Head Teacher Special Education - Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus

Permanent full-time job at Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus (Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia) recruited via NSW Department of Education (Sydney NSW, Australia)
Job Reference 0000B9Z5
Closing date June 17, 2026, 2 a.m. (AEST)
Location Balmain Rd, Leichhardt 2040 NSW, Australia
Type Full-Time
Status Permanent
Contact Craig Marland
02 9560 2355

About this job

Position Information

Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus is a partially selective co-educational Years 7–10 campus, with approximately 785 students. The school includes a support unit led by a Head Teacher for students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and autism. About 22% of students are English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) learners, and 4.2% identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. The school’s focus on Explicit Teaching aligns with the School Excellence Plan 2024–2027, with high expectations for academic achievement. We provide a supportive environment addressing adolescents’ personal and social development, including transition programs from primary school and to the Senior Campus at Blackwattle Bay. Positive Behaviour for Learning is embedded across all SSC campuses, promoting respect and wellbeing. Our commitment to innovative, rigorous, and future-focused education fosters lifelong learning for students and staff. Students have access to a broad range of extracurricular opportunities including sport, performing arts, and the College Instrumental Music Program with 11 ensembles performing regularly at school and community events. The school maintains strong community links supported by an active Parents & Citizens association.

General Selection Criteria
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
Specific Selection Criteria

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

  1. Demonstrated expertise in managing and supporting students with complex and high-level behaviours in a special education setting, including the implementation of effective behaviour support strategies.
  2. Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills for engaging and collaborating with parents, carers, and external agencies to support student wellbeing.
  3. Ability to lead and guide staff in adapting and planning curriculum and programs to meet the diverse learning needs of students within the support unit.
  4. Proven capacity to interpret and apply departmental policies and procedures relevant to special education, with particular emphasis on compliance in student welfare, safety, and the operation of the support unit.
Conditions

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.

Special Notes

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.
 

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. 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.

 

Apply now