Learning Centre Manager

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE MANAGER

RESPONSIBLE FOR: LIBRARIANS AND ALL STAFF WHILST USING THE LEARNING RESOURCES CENTRE (LRC).

Management of the Learning Resource Centres agenda and staffing.

36 hours per week

Term Time Only

Primary Functions:

• Design and development of the schools Library systems.
• Control of delegated budget for the Library.
• Decision maker for all contracts linked to Library Services to gain best value.
• Performance management of Library school staff.
• Management and systems co-ordinator the Library Services for over 3,000 users.
• Design and procurement of all Safer Schools Initiatives and Library systems for Primary phase.
• Project leader and decision maker for all department soft and hardware packages.
• Delivery of an innovative approach for Library services appropriate for outer schools learning.
• To design an innovative and challenging curriculum meeting student needs for out of school learning.
• To be educated to degree level.
• To liaise with partner schools and the SLS to provide leadership with the library service.
• To network with agencies providing PSCHE, a statutory requirement in education to all stakeholders.
• To lead on the Learning Resources Centre policy through the school development plan objectives.
• Working with all agencies following current legislation to develop community partnerships and awareness of government policy changes.
• To analyse, assess and resource according to Oliver Library Systems for the needs of the students.

Core Purpose of the post

To establish and maintain the effective use of the LRC as a key feature of school improvement, daily accessible and well used by students in support of their learning both within and outside the formal school curriculum. Management and implementation of programmes involving the school and the wider community developing students personal, social and health education needs.

1. School Mission Context

• To specifically ensure that the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is fully supportive and integrated into the educational purposes of the School and actively contributes to the processes of teaching and learning.
• To create a School culture in which the effective use of resource based learning, educational technologies and techniques are an entitlement for all students and make a positive impact on learning and motivation.
• As a senior member of the support staff, to promote the School ethos, culture and work in a positive light, encouraging and supporting colleagues, demonstrating and establishing a commitment to quality and Best Practice.
• To foster good relationships with students, parents and all relevant external agencies, promoting the image of the School on all occasions, notably through the management of the LRC.
• Working in close liaison with the Assistant Headteacher and Headteacher, to advise the governors on all aspects of resource-based learning and to establish systems of control and management of such resources, implementing Best Practice in accordance with the School mission and core purposes.
• To maintain awareness and to advise the Headteacher on current and proposed political, economic, social and technological influences which have a potential impact on strategic and operational planning for the development of the LRC.
• To develop and allocate resourcing ensuring that students are participating in wider school activities.
• Completing an audit of student participation developing comprehensive strategies to increase out of hours learning.
• Managing all major school events and making decisions based on best value and needs of the school to promote student awareness.

• As a senior member of the Support Staff, to lead arrangements for and exercise a training and support role in resource-based learning for all teaching and support staff. This may include working to a flexible timetabling of hours worked as negotiated with the Head teacher.
• Working alongside the e-Learning Co-ordinator, to encourage a climate of support and encouragement for the purposeful use of resource-based learning, including on-line availability of resources in which self-confidence and effective professional development can flourish.
• To exercise effective managerial oversight in the recruitment and line management of the Library in accordance with the agreed job descriptions, ensuring appropriate deployment such that all Centre staff provide high quality support to the educational purposes of the School and are valued as partners in the joint enterprise of education.
• Performance management of the School support staff as assigned and to ensure that knowledge, skills and abilities are fully utilised by seeking and encouraging full involvement of all members.
• Working alongside the Chief Finance Officer, AHT Premises Manager, ICT Director and e-Learning Co-ordinator as appropriate, to support the work of budget holders in the planning of their Resource requirements within their Development Plans, ensuring that the benefits and potential of the LRC for school improvement is explicitly integrated into this process.

3.Curricular/Resource Management:

• To take leadership responsibility for the establishment, maintenance and effectiveness of the LRC, working collaboratively and actively across the Departments of Learning to secure a quality of service to students in the Centre which makes a positive impact on learning.
• To work alongside the ICT Director to plan, develop, secure and effectively manage the ICT capabilities of the LRC.
• To work collaboratively with the AHT, Director of ICT and Librarians to set up and maintain sound systems of resource management and copyright control to satisfy all outside agencies and ensure proper accountable use of learning resources including effective guarding against internet-based or other abuse of resources contrary to the Schools Mission.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues as appropriate, to prepare regular monitoring and other reports as reasonably required by the governors and Headteacher in respect of use of the LRC.
• Working collaboratively with the Librarian, to prepare long-term budgets and assessment of development needs and performance specifications to support the School Development Plan, including, as budget holder for the LRC, monitoring and controlling delegated expenditure within agreed budgets and procedures.
• To assist and monitor the curriculum leaders and other managers in their preparation and management of LRC and extended schools related dimensions to their Development Plans, specifically including the use of the Centre resources.
• Working collaboratively to ensure that effective procedures are established and followed in all financial procedures including procurement, leasing and tendering.
• Working collaboratively to ensure that all necessary and appropriate licensing, security, insurance and inventory procedures are in place for all Learning resources within the LRC and extended schools, including those assigned under a Home-use policy.
• To develop the new Library within the Primary phase making sure that the environment meets the needs of the schools innovative curriculum.

4.External Relations Management

• To establish, maintain and organise good working relationships with all funding agencies and bodies, School partners and other outside agencies; in particular ensuring that all LRC related reports and returns are completed and presented at the correct time.
• To liaise and maintain contact with outside agencies, specifically including software providers and library services, to build good working relationships.
• To lead in the provision of high quality teaching in support of the Schools outreach and community programme as contractually agreed.

5.Specific Responsibilities

• (Any further responsibilities are to be negotiated separately with the individual).

Accountable to the Headteacher and reporting to the: Assistant Headteacher as Line Manager, the postholder is expected to work flexibly, broadly equivalent to the original contract, with normal working hours. Breaks taken outside the School lunch period and in collaboration with the Librarians to secure full student access to the LRC with both staff on duty during the School lunch break. Variations to these times may be made by agreement. e.g., during holiday periods etc.

The post is based on a 52 week year, with an annual leave entitlement in line with national guidelines and such leave may only taken within School vacation time.

This general Job Description is not comprehensive and the post holder will be required to undertake such other tasks appropriate to the level of appointment as the Headteacher may reasonably require.