Head of Visual Arts

ABOUT THE ROLE

Barker College is currently seeking an experienced Head of Visual Arts based at our Hornsby campus.

This will be a Permanent Secondary School Teacher role, with an initial 3-year Appointment as Head of Visual Arts, commencing 1 January 2026.

Barker College runs an orientation event for new staff on 22 January 2026, prior to the whole staff returning for Professional Development on 27 January 2026.

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Visual Arts leader to contribute to our dynamic teaching and learning programs. This role involves developing a new Visual Arts and Photographic and Digital Media curriculum, ensuring it reflects both innovation and best practice.

A deep understanding of Visual Arts as a discipline is a critical as is the ability to translate this into excellent curriculum and assessment practice. You should have substantial teaching experience and be highly skilled in classroom practice. Familiarity with educational data analysis and the ability to identify and work towards strategic, big-picture goals are also key.

This leadership position requires a high level of organisational skill and the ability to manage competing demands effectively. You must demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, along with empathy, understanding, and the capacity to build strong relationships.

As a mentor and guide, you will support Visual Arts teachers at various stages of their careers, fostering professional growth and collaboration. You will also be responsible for managing a substantial Visual Arts budget, enabling the delivery of a wide range of artistic practices and mediums to students.

Our facilities include a specialist ceramics room, a fully equipped darkroom, and a digital photographic studio with a cyclorama, which provide exceptional opportunities for creative exploration. You will work closely with a highly experienced Curriculum and Academics Team and engage with the broader Barker community through Visual Arts-specific events and initiatives.

Above all, you should have a genuine passion for Visual Arts education and a strong sense of initiative, continually striving to implement and model best practice in this evolving field.

A Position Description for a Secondary School Teacher can be found HERE and Statement of Duties for an Academic Head of Department can be found HERE.

With more than 350 teaching staff and 200 support staff, Barker College is a diverse, vibrant, and dynamic professional environment.

ABOUT BARKER COLLEGE

Barker is a leading independent coeducational school at the forefront of educational thought, visionary leadership and excellence. An Anglican Day and Boarding School, originally established in 1890 Barker is situated in Hornsby on the leafy Upper North Shore of Sydney.

Barker College is a fully coeducational school from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12. We also have five satellite campuses:

• An Outdoor Education facility at The Grange, Mount Victoria, NSW
• An Indigenous Darkinjung Barker Campus in Yarramalong, NSW (established 2016)
• An Indigenous Ngarralingayil Barker Campus in Wollembi, NSW (established 2020)
• An Indigenous Dhupuma Barker Campus in Gunyangara, NT (established 2021)
• A Special Assistance Marri Mittagar Humanitarian campus in Hornsby, NSW (established 2024).

Please view our Careers video from the Head of Barker College and Deputy Head (People & Culture) below.

Further information about Barker College can be found on our WEBSITE.

WHY WORK AT BARKER COLLEGE

At Barker, we aim to be an engaging place of work where all staff are valued and nurtured through a dynamic professional learning community. We encourage and support all our teaching and support staff to be lifelong learners, to be inspired and be supported to thrive in their roles through ongoing professional learning, research and self-reflection. Quality teaching and learning drives the pursuit of supporting the School's strategic vision of being a leading educational institution that inspires global hope. Staff are highly aligned to the School values of Commitment, Compassion, Courage, Integrity and Respect and take pride in making a positive contribution to student life within and beyond the classroom.

We provide a range of benefits to support the ongoing wellbeing of all our staff and these benefits are outlined HERE.

HOW TO APPLY

• Please apply directly via SEEK and provide:

• Current Resume/CV

• Brief Covering Letter which addresses the reason for your interest and how your skills and experience suit the role.
• Applications close: Monday 29 September 2025 at 10:00am

CANDIDATE EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Successful applicants will be expected to support the Mission, Vision and Values of the School.
• Barker College is an Anglican School and applicants for this position will need to demonstrate sympathy with and support for the School's Christian values.
• Barker College is a child safe organisation and all statutory checks and references are required prior to confirmation of employment. A NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) and a National Police Check will be required.
• Barker College is committed to a safe work environment and all staff members work within our WHS Policy & Procedures and other relevant documentation.
• Barker College will require all Teaching Staff to provide evidence of their Tertiary Qualifications and have an understanding of and experience in relevant NESA syllabus documents and teacher accreditation requirements.
• All teaching staff participate in the School's extensive Pastoral Care and co-curricular programs. The ability to coach sports is highly desirable.
• Referees will only be contacted after initial interviews have been carried out. Your present Principal should be listed amongst confidential referees.