HOD English & Languages

Head of Department Job Description

The Head of Department (HOD) is responsible for delivering instruction for 16-18 periods per week, each lasting 55 minutes. The primary focus will be on senior classes (Grades 11 & 12) in the international stream, which accommodates both overseas students and Papua New Guinean students who are paying the International course fee. These students may be enrolled in either the ACT program alone or a blend of the ACTIB program. Additionally, PNG citizens will be preparing for their PNG examinations. The curriculum for grades 11 and 12 centers around the IBDP English A1 (Literature). The HOD may also have teaching responsibilities for grades 9 and 10, where students participate in the IGCSE English program. Extra teaching periods for senior and IB classes may be necessary after school or on Saturdays.

Assessment

The HOD is responsible for ensuring that all assessment items meet the standards established by external providers. Continuous internal assessments are implemented in both the ACT and PNG systems, underscoring the importance of high-quality assessment items. Moreover, marks from different strands must be integrated; for example, the internal marks of PNG students enrolled in the International Programme must be consolidated with those of students in the PNG-only pathway to ensure fairness and equity. The HOD will keep accurate records of assessments and student marks and will conduct analysis of student performance data.

Staff

In most departments, around 90% of the staff will be from PNG. A key component of this role involves supervising, monitoring, and supporting these educators. The HOD will manage a Performance Management system for their team. Professional Development is highly valued, and HODs are expected to engage actively within their department and across the school. Recent pedagogical focuses for the school have included formative assessment, differentiation, and literacy enhancement. The HOD will also strive to build a unified departmental team, which can be challenging due to varying teaching loads; HODs typically work with smaller classes in the international streams, while PNG staff manage larger classes in the PNG-only strand, resulting in different content and teaching experiences.

HOD English & Languages

• The HOD of EAL currently instructs senior English classes in grades 11 & 12, generally comprising fewer than 20 students. These students follow the ACT Literature course, which aligns with the IB English A Literature curriculum. The HOD will also teach IGCSE English.
• The EAL Department at POMIS consists of nine other English teachers and one French teacher. In grades 7 and 8, all students follow the Cambridge 1 Lower Secondary Syllabus, as well as the PNG Certificate of Basic Education examination. From grades 9 to 12, all Papua New Guinean students undertake the PNG Lower (Grade 10) and Upper (Grade 12) Secondary School certificate examinations. Overseas students and Papua New Guineans paying an additional fee will study IGCSE English in grades 9 & 10 and the ACT English course in grades 11 & 12, with some also participating in the IB program. The department also includes a French teacher who teaches IGCSE – IB French.

International School Port Moresby is a leading educational institution located in Oceania, Papua New Guinea, committed to providing exceptional education through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) curriculum for high/secondary school students.

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 a relevant field
• A minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in English and Literature
• Previous experience in a leadership role within an educational setting is preferred
• Familiarity with the IB DP curriculum is highly desirable
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Apply via the WhatSchool platform.