Assistant Principal Special Education

**Position Information**:
Vardys Road Public School is located in Western Sydney, between Kings Langley, Seven Hills and Lalor Park, with an enrolment of 450, currently with 17 mainstream classes and 2 Support classes. In 2025, the school will expand the Support Unit to 3 classes. The school culture is that of growth, well-being and partnership, with students, staff, parents, carers and the community aspiring to ensure that together we grow, together we belong.

Our school is supported by a diverse and engaged community. 24.3% of our student cohort have a language background other than English with 11.3% of our students needing a level of EALD support. 0.5% of our student population are indigenous and our students come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.

The school has a strong focus on evidence-based practice and authentic explicit instruction, with a reflective and evaluative culture driving high impact and collaborative professional learning practices

Over many years, the school has developed a culture of participation and opportunity with many extra-curricular programs being offered in sport, creative and performing arts, High Potential and Gifted initiatives and Technology.

To ensure that every child is known, valued and cared for, the school takes a three-tiered approach to learning and behavioural interventions and monitors students’ progress through a comprehensive case management approach. Together with parents and carers the teachers identify areas of need and provide strategic and responsive support. Strong universal well-being practices and comprehensive systems of learning support and behaviour management support the students, accommodate their needs and build their capacity. These systems are underpinned by effective collaboration and strong partnership ensuring a culture of collective efficacy and distributed leadership. The school strives to engage the community with the curriculum, to forge strong and productive partnerships with parents and to explore and enhance links with other schools to share and strengthen our collective work addressing the needs of a shared, proud and connected community.

**Selection Criteria**:
In addition to the general selection criteria,

1. Approval to teach special education and/or extensive experience teaching students with complex and diverse needs such as mild/moderate intellectual disabilities, autism, mental health, health care needs and challenging behaviours.

2. Strong organisational and administrative skills and demonstrated ability to balance classroom teaching with the demands of an executive role.

3. Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a positive, inclusive and well-managed learning environment, through the implementation of evidence-based and evaluative practices to implement high quality differentiated curriculum, including the development and review of student personalised learning and support plans, transition plans and behaviour plans that impact positively on student engagement, a culture of inclusion and continuous whole school improvement.

4. Highly visible, dynamic and approachable leader who has proven organisational, communication and interpersonal skills that contribute to a culture of inclusivity with proven ability to work collaboratively, build trusting relationships and establish effective partnerships with parents, colleagues, therapists and external support agencies to achieve improved student outcomes.

**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 policy

**Conditions**:
**Special Notes**:
**About the NSW Department of Education