Head Teacher Social Sciences

**Position Information**:
Castle Hill High School is a large, comprehensive secondary school. The school had 136 teaching staff and 2065 students, 55% of whom are from a non-English speaking background, including a reduced number of international students due to COVID. The school has an outstanding reputation for its pursuit in building teacher capacity, its innovative programs to enhance academic performance and its culture founded on professional, collaborative, respectful relationships. Learning for teachers and students is an absolute priority in order to "Challenge Minds and Build Character". The school has excellent links with an informed community, a mutual commitment that is highly valued. The curriculum is vast and extracurricular activities are abundant providing choice, challenge and interest for students. Creative and Performing Arts and sport complement an academic focus where HSC results are very strong. The school continues to build and improve it's academic performance through rigorous, challenging work for students. Character building focuses on high expectations, resilience, ethics and building positive relationships. The school continues to be committed to Glasser's Choice Theory, Reality Therapy to ensure the development of positive relationships by training new staff and running refresher courses as this underpins our school culture. Interest groups and individualised programs which recognise and celebrate differences and inclusivity must continue to evolve. Mental Health issues for students and staff will need to be a focus for learning for teachers and students due to an increase in students with disability within the school as well as students with general anxiety. Improving teacher capacity through targeted professional learning will impact directly on student achievements to ensure a strong academic focus cited by parents and teachers as a priority. By building professional learning hubs to focus on the following areas; Literacy - junior writing, ALARM, Band 5 into 6, High Potential and Gifted, Wellbeing and junior numeracy throughout the next 4 years, we expect to build teacher capacity which will have a direct impact on student learning. Each learning hub will focus on analysing data to identify areas for growth, embedding explicit teaching strategies through collaborative practice. and evaluating the impact on student progress. Using the PDP process and the Quality Teaching Rounds to allow teachers to identify the areas which would be most beneficial to improve their practice. The school maintains its support to Aboriginal students by providing individual mentors, extra support or tuition as required as well as providing opportunities to be involved in programs such as AIME.

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

Demonstrated capacity to design and implement high quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs and assessments within a social science faculty, which engage and support students in Stages 4, 5 and 6 with diverse learning needs, including students from an EALD background.

Demonstrated capacity to lead and manage the development and performance of staff to improve teaching and learning, with an emphasis on high expectations for staff and their students

Demonstrated ability to be a dynamic member of the leadership team and to lead initiatives that address whole school strategic directions and nurture positive relationships across the key stakeholders in the school community.

Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with the proven ability to develop a culture of high expectations and trust, inspiring and enabling all students, staff and community to contribute and achieve their best in a complex comprehensive high school setting.

**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