One of the most important issues facing education today is the restoration of a sound culture of teaching and learning. This drive has resulted in acknowledging the key role head of departments as instructional leaders play in effective and improving schools. Principals are no longer the sole instructional leaders of schools. The restructuring of schools to empower teachers has resulted in the distribution of leadership, keeping teaching and learning at the centre of their activities. Their central role as instructional leaders in all the programmes of a school and the impact they have on the tone and ethos which are conducive to teaching and learning is critical in the process of building a sound culture of teaching and learning.
The department head of the school is responsible for leading the development of a specific subject area, and for managing the teaching staff and financial resources allocated to them under their department.
Heads of department are academic leaders in their disciplines and work with their head of school and with other heads of department to deliver school strategic objectives. Heads of department are accountable to their head of institution.
The specific purpose of the role of Head of Department will be to provide leadership in relation to discipline specific matters within the school.
THE KEY DUTIES OF THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT WILL BE TO:
- Leadership
- Research and Teaching
- People Management
- Resource Management
- Planning
- Enterprise
- Interdisciplinary
The head of a department at school is given a particular subject as an area of responsibility, and it is their charge to raise the standards attained by students within that subject area. The department head seeks to raise overall standards of education by enhancing the quality and consistency of the teaching delivered by teachers under their supervision. The head of department ensures that the teachers and support staff are adequately equipped with the technology and materials they require to deliver the curriculum effectively, and are accountable directly to the head teacher.
The head of school will be responsible for academic members of the school. However, the Head of school may delegate some line management activities to the head of department although the head of school will retain accountability to the school for the management and development of all academic staff within their school.
By: RENATO R. SALANDANAN | Head Teacher III | BONIFACIO CAMACHO NHS
