Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal
Hunter Valley Grammar School
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
HUNTER VALLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Hunter Valley Grammar School is located on an expansive 32 acre park like campus with
impressive facilities. We have a special campus, quite rare amongst schools across NSW
and the envy of most. Our School is 2 hours north of Sydney, at the gateway to the
Hunter Valley wine and coal mining region. It is situated a 30 minute drive from the
Newcastle CBD and 45 minute drive from Port Stephens.
The area is the fastest growing regional centre in NSW with a diverse range of
employment and recreational activities and services. Locals enjoy an all-encompassing
valley lifestyle with easy access to both the mountains and beaches.
Our junior school classrooms are excellent learning environments, technology capable
with interactive whiteboards, well equipped, creative, and colourful. Our outdoor
learning areas and play equipment enable the children to relax and enjoy their leisure
time. A wetlands and vegetable garden nurtured by our students is an example of the
learning environment we have created. Primary children enjoy the soccer field and
courts, and gardens throughout the School.
The Middle and Senior Schools benefit from university style individual faculty buildings,
each with their own staff room and veranda housing lockers. All classrooms are
technology capable, air conditioned and generously spacious for optimal learning.
Coupling the physical advantages with small class sizes and quality teaching and we have
the right learning environment.
Hunter Valley Grammar School is a school that:
• provides a balanced education of academic, cultural and
sporting endeavours supporting each student’s emotional and spiritual
development;
• models itself as a teaching and learning community which encourages the
pursuit of excellence in all areas inspiring students to want to become life-long
learners;
• provides a learning environment where students feel safe and confident to
challenge and question the world around them, where young people feel secure
and confident, and enjoy participating in all aspects of school life;
• offers an academically rigorous and comprehensive programme that engages all
students in all aspects of school life;
• assists students to achieve success by encouraging the realisation and
achievement of ‘personal bests’;
• provides a diverse range of opportunities and activities to assist students
to maximise their potential and exceed their expectations;
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helps young people to strike a happy, healthy balance between work, family,
leisure, life-long learning and being good citizens;
values a strong, affirming and positive partnership with parents and the wider
community;
prides itself on the quality of pastoral care provided, believing in the intrinsic
worth of each student and embracing a culture that treats all community
members with care and compassion, dignity and respect; and
is determined to ensure that students act with moral conscience and judgment
based on our values of: respect, integrity, responsibility, compassion, citizenship,
and courage.
HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL/DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S ROLE STATEMENT
A wonderful opportunity exists for an outstanding educational leader to be appointed
to the role of Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal to work alongside the Principal
in leading Hunter Valley Grammar School.
The Deputy Principal is expected to:
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Assist the Principal in the general leadership of the School and fulfill the role of
Acting Principal, as required;
Oversee all School operational issues and support the organisation of events and
activities;
Oversee the general state of condition and repair of the campus including
general School maintenance and minor works with the support of the Facilities
Manager;
Be responsible for the School's co-curricular programme and service learning
programme; and
Be responsible for the school’s ethical partnerships with parents, including
parent liaison, the School's parent support groups and Parents’ & Friends’
Association.
The Head of Middle School is expected to:
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Lead the Middle School with particular attention to pastoral care, personal
development, behaviour management and academic care of students;
Build a sub-school culture within the Middle School consistent with the School’s
values and ethos and suitable for middle years of schooling;
Guide the School’s application for authorisation as an IB MYP World School and
take responsibility for the implementation of the MYP and then accept the role
of MYP Co-ordinator;
Guide continual improvement of the academic culture of the Middle School;
Accept full responsibility for the daily running of the Middle School;
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Exercise oversight of all functions and ceremonies in the Middle School;
Assist the Principal and Registrar with appropriate enrolment protocols and
induction of new students to the Middle School;
Take responsibility for the professional development and performance review of
all Mentors, Heads of House/Year as they relate to the Middle School;
Lead the School’s accreditation requirements as an e-Smart school and ensure
that this is faithfully implemented in all aspects of school life;
Take responsibility for Middle School reporting and parent teacher interviews;
Research, benchmark and analyse academic achievement of students in the
Middle School to inform school performance; and
Oversee all sub-school operational issues and support the organisation of events
and activities involving Middle School students.
The Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal will be a member of the following
Committees:
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Senior Leadership Team;
Wellbeing Team;
Teaching & Learning Committee;
Board Policy and Compliance Committee;
Board Asset Management Committee;
Board Finance Committee; and
(will attend all) Parents’ and Friends’ Association meetings.
Relationships with other Senior Leaders and the community
The Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal:
• Reports directly to the Principal;
• Provides support and advice to members of the Senior Leadership Team; and
• Works closely with the Parents’ and Friends’ Association and parent groups
to assist them achieve their goals.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal is expected to have:
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Outstanding knowledge of and proven skills in curriculum development,
assessment and reporting, and school operations;
A strong understanding of current educational practice as it relates to
student learning and student academic performance;
Abundant skill in identifying and implementing significant improvement and
change;
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Highly developed decision-making skills and a demonstrated ability to think
strategically, creatively, analytically, and problem-solve;
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated
ability to build rapport and interact effectively at all levels of the School;
Strong organisational and time management skills, with an ability to prioritise
tasks, meet prescribed deadlines, and concurrently manage a number of
competing tasks;
Highly developed research, writing and computer skills;
Outstanding ability in classroom teaching with demonstrated success at HSC
level;
The capacity to inspire team building and collegiality;
A demonstrated commitment to personal professional development and
learning;
A strong knowledge of the independent education sector with previous
significant experience in an independent school; and
A relevant Master’s Degree.
SALARY & CONDITIONS
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An appropriate remuneration package will be negotiated with the preferred
candidate which includes annual leave and other entitlements;
The Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal will be expected to teach one
academic class in the Middle School;
The Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal is required to work flexible
hours; and
The Head of Middle School/Deputy Principal will be required to attend
meetings and functions as part of, or in addition to, normal working hours. A
number of duties and responsibilities will need to be performed at times
other than during the School day or when students are in attendance.
APPLICATIONS
The successful applicant is expected to commence duties on Monday 11 January 2016.
Information regarding the School, the position and the application process including the
Application Form is available at www.pathwaysic.com.au(positions).
Interested educational leaders should contact Grant Williamson, Pathways International
Consulting Pty Ltd on 1300722076 or 0419493341 or [email protected].
All Applications must be submitted using the on-line application form and should be
received no later than 11th May, 2015.
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PROCESS TIMELINE
It is expected that the recruitment process will follow the timeline set out below.
1. Advertise the position
Saturday 18th April, 2015
2. Second advertisement
Saturday 25th April, 2015
3. Close applications
Monday, 11th May, 2015
4. First Shortlisting of applicants
Thursday 14th May, 2015
5. Visits to Shortlisted candidates
week beginning 18th May, 2015
6. Final shortlisting for interview
Thursday 28th May, 2015
7. First Interview
Saturday 6th June, 2015
8. Psych Assessment
week beginning 8th June, 2015
9. Second Interview
Saturday, 20th June, 2015
10. Announcement of new Head of
Middle School/Deputy Principal
Early July, 2015
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