Profession secondary school head teacher

Secondary school head teachers are responsible for meeting curriculum standards, which facilitate academic development for the students. They manage staff, working closely with the different department heads, and evaluate the subject teachers in a timely manner in order to secure optimal class performance. They also ensure the school meets the national education requirements set by law and cooperate with local communities and governments. They may also work in vocational schools.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Social
• Enterprising / Conventional

Knowledge

• Project management

  Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.

• Education law

  The area of law and legislation that concerns education policies and the people working in the sector in an (inter)national context, such as teachers, students, and administrators.

• Curriculum standards

  The governmental policies concerning educational curricula and the approved curricula from specific educational institutions.

• Curriculum objectives

  The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

• Pedagogy

  The discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.

Skills

• Cooperate with education professionals

  Communicate with teachers or other professionals working in education in order to identify needs and areas of improvement in education systems, and to establish a collaborative relationship.

• Maintain students' discipline

  Make sure students follow the rules and code of behaviour established in the school and take the appropriate measures in case of violation or misbehaviour.

• Show an exemplary leading role in an organisation

  Perform, act, and behave in a manner that inspires collaborators to follow the example given by their managers.

• Manage staff

  Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.

• Apply for government funding

  Gather information on and apply for subsidies, grants, and other financing programmes provided by the government to small- and large-scale projects or organisations in various fields.

• Analyse staff capacity

  Evaluate and identify staffing gaps in quantity, skills, performance revenue and surpluses.

• Monitor educational developments

  Monitor the changes in educational policies, methodologies and research by reviewing relevant literature and liaising with education officials and institutions.

• Liaise with board members

  Report to the management, boards of directors and committees of an organisation.

• Write work-related reports

  Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.

• Liaise with educational staff

  Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.

• Supervise educational staff

  Monitor and evaluate the actions of the educational staff such as teaching or research assistants and teachers and their methods. Mentor, train, and give advice to them if necessary.

• Present reports

  Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.

• Assist in the organisation of school events

  Provide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school's open house day, a sports game or a talent show.

• Represent the organisation

  Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.

• Manage school budget

  Conduct cost estimates and budget planning from an educational institution or school. Monitor the school budget, as well as costs and expenses. Report on the budget.

• Guarantee students' safety

  Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.

• Manage enrolment

  Decide on the number of available places and select pupils or students on the basis of set criteria and according to national legislation.

• Develop organisational policies

  Develop and supervise the implementation of policies aimed at documenting and detailing the procedures for the operations of the organisation in the lights of its strategic planning.

• Secondary school procedures

  The inner workings of a secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB