Head of Department

About the SchoolAt The Gap State High School, we believe in learners who flourish. We value Thinking big, Stepping up, Paying it forward and Being kind. By helping our students to reflect and build their self-efficacy we create life long, flourishing learners who experience academic success. We trust that every student, every day, has the opportunity to feel a sense of belonging in our community through teamwork, loyalty and leadership, and is able to engage in learning that sparks their engagement, curiosity, joy and passions. Situated in the leafy suburb of The Gap, The Gap State High School has a population of 1700 students.
About the Role
Year level Heads of Department are key figures in the wellbeing of students. Working within the Wellbeing Hub and with the Year level Deputy Principals, Year level Heads of Department play an important role in maintaining the school's high expectation culture - promoting school pride and belonging, developing student's personal responsibility, motivating academic engagement, facilitating school and community participation, enhancing positive relationships and supporting every student, every day to achieve success at school. Year level Heads of Department know their cohort and ensure they are connected to their peers and feel a sense of belonging at school. They support students, year level teachers, connect teachers and parents to maintain student wellbeing.
The role of Head of Department is proactive, data driven and relational. Heads of Department know the students in their year level and can advocate for, and facilitate programs to address, the cohort's wellbeing needs. This is a pivotal role to assist students to be the best they can be through a focus on both student well-being and the good order and management of the school.

**The following elements support students to be their best**:

- Student Wellbeing and Attendance
- Student Growth and Connectedness
- Student Behaviour
- Maintaining high expectations regarding benchmarks for Student Privilege Policy. This includes attendance, uniform, behaviour /effort and work completion.
- Celebrate growth and achievements

The position requires commitment to The Gap State High School vision and values. This will be supported by enacting the Student Privilege Policy on a term-by-term basis. The role requires developing the school culture which reflects the community identity as a leading independent public school.
In many instances, the year level Head of Department is the initial point of contact for the range of enquiries made by parents, staff, students, residents, the business community and other schools. Consequently, to be able to make informed decisions quickly and effectively, a good knowledge of school policies, procedures and activities is essential.
This role necessitates intentional collaboration and consultation between fellow year level Heads of Department, Guidance Officers, Heads of Department, School Based Youth Health Nurse, Chaplain, and Deputy Principals and an ability and willingness to operate as part of a team within the Wellbeing Hub.
Each Head of Department will report to the relevant Year Level Deputy Principal. This role will work in partnership with Student Leadership Coordinator to ensure whole school alignment across student leadership, student leadership activities, e.g. Free dress days, house week, year level initiatives etc.
For a full list of mandatory requirements please see the attached role description.

**Interested? To apply**:

- Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (one of whom should be your current supervisor)
- Attach a maximum 2 page written response outlining your suitability for the role referring to the key capabilities identified in the attached role description.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.
Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.