Classroom Teacher - Mathematics/Science

Located in the Inner Gippsland Area of DET’s South East Victoria Region, Wonthaggi Secondary College is a Year 7-12 dual campus school of around 1350 students. The Dudley Campus (Years 7 to 9) and the McBride Campus (Years 10 to 12) are situated three kilometres apart. 

The College draws its students from nine feeder schools located in the Bass Coast Shire.  The Shire encompasses a large rural and coastal area centred around Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Grantville/Corinella, Coronet Bay and Phillip Island.  Over half of the student population travel to the school by bus.  There is one major private school in the area and no other Government secondary schools.

Wonthaggi was a coal-mining town but is now the busy hub of a thriving tourist area.  The College is located in the rapidly growing Bass Coast Shire.

The current staffing levels comprise approximately 115 teachers and 40 non-teaching staff.

Wonthaggi Secondary College recognises that students have different needs, abilities, interests and ambitions and that its students are drawn from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.  These differences are catered for through the development of a comprehensive curriculum that extends and challenges students to realize their full potential.  Sequential courses of study are provided for Years 7 to 10 in each of the Key Learning Domains. This is achieved using core units at Year 7 and a mixture of core and elective subjects at Years 8, 9 and 10. With a large Year 11 and Year 12 student population, the College is able to offer a broad range of Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units and has a strong commitment to Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs.  A successful Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) program operates as well as an off-campus Community (Satellite) VCAL program. Additionally there is an Outreach program that supports approximately 15 students each year who have extreme mental health conditions that place them “at risk” of non-participation. In 2017 and 2018 we have also worked with the two Wonthaggi primary schools to supply an intervention/transition program for chronically absent students in Years 5 to 9 (the Wonthaggi Pathways and Transition Setting).

The College continues to develop its enrichment and consolidation programs. Students in Years 10 and 11 have the opportunity to accelerate through the VCE by taking higher-level units than is the norm for their age cohort.  A very successful select entry (SEAL) program operates on the Dudley Campus. 

College staff conduct a range of quality curriculum and co-curricular programs across both campuses.  The College has a tradition of student participation and success in the Performing Arts.  The College is a member school of the South Gippsland Schools Music Program and currently has around 100 students involved in the program.  Wonthaggi Secondary College regularly enjoys sporting success at local, state and national levels.  An ADVANCE program (based on surf lifesaving) also operates in the College. 

Participation in Human Powered Vehicle events is also an established part of the College’s co-curricular program.  An annual Human Powered Vehicle Grand Prix is a major feature of the local community calendar. 

The College is committed to the welfare of its students.  To this end, a Student Welfare Coordinator is attached to each campus, along with Careers counselling available at both the McBride and Dudley campus.  The staff at Wonthaggi Secondary College are dedicated professional educators who place importance on quality teaching and professional development.  The College provides a caring, supportive environment whilst also encouraging teamwork, leadership and a sense of belonging.  Students are encouraged to develop leadership skills through the Peer Support Program, the Student Representative Council and as elected student leaders.

Extensive recreational, sporting and educational facilities are available.  These include a gymnasium (2 at the Dudley campus), library, canteen, computer centres, theatrette/drama room, courts and oval or playing fields at each campus.  The College also enjoys access to extensive community recreational facilities, local beaches and coastal reserves.

The extensive grounds and buildings are generally well maintained and attractive.  The College continues to focus on upgrading facilities and grounds.

In 2018, the College, with the support of the Victorian School Building Authority, sees construction of its new Senior Campus commence on vacant land in McKenzie Street (Wonthaggi).  This project also includes an extended three-court highball facility with extensive community facilities. The community facility is coordinated with our key partner, the Bass Coast Shire.

PHILOSOPHY

We believe all students can learn and that all students can be successful.We believe that individual well-being stems from a sense of accomplishment and belonging.We believe there are different forms of success.

MISSION

Wonthaggi Secondary College seeks to create a challenging learning environment that encourages high expectations for success through instruction that caters for individual differences and learning styles. Creativity and care are pillars of our learning environment.

VISION

Achieving success in a caring and creative environment.

SC1         Demonstrated understanding of initiatives in student learning including the Standards, the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 and Assessment and Reporting Advice and the capacity to implement and evaluate learning and teaching programs in accordance with the Victorian curriculum.

SC2         Demonstrated high level classroom teaching skills and the capacity to work with colleagues to continually improve teaching and learning.

SC3         Demonstrated ability to monitor and assess student learning data and to use this data to inform teaching for improved student learning.

SC4         Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills and high level interpersonal skills including the capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with parents, other employees and the broader school community to focus on student learning, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5         Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values, including a commitment and capacity to actively contribute to and manage major curriculum or student activities and a commitment to continually improving teaching quality and capacity through the application of knowledge, skills and expertise derived from ongoing professional development and learning.

The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2.  The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes.  The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning. 

As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.

Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.

A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.

Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.

Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs.  Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.

At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities. 
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice.  New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.

Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.

Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.

The role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:

- Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;

- Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;

- Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;

- Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;

- Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx