Classroom Teacher

 

Main characteristics

Location

Melbourne, Victoria

Company

Department of Education

Employment type

Full time

Category

Education & Training

Job summary

Location Profile Footscray Primary School is a Foundation to Year 6 school that has served the local community for 162 years. Located in Melbournes inner west, we are proud of our strong community connections and global outlook. More than 30 cultures and a variety of socio-economic dynamics are represented within the schools population of approximately 340 students. We believe this diversity provides rich and authentic opportunities for our students to develop empathy, understanding and open-mindedness. Our community values are showcased through initiatives such as the All Aboard project, which aims to ensure every student can attend excursions, participate in all school activities and wear appropriate uniform regardless of their financial background, and our strong focus on student wellbeing, which builds empathy and emotional intelligence. We value our parents as partners and come together as a community often through events organised by the FPS social club.

We have an active public Facebook page where we showcase achievements and connect informally as a school community.

Footscray Primary School's central purpose is Learning for Living. We offer an inquiry-based curriculum through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP), underpinned by the Victorian Curriculum. Through the PYP, we provide opportunities for our students to understand essential concepts, skills, knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to be life-long learners in our ever-changing world. Footscray Primary School is a Designated Bilingual Program school and we value the many benefits of language learning. In 2021, we introduced an Italian Bilingual program. Commencing with Foundation and

Year 1 students in 2021 and continuing with each new cohort following, students learn 50% of the Victorian Curriculum in Italian and 50% in English. In 2023, our Year 4-6 students will learn Vietnamese language one hour a week, with all students Foundation Year 6 being able to opt-in for one hour of Vietnamese Language (providing

Year 4-6 students 2 hours per week). Footscray Primary School is a proud member of the Footscray Learning Precinct. The precinct is championing excellence in learning and teaching at all stages of education, building upon the richness and diversity of the community and provides opportunities for learning in new ways. We enjoy a strong collaborative partnership with Footscray

High, Footscray City PS, and Victoria University to ensure we are continually working towards improved outcomes for our learners. We are also proud to be a part of the Graduate Pilot Program. This program provides additional time release and mentoring support to our early career teachers.

Our community aims to ensure that every school experience is positive and respectful and we are guided by Respectful Relationships and School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS). We celebrate diversity and believe a sense of belonging and inclusion are fundamental to childrens learning and ability to fully participate in life at school and beyond. We believe that all children have the right to learn and feel safe.

Selection Criteria 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.

Role 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 2Range 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 1The 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.

Responsibilities

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.

Who May Apply

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

EEO AND OHS Commitment The Department of Education and Training 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.

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. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Departments exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

DET Values

The Departments employees commit to upholding DETs Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DETs Values complement each schools 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 DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

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. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

VIT LANTITE

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.