Illawarra Christian School

Cordeaux Campus

Role of a Head Teacher

The role of the Head Teacher can be divided into the following areas of responsibility:

Subject Department Organisation

It is the Head Teacher’s responsibility to ensure that the teaching and learning experiences are appropriately documented and consistent with the school’s Educational Creed and the requirements of the Board of Studies. This will include:

  • Faculty Programmes & Scope and Sequence Documents
  • Unit Outlines
  • Lists of resources required
  • Teaching Christianly documents
  • Registration & Evaluation of teaching units
  • Student work samples
  • Assessment tasks
  • School Records (class lists, record of marks, past examinations, discipline records / notes etc)
  • Identification of students with learning needs and enrichment

Head Teachers are also responsible for the organisation of subject specific special events / activities (Remembrance Day, Public Speaking, Pi Day etc)

Staff Supervision

Staff Supervision is an essential component of the duties of the Head of Department. This includes:

  • Performance of staff within the classroom
  • Professional development of staff
  • Implementation of school policies by staff (classroom, playground, homework, assessment etc)

As part of the campus staff appraisal process, Head Teacher’s are required to complete the following for their staff:

  • Lesson Observation
  • Review of teacher documentation
  • Appraisal Form
  • Appraisal Interview
  • 3 minute walk through (optional – but encouraged on a regular basis)

While student discipline is not the primary responsibility of the subject department head, Head Teachers should support and counsel their staff, in a manner consistent with the school’s discipline policy, in matters of classroom behaviour or subject related discipline matters (eg: plagiarism).

Role Model

Each Head Teacher should strive to be the role model of the subject area. Head Teachers must ensure that their professional development is not neglected because of commitment in other areas.

Head Teachers should ensure that:

  • They continue to develop their own teaching methods
  • Have a sound grasp of all aspects of their discipline and current methods of teaching
  • Maintain professional reading (BOS publications, Professional journals etc)
  • Model appropriate conduct, dress, Christian life style / behaviour / language
  • Attend appropriate in-service courses approved by the school
  • Encourage participation in competitions, excursions, and other such stimulus activities
  • Encourage differentiation of teaching and learning within the classroom
  • Encourage strategies which enhance higher levels thinking in all classrooms
  • Integrate the use IT in their curriculum / teaching

The School

Head Teachers should participate whole heartedly in the broader life of the school. Whole staff meetings, assemblies, information evenings, graduations etc as well as conducting their own staff meetings.

As part of the Curriculum Team, Head Teachers liaise with the wider school leadership of whole school issues and serve as funnels of information, where appropriate, between school executive and their departments.

Vision:In Christ’s service our vision is to provide quality Christian Educationfounded on the Word of God.