Head Teacher Human Society and Its Environment

**Position Information**:
The Hills Sports High School (THSHS) is a comprehensive coeducational Years 7-12 school with an elite sporting stream and a total enrolment of approximately 900 students, 7% from Aboriginal background and 4% require some level of EALD (English as an additional dialect) support. The school, located in Sydney's North Western Area at Seven Hills, caters for both local students and those enrolled in the Talented Sports Program (TSP). It is committed to a learning culture that values academic and sporting excellence. A support unit caters for a total of 56 students. Extensive partnerships exist with community organisations and associations.

The school has a professional staff, consisting of teachers, sporting coaches and administration personnel focussed on quality teaching and the use of technology to support academic, sporting and cultural aspirations of students. The school implements the "Positive Behaviour for Learning" (PBL) program promoting the core values of Safety, Tolerance, Achievement and Respect (STAR).

The staff at The Hills Sports High School are dedicated, highly trained and committed towards creating a quality learning environment. Quality education is balanced with the provision of extra curricula activities. The staff is made up of a mixture of experienced and newer teachers who all contribute towards the success of the academic, social, cultural and sporting curriculum offered at The Hills Sports High School.

Committees and teams operate in the school such as Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE), Focus on Numeracy (FoN), Aboriginal Education, PBL, Learning Support Team and Wellbeing Team. These committees evaluate progress on their programs and initiatives and continually strive for success in individual student progress.

The school is committed to continually improving effective classroom and teaching practices with high impact professional learning for staff with a particular focus on formative assessment, differentiation and meaningful feedback. This learning will ensure that both literacy and numeracy levels can be enhanced through improved data collection, analysis and use, which underpins our belief in individualised and differentiated learning.

The school staff is committed to the Partnership Agreement between the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) and strives to value the identity, culture, heritage and languages of our Aboriginal students. Success for Aboriginal students is highly valued and supported by our staff.

There is a continual focus on Higher School Certificate (HSC) performance including staff professional learning around high leverage strategies and best practice to develop both individual and group support programs. A focus on the development of effective writing strategies for students in the early years of our school will support their success in the HSC.

**Selection Criteria**:
Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria,
- Capacity to lead colleagues to plan, implement and review curriculum and evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and learning programs resulting in improved learning outcomes.
- A visible leader with capacity to work collaboratively as part of the school executive team to drive quality, evidence-based teaching initiatives related to the school’s strategic improvement plan, that have a sustained impact on student growth.
- Demonstrated ability to inspire, develop and lead staff at all stages of their career through professional learning and evidence-informed, reflective teaching practices to promote high quality teaching and learning.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to develop a culture of high expectations, and expert teaching across the faculty.

**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 policies

**Conditions**:
**Special Notes**:
The Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools are located here.

**About the NSW Department of Education