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Bentleigh Secondary College is a co-educational secondary school of choice.

Bentleigh Secondary College has a core belief in promoting leadership at all levels. The College is internationally recognised for innovation through sustainability.

College Vision

We strive to make a difference by recognising that young people need strategies to help them successfully deal with an ever-changing world. Our purpose is to prepare all students to be active and engaged global citizens.

College Values

We embrace a progressive culture that champions student innovation, leadership and creative thinking through student engagement and socially inclusive activities. Open communication and respect for positive change are always encouraged. The school community works together to challenge its members to exceed expectations for achievement in all areas. This is reflected in our core values:

• Excellence – being the best you can be.

• Responsibility – the right to learn.

• Respect – the right to be treated with respect.

• Inclusiveness – the right to feel safe.

Engagement and Progress

The College uses data from the student voice and feedback to personalise the educational experience of each student, thus creating positive change in the lives of students, staff and those in the community. Our students consistently achieve excellent academic results, and the majority of graduates successfully enrol in tertiary studies.

We believe that quality teaching is the main driver of successful student learning outcomes. We have well-established, rigorous review processes. Our staff are regularly recognised for excellence in their fields of work and study. It is a core aim to provide our staff with leadership opportunities.

The College is committed to providing stimulating and engaging learning. This commitment is articulated through a whole-school focus on the explicit instructional model. Students are encouraged to progress at their own rate, exploring their interests to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding. Students are provided with high-quality feedback and are encouraged to reflect on their learning progress.

In the Wider Community

On a broader scale, we share our vision of a sustainable future and our belief in the importance of mindfulness meditation and the science of positive psychology with other learning institutions, community groups and industry. Our school and staff continue to win various awards, including the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year 2011, the Premier’s Sustainability Award in the Education category 2013 and finalist in the Victorian Outstanding Curriculum Innovation Award 2014.

Student Opportunities

Student leadership is promoted at all levels through the following activities and leadership programs: Student Representative Council; School for Student Leadership; Green Machine; Respect Committee; Drama, Music and Visual Arts programs; camps; debating; chess; debutante ball; and various sports and outdoor education programs.

Our students have the opportunity to forge global connections through our Sister School agreement with Yamada Senior High School in Osaka, Japan, which results in regular student exchange visits; our student sponsorship program with Letsibogo Girls High in Soweto, South Africa; and our International Students program.

History and Facilities

Bentleigh Secondary College was opened in 1956 and is a vibrant single-site campus with a current enrolment of more than 900 students. Our campus is located on 6.5 hectares in Bentleigh East, close to public transport. The College is organised into two sub-schools: junior (Years 7 to 9) and senior (Years 10 to 12). Each sub-school has an Assistant Principal and a Head of School.

College facilities include: a double basketball stadium; a gymnasium; an administration and hospitality wing; a Performing Arts Centre for music, drama and dance with a theatre of 250 seats; a Learning Centre incorporating open-plan spaces, four science laboratories, three multimedia spaces, a library and five flexible classrooms. We are soon to undertake redevelopment of our facilities, with the announcement of funding of $9.6 million in the 2015 State budget.

What the Future Holds

This is an exciting time for Bentleigh Secondary College. We have developed an environment where leadership capacity and the voices of both staff and students are allowed to flourish. We value the strong relationships that have developed between parents, teachers, students, friends, local organisations, businesses and community groups. We are looking forward to the development and implementation of our next four-year strategic plan. We are planning for the further development and modernisation of our infrastructure. We are continually integrating new teaching and learning technologies into our learning environment. We continue to encourage a dynamic and innovative environment that allows our staff and students to shine.

SC1 Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of initiatives in student learning including the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 and the Assessment and Reporting Advice and the ability to implement curriculum programs consistent with their intent.

SC2 Demonstrated understanding of how students learn and effective classroom teaching strategies and the capacity to work with colleagues to continually improve teaching and learning.

SC3 Demonstrated capacity 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 a capacity to develop constructive relationships with students, parents and other staff.

SC5 Demonstrated commitment and capacity to actively contribute to a broad range of school activities and a capacity to reflect on, evaluate and improve professional knowledge and practice.

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.

Core responsibilities include:

- Planning and implementing a range of teaching programs or
courses of study

- Teaching an area of the curriculum or a general curriculum to a
year level

- Monitoring, evaluating and reporting student progress in key
learning areas

- Implementing strategies to achieve targets related to student
learning outcomes

- Maintaining records of class attendance and recording student
progress

- Implementing effective student management consistent with the
school charter.

- Working with a mentor to participate in professional development
planning, implementation and reflection developing a professional
portfolio

Additional responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

- Supervising a range of student activities including support and
welfare programs

- Contributing to a range of co-curricular programs

For the purpose of the Teacher Graduate Recruitment Program, graduate applicant eligibility is defined as a four-year trained qualified teacher who has completed all course requirements and graduated within the last four years; and not employed as a teacher by the Department at the time of the commencement of the advertised vacancy.  Applicants must also be 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