Numeracy

Middle Park Primary School is located in a beach side area of Melbourne within the City of Port Phillip.  The original school building was constructed in 1887 and is now classified by the National Trust. A number of significant upgrades to the buildings have been conducted over recent years which have enhanced the education capacity of the facility, whilst maintaining its historical integrity.  The school has a small catchment area, but due to its reputation in the local area, the enrolment is currently 440.  An enrolment management plan has been established over a number of years to manage increasing enrolments in relation to the limited space provided by the site.There is a strong sense of community within the area with the compact enrolment zone leading to a village atmosphere which promotes close relationship amongst the children and local families.  The school has strong historical links with Melbourne’s Greek community, with a number of children at the school who speak Greek. 

The school building is located in a pleasant tree lined setting and comprises the main building with recently added hall/PE complex, the Junior building, only recently refurbished, and a number of relocatable classrooms. The playgrounds, whilst set in pleasant surroundings, are constrained by the site and include two asphalt basketball courts, an artificially turfed oval and soccer area, a dedicated Prep play area and an outdoor classroom. The buildings are well maintained and provide an excellent learning environment for children, with all classrooms serviced with a Smartboard and air conditioning.  The school is structured around multi-age classes from Prep to Year 6. In literacy and numeracy the school consistently and significantly outperforms state means. Recent developments in the grounds and playground areas include 2 new sets of playground equipment with further improvements planned as part of the school’s strategic plan.

The school presents with a balanced staffing profile.  High quality experienced teachers work alongside less experienced teachers throughout planning and instruction. Opportunities for teachers to assume leadership roles have been provided in the staffing structure. Building leadership capacity is a priority under the current Strategic Plan.

Through our multi-age structure and inquiry-based programs across the school we endeavour to reflect the strength of our community by promoting responsibility and leadership. As a community, we know the importance of coming together to develop a sense of ‘collective responsibility’ for each other. This is something that we model at school through our actions and structures. Initiatives such as Peer Mediation, Student Leadership, Inquiry Learning, Junior School Council, Buddies and multi-age learning are examples of approaches that connect directly to our values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. A great deal of our effort is dedicated to building and strengthening these and similar programs. Inquiry learning and our move towards a 1:1 device to student ratio approach to the use of ICT as a tool for learning are current major foci. Our success in all areas has come from staff and parents collaborating, sharing and supporting in Professional Learning Teams and Program Teams. Parent involvement in our programming enhances this success.

Middle Park is proud of its specialist programs which have been developed to specifically meet the needs of its community.The school has developed an exemplary eLearning plan which will further integrate ICT into the curriculum through our 1:1 device use of ICT as a learning tool.  A computer lab equipped with 28 computers and Smart board is used by all classes throughout the week.The PE program is taken by a specialist in PE.  The program is delivered in one hour sessions with regular Gala Days, opportunities for students to compete in district and zone sports competitions, and a whole school swimming program utilising the facilities at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.The Visual Arts program has been enhanced by the renovation and changes to the building with a new Art space part of the design.The school also provides a specialist music program. As part of the Performing Arts program the students have the opportunity to perform in a School Production every second year, with a Soirée every other year. French is the Language Other Than English at MPPS.  This is taken by a LOTE Specialist.

Our School Council is extremely active in our efforts to promote engagement and is able to draw on a wide range of community partnerships and expertise to ensure success. Council’s roles in areas such as policy development, development of our buildings and grounds, fundraising and overseeing our OOSH program are highly resourced and widely supported. Of significant note is our focus on a review of communications which has led to some important initiatives such as our school app and various other modifications.

As a community we are immensely proud of what we are able to support and enable our children to achieve. We work to give them a positive outlook and equip them with the skills and disposition to persist when challenged; giving them the greatest foundations for future success in whatever pathways and endeavours they choose.

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.

SC6        Ability to integrate eLearning and its application to enhance student achievement and professional collaboration.

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

- All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.

- Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.

-  A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.

- Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.