THE DEPARTMENTAL SYSTEM
amended July 3, 2005

1. AIMS

2. PREAMBLE

The academic work of St Peter's is organised along departmental lines; every lesson, except form period, is taken under the aegis of one or other head of department. Therefore, the rôle of the head of department in the management of learning at St Peter's cannot be exaggerated.

Heads of department are appointed on the basis of their ability, experience and subject knowledge; there is a need for them to make these qualities available to other teachers of the subject. In addition, heads of department should express a departmental point of view in whole-school policy making. Their rôle is to contribute to school policy and to interpret it in departmental terms. It must be emphasised that heads of department are ultimately responsible to the headteacher and this assumption underlies everything which follows; the attitudes of the heads of department will set the tone and establish the morale of the whole department.

3. OBLIGATIONS REQUIRED BY POLICY

v Heads of department should

first and foremost encourage, motivate and support all teachers of the subject;

set high standards of teaching and organisation;

establish a climate where co-operation, in collaborative teaching and in seeing each other work, for example, is the norm;

advise the school's leadership team through their line manager on all matters relating to their departments and represent their departments' thinking as required during decision making about school policy;

be aware of wider educational issues and play a significant part in the school's organisation and in the development of its educational philosophy;

undertake pastoral responsibilities within their departments, particularly where behavioural and discipline problems surface, and so should liaise with heads of school;

formulate clear aims and objectives and indicate teaching approaches and units of learning in line with the school's curriculum policy;

provide clear units of learning and programmes of study to be followed within the department;

ensure that these programmes of study and units of learning are followed and that each pupil is getting his or her fair entitlement;

hold regular departmental meetings, which are minuted;

consult all members of the department about significant changes and development in teaching practice or in policy;

delegate responsibilities sensibly and sensitively;

confer with the headteacher and SMT about new appointments when appropriate;

support carefully teachers new to the department;

set work for absent members of staff;

supervise the provision of INSET within the department;

be responsible for the departmental budget and the purchase and maintenance of resources, keeping close control of stock;

supervise the allocation of rooms to the subject and take the lead in maintaining the rooms and spaces in which the subject is taught;

liaise with other heads of department to work towards a balanced, integrated curriculum;

monitor the department's marking and assessment procedures, and identify pupils with special educational needs;

be responsible for formal testing within the department;

take responsibility for explaining departmental policy to parents, governors and other interested parties;

visit departmental colleagues to see teaching in progress;

work constantly to improve the quality of learning in the department;

maintain national curriculum records within the department;

monitor the setting, completion and marking of homework throughout the department;

encourage teachers within the department to give credits to pupils where earned;

ensure that examination coursework is sensibly programmed, to avoid pupils being overburdened with coursework from a large number of departments, and that it is completed before the school deadline.

vii Teachers should

contribute to the running of the department in which they teach, supporting their heads of department in planning, in discussion and in the practice of good teaching, especially through the evaluation and on-going revision of units of learning.


4. The execution of this policy shall be monitored by the school's leadership team.