Controlled Schools%Unit - Education Partner; Post Primary

JOB DESCRIPTION

SERVICE AREA: Education Directorate – Controlled Schools’ Unit

RESPONSIBLE TO: Programme Director Controlled Schools’ Unit

• Controlled Schools’ Unit (CSU) – Educational Partner (Post Primary)

RESPONSIBLE FOR: The CSU – Educational Partner (Post Primary) will be responsible for leading the provision of high‑quality strategic support and challenge to Controlled Schools across the region, working as part of the CSU Team, in order to improve the quality of educational provision and outcomes for children and young people. It will also include supporting the Education Authority’s implementation of the Transform

ED programme and other DE and EA priorities.

All Controlled Schools will be monitored, supported and challenged through the work of the CSU. Controlled Schools will be monitored, identified and prioritised for targeted support and challenge. CSU Educational Partners will draw on a range of intervention strategies, involving direct support and challenge, as well as the brokering, commissioning and facilitation of support services from schools and other providers. The CSU nurtures existing networks of Controlled Schools and practitioners and will support the development of new ones, in order to facilitate school‑to‑school support at sectoral level.

All CSU Educational Partners work closely with other officers across the Education Directorate and other Directorates, to ensure that school improvement is integral to other regional services, and contributes to improved outcomes for all children and young people.

The CSU Educational Partner has the following responsibilities:

• Provide challenge and support to Controlled Schools in raising standards and enabling the EA to meet Department of Education priorities.
• Act as an Educational Partner for Controlled Schools ensuring the provision of support and challenge in relation to:
  • Leadership and management.
  • Self‑evaluation.
  • School development planning & target setting.
  • Academic performance.
  • Learning and teaching.
  • Undertake a leadership role in identified aspects of school improvement within the CSU team.
  • Undertake analysis of school performance and management data and contribute to development of school profiles and information systems.
  • Contribute to the process for the identification of Controlled Schools where there is potential or actual cause for concern.
  • Undertake the role of CSU Educational Partner for identified Controlled Schools.
  • Support and develop existing and new clusters and networks of Controlled Schools and practitioners across the system, to develop collaborative working which will contribute to school improvement.
  • Identify and disseminate effective practice and facilitate access to networks and examples of effective practice.
  • Monitor and evaluate how effectively Controlled Schools are working towards DE priorities.
  • Support the identification of under‑achieving groups of pupils, by monitoring the quality of education to ensure that all pupils have an equal opportunity to learn and achieve.
  • Represent the EA at Boards of Governors’ meetings, as required.
  • Undertake the role of Assessor, within the appointment scheme for Controlled Schools, as required.
  • Attend meetings relating to the inspection process in Controlled Schools across the region.
  • Lead and contribute to project teams and working groups established to support EA & DE priorities, as required.
  • Maintain personal knowledge of the curriculum, of teacher professional learning, and of strategies for monitoring, evaluation, and the development of high‑quality educational provision.
  • Contribute to responses to Assembly Questions, FOI requests, correspondence and complaints in relation to schools within the locality.
  • Contribute to the preparation of EA Board and Committee papers as required.
  • Undertake such training as may be required for his/her own personal and professional development.

• Challenge performance and work to agreed protocols.
• Act as an enabler by providing professional support to drive delivery.
• Enable knowledge transfer through reference to up‑to‑date knowledge and access…