Assistant Principal (Wodonga)

Blackburn English Language School (ELS) has been operating for over 30 years and provides full-time, intensive English courses for both primary and secondary newly-arrived migrants, refugees and international students. The students usually enrol in our program prior to their enrolment in a mainstream school or further education. The school has three campuses: one in Burwood East (Whitehorse Campus), a second campus in Croydon North (Maroondah Campus) and a third in Wodonga (Wodonga Campus).

The school's beliefs and operations are based on a number of core values. These are:

• Future Making
• Building Communities

Within the context of these values, the school has a number of purposes. These are to provide:

• a focused learning environment that supports all students to reach their potential in English language development and aims to prepare them for the academic, behavioural and social challenges of mainstream schools or alternative learning pathways.
• a school environment that encourages students from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to become confident and active participants in the wider Australian community.
• a supportive and stimulating work environment for all staff that encourages commitment, innovation and excellence.
• learning opportunities for newly arrived families that broaden their knowledge of the Victorian schooling system and prepare them for involvement in the school community.
• professional learning opportunities for mainstream school staff to support newly arrived and EAL students in mainstream schools across the NEVR.

Selection Criteria

• SC1 Educational leadership: Approved teaching qualifications, and desirable TESOL qualification recognised by the Department of Education. Demonstrated capacity for exemplary educational leadership, including leading and managing change and building support for it among others.
• SC2 Financial, managerial and administrative ability: Strong financial, organisational and resource management skills.
• SC3 Planning, policy and program development and review: Demonstrated capacity to achieve high-quality student outcomes and to implement Department policies to a high standard, including the effective use of learning technologies to improve teaching and learning.
• SC4 Leadership of staff and students: A demonstrated capacity to motivate staff, develop their talents and build an effective team. Capacity to foster a New Arrivals learning environment that responds to individual student needs and helps students develop their abilities.
• SC5 Interpersonal and communication skills: Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills across individual, small-group and community contexts, including with newly arrived families. Personal qualities of objectivity, sensitivity and integrity.

Role

The assistant principal reports directly to the principal. Assistant principals have a primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program. In exercising this responsibility, assistant principals will have the authority to make all significant decisions relating to the program, budget and staff relating to their area of designated responsibility within the framework of the school's strategic plan, policies and budget. Assistant principals will contribute to the overall management of the school through involvement in policy formulation and decision making.

The management of significant school program or functional areas in schools involves assistant principals in the analysis of the needs of students and the translation of state educational policy and frameworks into appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all students. Typically, assistant principals will be responsible for the effective use of the teaching staff and program budget of a defined area of the school's operation and for the oversight and leadership of the educational programs provided utilising these resources.

Responsibilities

Typically, assistant principals perform one or more of the following functions:

• supervision and coordination of the work of senior curriculum or level coordinators;
• allocation of budgets, positions of responsibility and other resources within the area of responsibility;
• supervision of the delivery of teaching programs;
• management of programs to improve the knowledge and experience of staff;
• responsibility for general discipline matters beyond the management of classroom teachers and year level coordinators;
• contribute to the overall management of the school;

Who May Apply

Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.

Benefits of Working at Blackburn English Language School

• Location & grounds - beautiful school grounds providing a peaceful environment for students and staff to learn and socialise
• Free onsite parking for employees, and surrounding streets
• Paid eligible school holidays leave
• Supportive, passionate, and friendly team
• Professional development opportunities
• Converge Wellbeing Program
• DET Salary Packaging
• BELS is a diverse and inclusive environment for all of its staff, where they feel welcomed, safe and respected.

Conditions of Employment

All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.

Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:

• The person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and
• If the person completed an Australian postgraduate level initial teaching program or course of study on or after 1 January 2024, they must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education program that has been accredited by an Australian State or Territory Teacher Regulatory Authority as satisfying the requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership 'Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures'; and
• A person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program after 1 July 2016 must also demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements.