JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Deputy Head - Kindergarten

Line Manager: Head Master/Mistress

Purpose of Job
• Establish, evaluate and develop the academic aims and standards of the Kindergarten in
partnership with students, staff, governors, HIMS personnel and parents.
• Take co-responsibility with Head Master/Mistress the for the leadership, and management of the
Kindergarten.
• Assist the Head Master/Mistress in establishing and maintaining a vibrant and thriving school
• Manage the performance of the Kindergarten teaching staff.
• Ensure that quality educational programmes take place in a safe, positive and healthy learning
environment.
Duties and Responsibilities

Overall Responsibilities

• Work alongside with the Head Master/Mistress for strategic and effective management of the
Kindergarten.
• Promote high standards in all aspects of school life, particularly in students’ personal and
academic progress.
• Actively support the vision, ethos, culture and policies of the School.
• Inspire and motivate students, teachers and other school employees.
• Comply with the professional duties of the Harrow staff Code of Conduct.
• Contribute to a school culture which is positive, purposeful and professional.
• Engage with the Head Master/Mistress positively in the school Appraisal process and
performance management arrangements.
• Be committed to safeguarding and to promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Leading Learning and Teaching

• Liaise with colleagues across school to ensure smooth transition of pupils between year
groups/key stages.
• Lead the development of a first-class learning environment that encompasses the applicable
requirements of the Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide (Curriculum Development Council,
Hong Kong, 2017) and the Performance Indicators – Kindergartens (Education Bureau
HKSARG, 2017) and the Operation Manual for Pre-Primary Institutions (Education Bureau
HKSARG, September 2022).
• To have an in depth knowledge of the Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide, with the
capacity to effectively blend subject content and pedagogical approaches with school-based
needs.
• Coordinate both on-campus and outside-campus learning activities and play-based programmes.
• Employ effective and innovative methods for the collection of pupils’ developmental data.
• Set a model of excellence in classroom practice.
• Carry out all the duties of a class teacher when necessary.
• Undertake a yearly cycle of self-evaluation and improvement planning on the delivery of the
curriculum.
• Track student progress, monitor standards of learning and teaching in order to set realistic
academic targets for pupils.
• Stay abreast and contribute to action research relevant to kindergarten education.

Developing Staff

• Line manage Kindergarten staff

• Lead appraisals of relevant staff members and facilitate CPD through providing training and
support

Wider responsibilities

• Coordinate curriculum timetables in liaison with the Deputy Head (Academic - Whole School) and
rotas such as break times and assemblies, and ensure staff follow the expectations and rules.
• Deal proactively and in a timely manner, with parental concerns.
• Be an integral part of the leadership team assisting in the leadership of the whole School.
• Build strong relationships with parents and assist in the coordination and delivery of parent
curriculum meetings and/or workshops as appropriate.
• Lead assemblies.
• Monitor the welfare of all pupils.
• Coordinate Kindergarten admissions and enrolment, administration and staff management.
• Arrange (and sometimes provide) cover for all classes and keep records of absence.

Pastoral Care

• To ensure the safety and security of the children at all times and to bring to the attention of the
senior staff any matters concerning the wellbeing of the children. This includes following the
school Safeguarding procedure.
• In collaboration with Deputy Head (Pastoral – Whole School), to co-ordinate the necessary
support and pastoral care for pupils inside and outside the classroom to fulfil the requirements of
‘close personal tutoring’ alongside a co-tutor.
• To consistently apply the school Positive Behaviour Procedure and challenge any inappropriate
behaviour displayed by our pupils. This includes, but not limited to, swearing and unsavoury
comments in any language about or to staff or other pupils, bullying and truanting.

Collegiality

• Lead by example and set high and realistic expectations in all professional matters, ensuring that
all staff and pupils observe matters such as dress, behaviour, punctuality, attendance and mutual
support.
• Maintain a teaching load appropriate to the position, including participation in extra-curricular
activities as appropriate, and as agreed with the Head Master/Mistress.
• Ensure that staff and pupils commit to supporting learning through the school's Virtual
Learning Environment (VLE) and other relevant platforms.
• Although not a member of a particular House, attend House activities as well as Expeditions as
required.
• Together with the Head Master/Mistress, manage staff disciplinary issues effectively and in a
timely manner.

Communications and Public Relations

• Actively establish good relations with parents and all other visitors to the school.
• Present a coherent and accurate account of the school’s performance in formats appropriate to
a range of audiences.
• Oversee the organisation of and attend academic parents’ evenings and be available to meet
parents as required.
• Oversee the production of reports, working with the Deputy Heads, Heads of School, Key Stage
Leaders and ICT Services.
• Communicate closely with parents and ensure that pupil progress is regularly reported, and
relevant data is always available.
• Support and attend all major school events.
• Work to maintain effective partnerships with the community, promoting and representing the
school at local, national and international level.
• Operate effective communication channels throughout the school.

Safeguarding

• Take seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and to work
together with others to ensure adequate arrangements within the school help to identify, assess,
and support children who are suffering harm.
• Ensure the ongoing Health & Security for all Kindergarten stakeholders.

Other Responsibilities

• The school offers full and part-time boarding for students from Year 4 and up. All of our staff make
a contribution to our lively boarding programme of evening and weekend activities and excursions
at various times throughout the academic year. This is a fun and rewarding way of supporting the
development of our students and building strong relationships with Harrow and the wider
community.
• Undertake other reasonable duties as requested by the Deputy Head (Academic – Whole School)
and any duties that the Head Master/Mistress deems necessary for the effective operation of the
school.
Requirements

Education, training and qualifications

• Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Early Years Education (EYE)

• Qualified Kindergarten Teacher / Child Care Worker / Child Care Supervisor qualification
respectively recognized by Hong Kong Education Bureau and Social Welfare Department

Knowledge and experience

• At least 2 years of administrative-level leadership experience in EYE.

• Experience in teaching learners with diverse needs, especially EAL in early childhood / pre-
primary stage.
• Experience in managing performance of staff.
• Experience in effective relationship management with a variety of stakeholders.
• Experience or clear understanding of early childhood stage school leadership in a Hong Kong
curriculum setting (knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum will be a bonus).
• Knowledge and understanding of child development from birth to six, and its impact on behavior
and implications on play-based curriculum implementation.
• Knowledge and understanding of positive behaviour management of students and evidence
effective practice in a range of settings.
• High Level of spoken and written English (IELTS Level 6.5 or above).

Personal qualities

• Proficient in Cantonese, Mandarin and English

• Have the ability and willingness to inspire others; leading by example.
• Be a role model for the school’s vision statement and the Harrow Staff Code of Conduct.
• Be flexible and capable of managing change and instilling high standards.
• Be highly motivated, ambitious and collaborative and willing to take the initiative.
• Have high levels of honesty and integrity in aspects of their role.
• Demonstrate empathy, humility and genuine care about staff and pupils, taking time to support,
guide and motivate them.
• Be able to think strategically and drive improvements in pupil welfare and their wider learning
experiences.
• Have excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate strategic leadership and the ability to lead and manage a team to deliver the school
development plan effectively

Others

• A clean enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check or police check and no question
regarding suitability to work with children.
Education is an ever-changing service and all staff are expected to participate constructively in school
activities and to adopt a flexible approach to their work. Whilst every effort has been made to explain the
main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. The post
holder will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from the line manager to undertake work of
a similar level that is not specified in this job description. This job description may be amended at any time
following discussion between the line manager and member of staff, and will be reviewed annually during
the appraisal process, and will be varied in the light of the business needs of the school.