Classroom Teacher - Gisborne Primary School

Location Profile

SCHOOL PROFILE – Gisborne Primary School – Excellence in Education

Gisborne Primary School has a current enrolment of 544 pupils with 50 staff.  Situated in the picturesque country town of Gisborne, 53km from Melbourne, Gisborne Primary School has been serving its rural community for over 150 years.  The school has developed and expanded with the township itself.  The school provides a stimulating and safe learning environment for children where they are supported in their pursuit of excellence and in the realisation of their maximum potential.

There is a mixture of modern and historic buildings on the site.  They feature well equipped technology areas, library, teacher resource and withdrawal areas, a gymnasium, canteen, visual arts room and adventure playground areas.  Our teachers are required to differentiate the curriculum to suit the learning needs of students.  Quality planning, teaching and assessment practices are considered high priority at our school.

Students at Gisborne Primary School are encouraged to share their ‘voice’ in their classes and through the many leadership opportunities offered.  Our School Captains lead school events, assemblies and school tours and represent the school at community events such as Anzac Day.  Other leadership initiatives include House Captains, Arts, Community & Sustainability/Environment Leadership teams, and two Class Captains lead each classroom.

Our specialist programs include Physical Education, STEM, Music, Visual Art and LOTE – Italian.

Our teachers plan together in teams and use data to inform the direction of teaching and monitor every child’s progress. The focus of Professional Development for our staff has resulted in a heightened awareness of the best current teaching practices.  A large component of professional development is undertaken in Professional Learning Communities (PLC), which focus on refinements in teaching, data analysis, goal setting and collegiate support.  The Leadership Team and teachers regularly participate in Learning Walks and Talks and collegiate visits in classrooms and planning meetings. Gisborne Primary School is a PLC Link school leader and supports teachers and leaders across the state to implement PLC in their schools.

Teachers at Gisborne Primary School are committed to the home/school partnership and value input and support from student and parents. Our School Council sets high expectations for student learning and teaching practices.  Our parents are shared partners in student learning; we value their contribution to their child’s learning as well as their contribution to the school in whatever capacity they can.

The school’s motto is ‘Caring’ and this is featured as a logo on the school’s uniform. The school’s values are Respect, Responsibility, Personal Best, Resilience and Caring.

The school’s philosophy is based on the belief that every student has the ability to learn and that this occurs best in a safe, happy and positive environment. 

Selection Criteria

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.

SC2    Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3    Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.

SC6  Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with a PLC team of teachers to improve teacher practice and student outcomes.

Role

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-curricular activities.

Responsibilities

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 classrooms 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.

Who May Apply

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.

Vaccination Requirement

A person is not eligible for employment in the Teaching Service unless that person meets the vaccination requirements on commencement in the position.