HOD English & Languages

Head of Department Job Description
1.    Teaching
HODs normally teach 16-18 55 minute periods. Their classes will usually be senior classes (Grade 11 & 12) in the international stream. This means overseas students and PNG stds paying the International course fee. These students could be following ACT programme alone or a combined ACTIB programme. PNG citizens will also sit their PNG exams. The syllabus in grade 11 &12is based around the IBDP English A1 (Literature). They may also teach in grade 9 & 10 where students follow the IGCSE English programme. Teach extra periods for senior and IB classes where required after school or on Saturdays.

2.    Assessment
HOD is responsible to ensure that all assessment items meet the requirements of all external providers. The ACT & PNG Systems both use continuous internal assessments and so standard of assessment items is important. Also in these systems marks from different strands have to be combined together e.g there will PNG stds following the International Programme and the internal marks generate there have to be combined with the internal marks of the students following PNG only. This has to be done equitably and fairly. The HOD is responsible to ensure this is done. Maintain records of assessments that have been set and marks obtained by students and analyse student results

3.    Staff
In any department up to 90% of the staff will be PNG. A key aspect of the job is the supervision, monitoring and development of these staff. There is a Performance Management system in place and the HOD is responsible for that for their staff. Professional Development is very important and there is an expectation that HODs will be active in their department and in the wholes school. Key pedagogy focuses for the school in recent years have been formative assessment, differentiation and literacy.
The HOD also has to develop the department as a team and this can be a challenge as the PNG staff tend to teach quite a different load from the HODs. The HODs teach in the international streams where classes tend to be smaller and the PNG staff teach in the PNG only strand where classes are bigger and so in terms of content and teaching environment experiences are different which can present a challenge.

4.    HOD English & Languages
a.    HOD EAL currently teaches the senior English groups in grade 11 & 12. This group is small in number (<20 usually). They all follow the ACT Literature course which has been written around the IB English A Literature course. The HOD will also teach IGCSE English.
b.    The EAL Department at POMIS consists of 9 other English teachers and one French teacher. In grade 7 & 8 all students follow the Cambridge 1 Lower Secondary Syllabus and students also do the PNG Certificate of Basic Education examination. In grade 9 to 12 all Papua New Guinean students do the PNG Lower (Grade 10) and Upper (grade 12) Secondary School certificate examinations. Overseas students and Papua New Guineans paying an extra fee will do IGCSE English in grade 9 & 10 and the Australian Capital Territory English course in grade 11 & 12 with some of them also doing the IB in 11& 12 as well. There is also a French teacher teaching IGCSE – IB French as part of the department
International School Port Moresby is a leading educational institution located in Oceania, Papua New Guinea. We are committed to providing high-quality education following the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) curriculum for students at the High/Secondary School level.

Position: Head of Department - English & Languages
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Minimum Qualification: Bachelor Degree
Minimum Experience: 5 years

Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Education or related field
- Minimum of 5 years teaching experience in English and Literature
- Previous experience in a leadership role within an educational setting preferred
- Familiarity with IB DP curriculum is highly desirable 
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills 
- Excellent organizational and time management abilities 

Values and Attitudes:
As a member of our school community, we value individuals who demonstrate:
- Passion for education and student development 
- Commitment to fostering a positive learning environment 
- Collaborative approach to working with colleagues, students, and parents 
- Adaptability and willingness to embrace new challenges 

If you meet the above criteria and are excited about leading the English & Languages department within our school, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity.

Starting Date - We have indicated January 2026 but if the right person is not available until April the incumbent is wiling to remain in the position until then.