Head Teacher Special Education - Northlakes High School

NSW Department of Education; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Northlakes High School in NSW is seeking an accomplished Head Teacher to lead inclusive education and strategic school improvement. The role requires expertise in meeting complex learning, communication, behavioural and wellbeing needs of students with disability, and approval to teach with Special Education capability.

You will work collaboratively with staff, families and external agencies to foster high-quality teaching and student success.

Qualifications

• Highly developed leadership, communication and interpersonal skills to lead a collaborative team and build relationships with students, parents and the community.
• Exceptional classroom practice with ability to mentor and develop teachers and SLSOs for diverse learners.
• Experience planning, implementing and evaluating differentiated learning using student data and evidence-informed practice.
• Ability to contribute as a member of the executive team and support whole-school improvement and inclusive environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead a collaborative team of teachers and SLSOs to support inclusive learning across the school.
• Plan and implement differentiated teaching using data to maximise student engagement and growth.
• Contribute to executive leadership and whole-school improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Mentoring

Data-driven planning

Executive collaboration

Education

Full approval to teach

Special Education approval

Inclusive education experience

Job description

Northlakes High School is an inclusive, comprehensive secondary school on the NSW Central Coast. The anticipated 2027 enrolment is 867. The school caters for the learning and wellbeing needs of students from diverse backgrounds, including low socio-economic status. 23% of students identify from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island background and 6% identify as having non-English speaking background. There are ten classes supporting students with a range of disabilities across the Adaptive Learning Centre (ALC) and Twinlakes Learning Centre (TLC). There is a large focus placed on teacher professional learning, Quality Teaching, and use of data inform planning and programming. Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) was introduced as a core program in 2015. The school offers an extensive curriculum and collaborates with universities, TAFE, industry and community groups. Aboriginal students are supported through the Muru Bulbi Learning and Engagement Centre and a Clontarf Academy, with tutoring and access to a range of cultural activities, mentoring and other programs. School Website: https://northlake-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/

In addition to the general selection criteria, applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position, approval to teach Special Education and demonstrated expertise in meeting the complex learning, communication, behavioural and wellbeing needs of students with disability:

• Highly developed leadership, communication and interpersonal skills to lead a collaborative team, building positive, inclusive, trusting relationships with students, parents, staff, external agencies and the wider community.
• Exemplary classroom practitioner with the ability to inspire, mentor and build capacity of a team of teachers and SLSOs to engage a diverse range of students in rich, differentiated teaching and learning programs to nurture, guide, inspire and challenge students to achieve their potential.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement and evaluate differentiated learning experiences using student data, explicit teaching and evidence-informed practice to maximise engagement and learning growth.
• Demonstrated capacity to contribute as an effective member of the executive team, fostering collaboration, shared responsibility and whole-school improvement, particularly in supporting inclusive learning environments across the school.

1. Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice
2. Knowledge of curriculum, assessment and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs
3. Educational leadership skills to build the capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams
4. Well developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents
5. Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning
6. Knowledge of and commitment to the Department's Aboriginal education policy

An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity.

The Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools are located here.

About the NSW Department of Education The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage. Merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals provide clear advice for applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are available here. To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format.