AddressTemplestowe Heights Primary School is looking for a classroom practitioner who is aligned with Science of Learning, a team player and dedicated to their own professional growth.
The school is situated in the eastern Suburbs of Melbourne with a current enrolment of 495 students and 23 classes. In 2023, staff and students moved into a new STEAM and senior building as well as the upgrading of existing spaces (including library, playground and toilet block) as part of a government-funded stimulus grant.
The playgrounds are extensive consisting of four playground equipment areas, an oval, STEAM building, synthetic turf courts, commercial kitchen and herb and community garden (including chickens). The school has a gymnasium which is a shared community use facility. The school community assists with the maintenance of our facilities.
Templestowe Heights Primary School has as its motto, `inspiring learners for life¿. There is a strong focus on developmental learning and consequently providing a differentiated curriculum which provides for the learning needs of all children. We are dedicated to providing the best possible education to our students, with a focus on instructional practice, to ensure that learning for life is achieved. The school¿s values are respect, responsibility, courage and persistence. All sections of the school community ¿ students, staff, parents, friends ¿ are expected to strive to be their best in reference to these values.
Templestowe Heights Primary School has a strong focus on literacy and numeracy. Our philosophy for literacy is linked to evidence-based methods to ensure that all students succeed and flourish in the fundamental skills of Reading and Writing. In following the Science of Learning (SOL) across all areas of instruction, year level teaching teams (PLCs) work collaboratively to develop a systematic focus on key areas of evidence-based practice.
We are looking for educators who are dedicated to professional growth, who value being members of a highly collaborative team and are invested in developing capability as an instructional practitioner.
Our specialist areas are Literacy Intervention/EAL, Enrichment, Art, Physical Education, Performing Arts, STEM and Italian. Instrumental music classes, swimming programs, lunchtime clubs, camps and after school activities are offered. Whole school activities are significant in that we have triennial events including an Art Show, School Production and School Ball. In 2020 the school was unfortunately unable to celebrate its 50-year anniversary.
Students are organised in straight grade classes. The school¿s positive education enhanced wellbeing curriculum provides a whole school wellbeing approach by supporting students and adults to develop the tools and strategies to flourish. Student voice is also extremely important at Templestowe Heights Primary. Our leadership program provides our students with an opportunity to be elected to represent our Junior School Council, Environmental committee, School Captains and House Captains. Empowering children to be active in making decisions about their school provides ownerships that strengthens our school community spirit.
The use of Information Communication Skills across all aspects of learning is integral to our programs. Templestowe Heights Primary School has a combination of netbooks, desktop computers and iPads available for student use. All classrooms have Interactive Whiteboards.
Parent/carer involvement in the school is essential to Templestowe Heights Primary School. Parents and carers work closely with staff to support their children¿s learning at school and at home. A class representative scheme facilitates communication and parent involvement in the school which includes involvement in class programs, excursions and camps, along with School Council and Parents & Friends Committee. Communication includes the school newsletter, website, an online management system, information sessions, assemblies, notices and parent teacher interviews.
Enrolment numbers at Templestowe Heights Primary School are steadily increasing. The school provides a progressive and challenging curriculum that reflects the 21st century learning skills required to truly inspire our students to continue learning throughout their lives. The teaching staff at Templestowe Heights Primary School are expected to be active members of our learning community, working together in collaborative teams, assuming a collective responsibility for the school¿s vision and goals. All staff actively support all school activities and programs.
SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.
SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.
SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.
The Classroom Teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the Classroom Teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The Classroom Teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.
As the Classroom Teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All Classroom Teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.
Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 Classroom Teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.
A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.
Range 2 Classroom Teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.
Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 Classroom Teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 Classroom Teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.
At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
The focus of a range 1 Classroom Teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.
Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.
Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.
The role of Classroom Teacher may include but is not limited to:
- Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;
- Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;
- Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;
- Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;
- Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.
Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, 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 family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au
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. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
This vacancy is to replace an employee on parental absence and is for a period of seven years or until the employee absent on leave returns to duty at the school.
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.
