02 9469 2804
About this job
Position Information
Woodberry Learning Centre (WLC) is a School for Specific Purposes (SSP) for students who find it difficult to access the curriculum in a mainstream school environment and require intensive learning support for mental health or behaviour. It was established in 2007 and is located at Woodberry, near Maitland in the Hunter Valley. Students attending Woodberry Learning Centre are in Years 5-10 and are drawn from both the local community and wider areas including Newcastle, the lower Hunter and coalfields regions. Each of our classes is a multi-age class of maximum 7 students and is staffed by a teacher and a full time School Learning Support Officer. At Woodberry Learning Centre, we offer every student the opportunity to experience success, both educationally and socially.
The students have been referred by their home school after consultation with their parent/carer(s). Many of our students are from a low socio-economic background, and we have a higher than average percentage of students who identify as Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander. At Woodberry Learning Centre we use a positive internal control psychology – Choice Theory – in conjunction with consistent and positively stated behavioural expectations to help students to learn socially acceptable and more appropriate ways of behaving. We provide our students with opportunities to have success and to see that they are not their behaviours, but worthy individuals deserving help to make their lives better and to realise that they can be designers of their futures.
Historically, the school provided an up to 40-week program for students of intensive behaviour support in three classes. We work with our students' home schools with regular contact to plan and assist a successful transition for each student back to their home school or another specialist setting, at the end of the program. The school has recently expanded from three classes to five, with the additional two classes providing intensive learning support for mental health and those students will graduate from Woodberry Learning Centre rather than transition to their home school.
General Selection Criteria
1. High level educational leadership with the skills to lead and manage a complex public school focused on the delivery of high quality education
2. Ability to lead and manage rigorous and inclusive whole school teaching and learning programs
3. High level communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build positive relationships and engage all levels of the school and educational community
4. Ability to lead and manage the development and performance of staff to improve teaching and learning
5. Ability to plan systems and manage resources effectively and equitably to enhance teaching and learning
6. Capacity to lead staff in implementing the Department's Aboriginal education policy and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people
Specific Selection Criteria
Approval to teach. In addition to the general selection criteria,
Demonstrated ability to lead and embed evidence-based approaches to student wellbeing, behaviour and support, and manage effective transitions in collaboration with families, schools, and external partners.
Proven capacity to provide culturally responsive and inclusive leadership that fosters a positive and supportive school community.
- Strategic leadership proven to improve literacy, numeracy, and student engagement.
Conditions
Special Notes
Classification Structure for Principals:
The Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024 details the new principal classification structure based on complexity of schools which commenced in 2016. Please view information on the Classification structure for Principals at https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careers-at-education/salary-and-benefits/salary-and-awards/awards-and-determinations/teachers-award-initiatives#Principal2
The classification and remuneration of our school principals is based on school complexity, as measured through each school’s RAM allocation. As part of the ongoing application of the new structure a review of thresholds and outcomes will occur on an annual basis. The principal classification for this school is Principal Level P1 for 2026 and also for 2027.
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 all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, neurodiverse people and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please contact the hiring manager using the contact details provided above. For more information, visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion