Head Teacher Special Education - Riverstone High School

NSW Department of Education; Sydney; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverstone High School is seeking an experienced Head Teacher to provide instructional leadership across the Inclusive Education Unit and broader faculty. You will lead curriculum planning, assessment, and student welfare initiatives, and build inclusive, collaborative relationships with families, external agencies, and the wider community.

The successful candidate will hold full NSW teaching approval with expertise in special education, demonstrate strong communication skills, and drive

Qualifications

• Approval to teach in NSW with full approval.
• Experience leading a faculty meeting student needs incl. intellectual disabilities.
• Ability to build inclusive, trusting relationships with students, families.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate improvement in teaching and learning.
• Knowledge of curriculum, assessment and student welfare.
• Educational leadership skills to manage performance of teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a faculty to meet student needs in inclusive education.
• Design and lead inclusive teaching and learning programs.
• Collaborate with external agencies and the wider community.
• Plan and manage resources effectively to support teaching and learning.
• Drive continuous improvement in teaching and learning outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Inclusive education

Communication skills

Collaboration

Curriculum knowledge

Resource planning

Aboriginal policy knowledge

Education

Full NSW teaching approval

Special education teaching approval

Job description

Riverstone High School (RHS) is a vibrant and inclusive co-educational school located on Dharug land, deeply connected to the rich history of the Riverstone area. The school serves a culturally and linguistically diverse community of approximately 800 students, with 45% from a language background other than English, 25% requiring support for EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect), and 11% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This diversity enriches the learning environment and fosters a culture of respect, understanding, and global awareness. The school prides itself on delivering a broad and dynamic curriculum from Years 7 to 12, designed to prepare students for the future world. Innovative learning spaces and contemporary teaching practices equip students with the skills needed to thrive in an evolving, complex society. Stage 6 students benefit from a wide range of subjects, including Vocational Education pathways, as well as access to programs through Nirimba Collegiate, which expand their academic and career opportunities. Riverstone High School offers a well-balanced, holistic curriculum alongside a strong commitment to inclusive education through its Inclusive Education Unit, which comprises seven specialised classes: five Multi-Categorical (MC) classes and two classes supporting students with mild intellectual disability. The unit provides a personalised, student-centred approach that responds to diverse learning needs, while creating opportunities for students to participate in mainstream electives and senior courses. This approach promotes inclusion, foster independence and supports students to achieve their individual learning goals. With a dedicated team of approximately 90 staff members, RHS is experiencing exciting growth, reflecting the expanding residential developments in the North West Growth Area. The school community is committed to fostering a connected environment that nurtures high aspirations and future-focused opportunities for all students.

Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria,

• Approval to teach special education and/or experience and expertise in leading a faculty that effectively meets student needs, including intellectual disabilities, autism and complex communication and behaviour needs.
• Demonstrated ability to be a highly visible, approachable and collaborative leader with the capacity to develop inclusive, trusting relationships with the students, families, external agencies and the wider community.
• Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice
• Knowledge of curriculum, assessment and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs
• Educational leadership skills to build the capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams
• Well developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents
• Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning
• 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.

All Department of Education employees working in an SSP are required to be vaccinated as outlined at Vaccination requirements for school sites (nsw.gov.au). The successful candidate for this position will be required to confirm vaccination status prior to the department finalising their appointment and entry on duty. Find the department’s latest advice on COVID-19 (coronavirus) at https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 . The Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools are located here . Applicants are to include details of their WWCC clearance number as part of this application.

The NSW 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. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. 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. Please note that late applications will not be accepted. For technical support please contact School Recruitment Support at 1300 863 694.