Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages - Spanish/French

8. Number of days/Hours of work

8.1

a) A full-time teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available for work on 195 days in any year of which not more than 190 days should involve teaching children in a classroom situation;

b) A teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available to perform such duties at such times and such places as may reasonably be specified by the Principal, or where he/she is employed by a Board on terms under which he/she is not assigned to any one school by the Board or the Principal of any school in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher, for 1,265 hours in any year exclusive of time spent off school premises in preparing and marking lessons and time spent travelling to and from the place of work;

c) A teacher may not be required to teach as distinct from supervise children in a classroom situation for more than 25 hours in any week in a primary or special school and 23.5 hours in any week in a secondary school;

d) Unless employed under a separate contract as a mid-day supervisor, a teacher shall not be required to undertake mid-day supervision;

e) Subject to paragraph (f) all teachers shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.00 pm;

f) Teachers in nursery schools and nursery units in primary schools shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.30 pm;

g) For the purposes of this paragraph, a 'year' means a period of 12 months commencing on 31st July and a 'week' means a period of 7 days commencing on a Sunday.

9. Staff cover

9.1 Supervising and teaching any pupils whose teacher is not available provided that:

a) In schools with an average daily enrolment of 222 or less, in primary 1 and primary 2 classes in schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils and in nursery classes in primary schools a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover:

b) In schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover after the second day on which a teacher, other than a teacher of primary 1 or primary 2 class or of a nursery class in a primary school, is absent or otherwise not available, or from the first day if the fact that the teacher would be absent or otherwise not available for a period exceeding 2 days was known to and agreed by the employing authority in advance.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Essential Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Professional Membership

By the date of taking up appointment Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland

By the date of taking up appointment to Hold a degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent which has prepared the applicant to teach French and Spanish as the major components

Shortlisting by Application Form

Experience

Experience of teaching French and Spanish in a post-primary school to at least Key Stage 3 (includes teaching practice)

Demonstrate through qualifications or experience the ability to contribute and enhance at least one of the following:

1. Mid-week extra curricular / co-curricular programmes
2. Saturday games programme

Shortlisting by Application Form

Skills/Abilities

Demonstrable experience of a variety of teaching strategies to cater for the needs of all learners including those with Special Educational Needs

Demonstrable experience of using digital media/technology to enhance teaching and learning

Demonstrate the ability to seek and avail of opportunities to enhance his/her professional competence as a teacher

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up post

Pre-employment Check

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage.

Factor

Essential Criteria

Method of Assessment

Knowledge

Demonstrable current knowledge of the curriculum at Key Stage 3 for MFL - Spanish and French

Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Northern Ireland Curriculum

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of approaches to assessment in order to promote effective teaching and student progress, including baselining.

Demonstrable knowledge of current developments in the teaching of Spanish and French

Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection policy/practice and its implications

Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and its implications

Interview

Skills / Abilities

Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively to promote positive relationships with pupils, colleagues, parents and the wider community

Demonstrable ability to work as an effective team member by using initiative, taking a creative approach to problem solving.

Demonstrable ability to provide a supportive and challenging learning environment, including using assessment to promote effective teaching and progress.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Demonstrate the ability to seek and avail of opportunitie4s to increase his/her own professional competence as a teacher.

Ability to inspire enthusiasm for French and Spanish through active learning

Excellent classroom management skills

Effective communication skills

Interview

Experience
Demonstrable experience of using effective classroom approaches which raise pupil achievement in French and Spanish

Demonstrable experience of using a range of effective classroom approaches to provide support and challenge children and young people of all abilities, including those with Special Educational Needs.
Interview Presentation Topic (if applicable)
The interview will entail a short example of lesson planning, with previously unseen material.

Candidate will then teach Governors part of the lesson

Questions and Answers in target language(s)
Interview

Values Orientation / Identification with School Ethos

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect the School's Values/ethos. You will find information about our Values/ethos on the school's website

Interview

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Desirable Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications and Experience

Hold an honours degree (2:1 or above)

Minimum of one years' demonstrable experience of teaching Modern Foreign Languages at Key Stage 3 to achieve positive learning outcomes

Shortlisting by Application Form

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as 'regulated activity'.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves 'regulated activity', the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.