Assistant Principal-Range 1

Viewbank Primary School is located in the suburb of Viewbank in the City of Banyule. The school site is spacious with well-maintained grounds and gardens and attractive views to the northeast hills of Melbourne. The school was opened in 1966 when the area was a growth corridor of Melbourne. In February 2016 we celebrated 50 years of education at Viewbank Primary School.

Enrolment at Census Date 2018 was 653.  In 2018 the school operates 28 classes, with specialist classes in Physical Education, Art, Music, Japanese and Science.  More than 170 students take part in our privately funded Instrumental Music Program which includes singing, guitar, keyboard, woodwind, brass and string tuition.  Intervention programs are run throughout the school in Literacy and Numeracy, with other enrichment programs including Lunchtime Chess Club, English as an additional language (EAL), Dancing, Computer Coding, health and human relations, house system, camping, gardening club, junior school council, The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program (Grade 3 and 4), Kinder – Foundation transition and Year 6-7 transition. 

We have an enrolment ceiling of 675.  A proportion of students (4%) are the children of parents working in the Defence Forces.  We employ the services of a Defence Services Transition Aide (DSTA) to ease these students into our school setting and to assist with the issues associated with transition and transfer. 

The teaching staff, organised into area teams, is committed to providing quality programs for all students and becoming lifelong learners themselves through high participation in professional development. The school community takes great pride in the friendly, co-operative and supportive spirit between teachers and staff, the depth of the curriculum, and the quality of teaching. We have 44.67 equivalent full-time staff- 2 Principal Class , 2 Leading Teachers, 34.3 classroom or specialist teachers and 5.37 ESS Staff.  There is an excellent blend of experienced and less-experienced teachers, good gender representation, the capacity for quality mentoring and a spread of full time and part time teaching positions.  There has been increased staff turnover in recent years, and the need for quality induction and training especially with graduate teachers. 
The staff and parents of Viewbank Primary School have a strong commitment to creating a school environment that values caring for each other, respect and responsibility. The school emphasises literacy that is enhanced with the Early Years initiatives, and support programs. The Early Years Numeracy program is also a strong focus, with the addition of the Extending Mathematics Understanding (E.M.U.) program in 2016. Developmental Curriculum is a focus in the Level 1 area.  We are heavily involved in the implementation of the Powerful Learning and Teaching Strategy, a commitment that extends into 2018 and beyond.

The Before and After School Hours Program offers parents care facilities for two and a half hours before school and three hours after school. This accredited high-quality before and after school care program caters for 80 and 110 places respectively and is is provided for by OSHClub.Parent and community involvement in the school is very much valued. As well as School Council and its committees, parents play a valued role in curriculum programs, camps and excursions, working bees and special events. Our key school values are Honesty and Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility and Doing Your Best. A multipurpose hall was completed in February, 2011 under the government’s Building the Education Revolution program.

Our School Review was completed at the end of 2016, and a new School Strategic Plan (SSP) completed and ratified in February 2017.  The goals of the new SSP are:-

• To articulate Viewbank Primary School’s improvement strategy in terms of the priorities and initiatives of FISO and to communicate this strategy to staff, parents, students and the local community.
• To build authentic student voice in learning and leadership, resulting in enhanced student learning outcomes and student engagement.
• To develop the teaching and learning capacity of teachers across the school with a focus on:

                  Literacy and numeracy;

                 Curiosity, creativity and critical thinking;

                  Inquiry learning;

                  Student engagement in learning.

The assistant principal reports directly to the principal.

Assistant principals have a primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program.  In exercising the responsibility, assistant principals will have the authority to make all significant decisions relating to the program, budget and staff relating to their area of designated responsibility within the framework of the school's strategic plan, policies and budget.  Assistant principals will contribute to the overall management of the school through involvement in policy formulation and decision making.

The management of significant school program or functional areas in schools involve assistant principals in the analysis of the needs of students and the translation of state educational policy and frameworks into appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all students.

Typically assistant principals will be responsible for the effective use of the teaching staff and program budget of a defined area of the school's operation and for the oversight and leadership of the educational programs provided utilising these resources.

Typically, assistant principals perform one or more of the following functions:

   - supervision and coordination of the work of senior curriculum or level coordinators;

   - allocation of budgets, positions of responsibility and other resources within the area of responsibility;

   - supervision of the delivery of teaching programs;

   - management of programs to improve the knowledge and experience of staff;

   - responsibility for general discipline matters beyond the management of classroom teachers and year level coordinators;

   - contribute to the overall management of the school;

Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

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

This is a new position, and the successful candidate will be an additional Assistant Principal in our school.

School tours will be conducted by the Principal on Thursday 19th July at 9.30 am, and on Monday, 23rd July at 4.00pm.

Please register your anticipated attendance at the tour with the school office on 9459-1512

• 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.