1. education
2. school

APPOINTMENT OF HEAD OF BEN MADIGAN,
PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT OF
BELFAST ROYAL ACADEMY
The Ben Madigan Preparatory Department is a long-established and integral part of Belfast
Royal Academy. It is non-denominational and open to boys and girls. The present Head of
the Preparatory Department, Mrs Violet McCaig, has been in post since 1993 and is retiring
at the end of this academic year.
Ben Madigan is situated on a spectacular site adjacent to the grounds of Belfast Castle, with
panoramic views over Belfast Lough. It comprises 2 main buildings. One houses our PrePrep / Daycare Unit and Preps 1 & 2. The other houses Preps 3-7, a library/ICT suite,
dining/PE hall and the office.
All classrooms are fitted with data projectors and most have “Apple TV”. We have a
growing number of iPads for use by staff and children throughout the school. In addition
there are specialist rooms for art and music. There are excellent rugby facilities and a top
quality cricket square and outfield to the front of the school, together with a changing
pavilion. Pupils also benefit from use of the sporting facilities at the Roughfort site,
including the synthetic hockey pitch.
Around the grounds are various playgrounds, adventure trails and a nature trail.
Ben Madigan provides wraparound care, with the curriculum progressing through the PreSchool to P1 to P7 and extended provision at the After School Club. There are currently 32
children enrolled in the Pre-Preparatory Department.
There are two Playgroup Leaders and two Playgroup Assistants, an After Schools Leader and
3 Assistants.
The Preparatory Department currently has an enrolment of 126 pupils and, including the
Head of Department, there are eight full time members of the teaching staff.
Ben Madigan staff work closely with and are supported by administrative, financial and ICT
staff at Belfast Royal Academy.
The school is financially sound and has attracted a significant level of interest among
parents over the last number of years, with intake both to Pre-Prep and Prep 1 increasing.
We anticipate an intake of 25 pupils for Prep 1 and up to 32 for Pre-Prep for September
2015.
Classroom Assistants
At present Preps 1 & 2 have designated classroom assistants. In addition there are currently
5 assistants for children who have specific difficulties.
The School Day
Children may arrive from 8.30 am with school starting at 8.50 am. They are supervised
during break and lunch times. School ends at 2.30 pm (Preps 1-3) or 3.10 pm (Preps 4-7).
In addition our wrap-around Daycare may be booked for 8.00 – 8.30 am Breakfast Club and
2.30 – 5.30 pm After School Club.
Daycare/Pre school
Ben Madigan is registered with Social Services to provide care for up to 32 children in a
variety of sessions. Staffing is on a ratio of 1:8 and all staff have to undergo additional
vetting including a medical examination.
The Head of the Preparatory Department is designated “Manager” of this unit and has a
number of responsibilities in this regard. He/she is also required to undergo the additional
Social Services vetting.
Ben Madigan enjoys a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence. Pupils are
prepared for the AQE admissions test. 100% of pupils attained a grammar school place in
the prior year and all pupils gained admission to their first choice of secondary level school.
Classroom learning is balanced with extra-curricular variety to ensure that our pupils
develop a sense of personal achievement.
Care for the individual child underpins all the work done in the Preparatory Department.
There is a strong sense of community. Children enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular
activities, including French, Spanish, Judo, Monkeynastix and Debutots run by outside
bodies and Cross Country, Shutterbugs (photography), Choir, Board Games, Dance and ICT
run by teaching staff. Sports Days for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are held each summer
term and children regularly participate in competitions/events involving swimming,
athletics, hockey and rugby. Both our boys’ and girls’ hockey teams have qualified for NI
finals this year.
Our priority is the wellbeing and all round development of each pupil. Expectations for all
are high and pupils are encouraged to develop as tolerant, independent, confident and
accomplished individuals. Teaching and learning in the Department follows the Northern
Ireland Curriculum and Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 staff work closely
together to ensure progression in each area of the curriculum. A recent Inspection
endorsed the high standards in the Department, which was judged to be ‘Very Good’.
Current Initiatives
In the current Development Plan Cycle the school has developed Activity Based Learning,
more in depth approaches to assessment and record keeping and our use of ICT. Several
policies have been updated including Child Protection, Anti bullying and eSafety Policy.
The links between the parents and teachers are valued. Regular parent teacher interviews
ensure that parents are fully informed as to the progress and welfare of their children.
Parents also provide support through acting as volunteers on school trips and residentials.
The successful applicant will be expected to maintain and improve academic and extracurricular opportunities, including developing the use of ICT within the school. Marketing of
the Department to maintain and increase numbers will also be important.
Short listed candidates will be invited to visit the Preparatory Department prior to interview.
HEAD OF BEN MADIGAN PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
HEAD OF THE PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT
Responsible to:
The Head of the Preparatory Department is responsible for the overall efficient and
effective leadership and management of the work of the Preparatory Department. The
Head of the Preparatory Department reports to the Headmaster of Belfast Royal Academy
and through him, to the Education Committee and the Board of Governors.
A Teaching Duties:
i.
The Head of the Preparatory Department has responsibility for teaching his / her
class.
Teaching duties
The present Principal teaches part-time in Prep 4. Administrative time is presently
approximately 11 hours in various blocks during the week. During this time the class
is taught mainly by the 8th member of staff.
B Duties of the Head of Department:
i.
Drawing up, implementing
Development Plan
ii.
Ensuring that the welfare of the individual child is paramount
iii.
Ensuring that pupils have access to a wide range of extra-curricular activities
iv.
Implementing the curriculum in the Preparatory Department in keeping with the
requirements of the Northern Ireland Common Curriculum
v.
Ensuring that all Department policies are kept under regular review
vi.
Co-ordinating the work of staff in Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
through regular Department meetings and through meetings with the Key Stage and
subject co-ordinators.
vii.
Evaluating the effectiveness of teaching and learning within the Department
viii.
Effective monitoring, evaluation and review of good practice and the ability to
disseminate this to colleagues.
ix.
and
The effective deployment of staff
monitoring
the
Preparatory Department
x.
Assisting the Headmaster and the Board of Governors in making appointments to
the Preparatory Department of teaching staff and assisting the Bursar with nonteaching appointments
xi.
Encouraging staff development within the Department through appropriate Inservice training and through the allocation of responsibilities in curricular and extracurricular activities
xii.
Encouraging good communications and a co-operative team approach within the
Department
xiii.
Working in close contact with the Headmaster on the leadership and management of
the Preparatory Department
xiv.
Encouraging good relationships and good communication with parents through
regular contact and through the school website and documents such as the
Newsletter and the Prospectus.
xv.
Responsibility for Admissions policy and procedures in conjunction with the
Headmaster and Board of Governors
xvi.
Responsibility for Health and Safety and premises management within the
Preparatory Department in conjunction with the Bursar
xvii.
Management of the Budget allocated for teaching resources in the Preparatory
Department in conjunction with the Bursar
xviii.
Fulfilling the role of Manager for the Daycare Unit
xix.
Marketing and promoting the Preparatory Department and Daycare Unit
Salary
The post of Head of Ben Madigan Preparatory Department carries the 4th Teaching
Allowance.
BELFAST ROYAL ACADEMY
HEAD OF BEN MADIGAN PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT
PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION
1.
Education and Professional Qualifications:
Essential:
i. A teaching qualification recognised by the Department of Education for teaching in a
primary school
ii. Have a good Honours degree (2 2 minimum) or equivalent postgraduate
qualification.
2.
Experience and Training
Essential:
i. At least 7 years’ successful experience of teaching in a Preparatory Department and /
or primary school in the last ten years
ii. Evidence of the ability to lead a self-evaluating Department
iii. Recent relevant in-service training
iv. Responsibility for an area of the curriculum at Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2
v. Knowledge of the N.I. curriculum at Foundation Stage ,Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
and awareness of current curriculum initiatives
3.
Desirable:
i. Experience of holding a Post of Responsibility within a Preparatory Department or
primary school
ii. Have had a minimum of 2 years’ successful experience in the last 5 years of a
leadership role in a Preparatory Department or Primary School
iii. Evidence of involvement in curriculum development
iv. Evidence of professional development, such as PQH, MA, RTU Leadership
Programme and or equivalent.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Specific Aptitudes and Abilities:
Essential:
Evidence of strong interpersonal skills
Excellent communication skills
Evidence of the ability to provide leadership and to build a team
Evidence of strong ICT skills to support teaching and learning
Evidence of the ability to promote extra-curricular activities
Evidence of strong written communication skills
Depending on the number of applications for this post, the school reserves the right to
upgrade the essential criteria to the desirable criteria, for the purposes of short-listing
applications.