreement with SEUPB; provide support for forward planning of the delivery of the programme; provide support for the development and implementation of annual delivery plans in line with the terms of the agreement with SEUPB; assist in the promotion and co-ordination of the Peace IV Shared Education Programme; implement agreed monitoring and quality assurance procedures for the programme; assist in the evaluation of the programme; 2 School Support and Development develop effective working relationships with project schools; support schools to develop effective partnerships; support leadership in the development of shared education; liaising with other organisations who provide support to participating schools or pre-school settings in the area of shared education; provide advice and guidance on the use of resources to support the delivery of Shared Education; work with teachers, early years professionals and the programme team to develop curriculum materials and relevant programmes as required; promote curriculum innovation in shared education; assisting in the development of approaches to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of shared education programmes in schools; work with project team in identifying, planning and implementing a programme of CPD; support the establishment of professional learning communities for teachers and other professionals participating in the project to embed experience of sharing and best practice; assist partnerships to implement effective methods of self- evaluation. 3 Accountability ensure adherence to governance and accountability systems which are in place for the management of the programme provide agreed progress reports to the Project Manager

4 - 4 - PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential Criteria Applicants must: 1. (a) Be a qualified teacher as recognised by the Department of Education within Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland OR (b) Hold a degree or postgraduate qualification in one of the following: education, community relations, youth & community work. 2. Have a minimum of 2 years experience in the last five years of working in the area of school to school collaboration, shared education or community relations in one or more of the following stages of education. Primary Post-Primary 3. Have a minimum of 2 years experience within the last 5 years in successfully leading curriculum development. 4. Experience of supporting the delivery of professional development to educational professionals. Desirable Criteria 1. Experience of working in the area of cross border school partnerships. The Selection Panel reserves the right to enhance the criteria in order to facilitate a manageable shortlist. 1 Knowledge The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate extensive knowledge of: the NI and/or Republic of Ireland Curriculum; current educational developments in the area of shared education effective classroom pedagogy and how to ensure high standards of teaching, learning and achievement

5 - 5-2 Skills The successful candidate must demonstrate highly developed skills in order to: lead, motivate, manage, challenge and enthuse others; create an ethos and articulate a vision for shared education; develop good relationships at all levels and promote a collaborative and team approach; lead strategically and develop self and others in order to achieve outcomes; promote, achieve, monitor and evaluate high quality experiences for pupils and teachers in shared education promote effective partnerships between schools and their local communities; communicate effectively orally and in writing; organise and prioritise workload effectively. 3 Personal Qualities The successful candidate must demonstrate: vision; a sound value system; enthusiasm and motivation; assertiveness and confidence; a caring child-centred approach; integrity; advocacy and empathy; sensitivity and discretion; an ability to cope under pressure; tact and diplomacy; decisiveness; adaptability. Other Requirements Applicants must have access to a car or other suitable form of transport (appropriately maintained and insured for business as and when necessary) to facilitate the requirements of the job in a reasonable and effective manner. The duties of the post may extend beyond normal office hours and involve work at locations other than at the agreed normal working location. SECONDMENT

6 - 6 - If you are a seeking secondment from your current employment you must first seek the consent of your Board of Governors, Management committee, Principal or Employer before making formal application for appointment. TRAVELLING AND SUBSISTENCE Travel expenses at rates approved by the Education Authority will be paid in respect of approved journeys necessary in carrying out the duties of the post. Please note the onus is on candidates to provide sufficient detailed information on their application forms in order to demonstrate how they meet each of the criteria. Failure to do so may result in a candidate not being shortlisted since Selection Panels cannot make assumptions in the absence of essential information. Applicants are advised that if called to interview they will be required to make a short presentation on a topic related to the post. Salary Scale JNC Soulbury Pts 7 10 mainscale 40,338-44,023 per annum (plus possibility of Structured Professional Assessment points). Hours of Work The hours of work will not normally be less than 36 per week. Annual Leave Entitlement Entitlement to annual leave is 25 days in a full holiday year in addition to 12 public and extra statutory holidays. Entitlement to leave in the first year of employment is pro-rata to the number of months completed. General Conditions of Appointment Appointments are subject to (a) the Contracts of Employment and Redundancy Payments Act 1965 as amended and in particular the statutory provisions relating to termination of employment and the period of notice; (b) the provisions of Local Government Superannuation Act (NI) for the time being in force; (c) production of satisfactory evidence of health; (d) sickness and maternity benefit regulations as incorporated in the EA Scheme for Sickness Allowance, details of which are available on request from the Human Resources Department;

7 - 7 - (e) the condition that no other employment is entered into during the period of employment by the Board and that no employment by or in the service of another person or body should be undertaken except with express approval of the Education Authority; Canvassing and Referees Canvassing directly or indirectly will entail disqualification. Referees asked for on the application form should not include any officer or member of the Education Authority Posts involving work in educational institutions are subject to the provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY 25 JULY 2017