Classroom Teacher

Northcote Primary School is known for its strong sense of community connectedness, and Northcote Primary School has this in spades. Over our 140 year history the school has evolved into a place where community matters and where our students continue to achieve academically. We are proud of our consistent teaching and learning and the high standards we set for our staff and students. We are a welcoming school community. Strong relationships are the hallmark of our school – among students, parents, and staff and within the Northcote community.

Northcote Primary School is located in the inner northern suburb of Northcote and was first established in 1874.  It retains the original Victorian and later Edwardian heritage brick buildings. Extensive refurbishments to original classrooms have created modern, flexible learning spaces in most areas. This  provided the environment to transform the teaching and learning practices in our school, to be far more suitable for today’s teaching and learning needs. The pedagogical focus is to provide an inclusive teaching and learning program, with consistent, collaborative teaching (teacher teaming) to best meet the needs of all students and capitalise on the collective strengths of teams of teachers.

Synthetic turf for general play and basketball has enhanced the open play spaces. Extensive landscaping and attractive signage have improved the main entrances to the school. Maintaining the original buildings continues to be a community challenge that we strive to meet and we have recently been the recipient of Capital Works grant to improve and enhance our school buildings.

There are 382 students enrolled in the 2018 school year with a likely increase over the next few years.  Three double Mod 5 relocatable classrooms are located on land adjacent to the school, accommodating our year 3/4s in 2018 (6 learning spaces).

Our community of students, staff, families and friends provide a supportive learning environment, engaging our children in lifelong learning. The school purpose is: We are here to help children to become literate and numerate and prepare them for life. The core values of the school are: creativity, respect and community. The value of creativity is defined by the school community as: Stimulating curiosity and exploration as well as providing opportunities for choice, discovery and creative self-expression. Respect means accepting and valuing ourselves and others and demonstrating this in our behaviour; and Community at Northcote Primary School means welcoming students, staff, families and friends by promoting a sense of belonging and sharing in our school.

These values underpin a school environment and atmosphere where safety, caring attitudes, quality respectful relationships, consultative decision-making, and high educational standards are encouraged.

We have an enthusiastic and professional staff team and the school has a strong focus on teacher development.  The school has a low Student Family Occupation and Education (SFOE) index of 0.1381 and the number of families with language backgrounds other than English is in the mid-high range with the percentage of English as an Additional Language (EAL) is at 8%.  The school is diverse in population, with a mix of nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds.  We are a community mainly from the local Northcote and surrounding areas who value working together in partnership to achieve the best outcomes for all students 

We strive to build and maintain a community of learners – students, parents and staff – learning, working and sharing together. We recognize the importance of equipping students with skills and abilities to achieve socially, academically and emotionally in today’s changing world. Students who feel safe, challenged and supported by a positive school environment are able to aspire to be the best they can.

Students are provided with a wide range of personal, academic and practical experiences. Northcote Primary School is committed to ensuring that improved student learning is the highest priority. This is achieved by providing a comprehensive learning program based on the Victorian Curriculum with specialist programs in the Arts, Physical Education, and Italian Language. By focusing on the aptitude and interests of each individual student, the school provides a learning environment which ensures students have every opportunity to reach their potential.

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.

SC 6    

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