Head Teacher Creative and Performing Arts

**Position Information**:
Hunter School of the Performing Arts (HSPA) in Newcastle-Muloobinbah offers a comprehensive curriculum with a strong focus on the performing arts. As the only fully selective performing arts public school in New South Wales (NSW), HSPA nurtures a creative and inclusive environment, encouraging students to excel both academically and artistically.

In 2024, HSPA has an enrollment of 1,113 students across Years 3 to 12, including 53 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Students, selected through an audition process, come from various regions and are supported in developing their talents in dance, music, and drama, alongside a commitment to academic excellence.

The school's programs focus on performing arts, mastery learning, student wellbeing, and values education. Staff professional development ensures the delivery of high-quality education. Extracurricular opportunities include extensive drama, dance, and music ensembles, along with programs in STEM, theatre, and sports.

HSPA's state-of-the-art facilities enhance the learning experience, featuring a 365-seat theatre, multiple recording studios, vision mixing production suites, specialised dance, drama, and music spaces, and a yarning circle. The school also boasts a commercial kitchen, multimedia suites, STEM labs, visual arts, photography, and ceramics studios, as well as a 1,200-seat multi-purpose center. Outdoor sports courts, fields, and green spaces further enrich the school environment.

Situated on the traditional lands of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples, HSPA maintains strong partnerships with local cultural groups and organisations such as The University of Newcastle and the National Institute of Dramatic Art. The school culture emphasises connectedness, inclusion, and collaboration, with students, staff, and the community working together to achieve excellence.

**Selection Criteria**:
Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria,
- Demonstrated ability to lead the design and implementation of an engaging, future-focused curriculum in the areas of Drama and Visual Art, which challenges and caters to the learning and wellbeing needs of high-potential and gifted creative and performing arts students.
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to lead, coordinate, and support a variety of performing arts-related co-curricular ensembles and activities, and facilitate the integration of these into the curriculum.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate positive relationships with faculty, the executive team, outside agencies, and all school stakeholders through exemplary interpersonal, collaborative, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to actively participate in collaborative leadership for whole-school improvement aligned with the school's strategic directions and vision, resulting in enhanced well-being and learning outcomes for all students and staff.

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

**About the NSW Department of Education