Head Teacher Special Education

Bowral is the largest town in the Southern Highlands, about 90 minutes southwest of Sydney. Bowral High School acknowledges its location on Gundungurra Land and was established at this site in 1929. It is a comprehensive high school with a virtual selective stream (Aurora) and a support unit of seven classes, increasing to eight classes in 2026. The student enrolment of approximately 600 includes 75 Aboriginal students and an increasing number of culturally and linguistically diverse students. The school has a Family Occupation and Educational Index of 109 and serves families from Bowral, Mittagong and the northern villages of the Southern Highlands.

We are a High Potential Gifted Education partner school and are committed to inspire, motivate and challenge all students by delivering quality instruction that enables all students to develop their high potential and talent in one or more of the following domains: intellectual, physical, creative and social-emotional.

Through effective partnerships, Bowral High School has collaborated with primary school partners to strengthen high school transition and with the broader community to build successful pathways beyond school, including work experience, vocational education and training, school-based traineeships and apprenticeships, university access and TAFE.

All students are known, valued, and cared for and student wellbeing is underpinned by Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) and Restorative Practice.

Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria,

1. Demonstrates the capacity to lead the design and implementation of individualised programs for students with disability and diverse learning needs that maximise engagement, wellbeing, and attendance.
2. Demonstrated ability to lead the design and implementation of highly differentiated educational programs for students from diverse backgrounds to foster a high expectation learning culture.
3. Highly developed organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to foster positive relationships with students, their families and outside agencies to collaborate, develop and implement strategies for individualised support, transition, behaviour and wellbeing of students.
4. Proven ability to collaborate as a dynamic member of an executive team, demonstrating a deep understanding of policies that support inclusion and equity.

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

An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity.

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

Applicants are to include details of their WWCC clearance number as part of this application.

About the NSW Department of Education

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion

New merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals have been introduced to provide greater clarity to applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are located here. To ensure that your application complies with the guideline page limits, your attachments must be in PDF format.