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About this job
Position Information
Cowra High School is a comprehensive secondary school with a current enrolment of approximately 475 students, including around 30 per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The school is located on the ancestral lands of the Wiradjuri people in the Central West of New South Wales. Cowra High School acknowledges the ongoing spiritual connection of the Wiradjuri people to this land and recognises their enduring contribution to the local community and region.
The school maintains high expectations for learning, behaviour and engagement, underpinned by a strong culture of respect, responsibility and inclusion. Students are supported to achieve their individual potential through a broad and inclusive curriculum that promotes academic excellence, sporting achievement, cultural participation and engagement in the creative and performing arts. A wide range of subject offerings enables students to pursue personalised pathways and achieve success aligned to their strengths and aspirations.
Current whole-school priorities include the strengthening of explicit teaching practices to improve consistency, instructional clarity and student learning outcomes across all key learning areas. This focus is supported by a deliberate use of data to inform teaching, monitor progress and drive improvement in NAPLAN and HSC performance, including an increased proportion of students achieving higher performance bands. The school is also strengthening High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) identification and provision, with a particular emphasis on smooth and purposeful transition points from primary to secondary schooling and into post-school pathways.
Student voice is an emerging and valued driver of school improvement, with students actively contributing through leadership structures, consultation processes and feedback mechanisms that inform teaching, learning and wellbeing practices.
Cowra High School is proud of its inclusive rural community context and celebrates cultural diversity as a strength. Strong partnerships with families, community organisations and local schools enhance student learning and wellbeing. Programs such as the Camden Exchange and active participation in community events further broaden students’ experiences and perspectives. Aboriginal perspectives and cultural understanding are embedded across school life, ensuring all students develop respect for Australia’s First Nations histories, cultures and contributions.
The school includes a Support Unit comprising seven classes, providing high-quality, personalised support for students with mild and moderate intellectual disability, autism and complex learning and behavioural needs. The school is committed to ensuring all students are known, valued and cared for, with equitable access to a rigorous and meaningful curriculum.
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,
- Approval to teach secondary.
- Evidence of expertise in providing strong, visible and strategic leadership of explicit teaching that drives sustained whole-school academic improvement and a culture of high expectations.
- Evidence of impact as an educational leader who designs and leads data and evidence informed professional learning in response to data
- Demonstrated skills to lead the further development of a collaborative high-performance culture through the leadership and evaluation of explicit data informed cycles of Activities in the School Excellence Plan
- Demonstrated evidence to lead and further enhance effective collaborative relationships with partner primary schools.
- Demonstrated evidence to provide approachable and visible leadership that strengthens a culture of inclusion and promotes meaningful engagement with parents, staff, and the broader community.
Conditions
Special Notes
Classification Structure for Principals:
The Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2020 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 P3 for 2026.
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
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.