Director of Junior School
St Patrick’s College, Strathfield, NSW
Commencing 17 January 2022
The College
St Patrick’s College, Strathfield is a Catholic school for boys in the Edmund Rice tradition offering a quality education to over 1,500 boys from Years 5 to 12 with the point of entry to the College being in Year 5. Working at St Patrick’s College, Strathfield means joining a community of highly motivated, passionate, professional and experienced individuals who are known for our inclusivity, expertise and dedication to our students, education and each other.
We are immensely proud of the opportunities that are afforded to students here at St Patrick’s, with a robust co-curricular sporting and cultural program, excellence in learning and teaching, and faith formation and prayer life that assists in developing young men who are prepared for a dynamic world.
The Position
3 year promotional appointment (2022 – 2024) + full time permanent teaching position – commencing 17 January 2022.
The Director of Junior School is a significant leadership position in the College and has responsibility for the spiritual, academic, wellbeing and co-curricular aims and programs of the Junior School consistent with the College’s strategic direction. This is a 4 point paid and a 0.7 release senior leadership position with responsibility for the operation and administration of the Junior School; and for providing learning environments that foster the physical, emotional, intellectual and social growth of students through contemporary pedagogy and a focus on student wellbeing.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity for an experienced, visionary and dynamic educational leader who is passionate about continuous improvement, committed to excellence and driven to make a positive difference in the education of children and young people. As a leader you will join an executive team focused on driving improved ways of working to deliver meaningful and long-lasting impact. You will be collaborative, courageous, agile and disciplined about delivering outcomes for students. You will be an educator who is interested in exploring the benefits of a middle schooling approach with students in a setting where transition to high school is unique.
You will have the privilege of welcoming boys and families into the St Patrick’s community and of nurturing a sense of belonging for our students, staff and community alike. You will lead and foster our boys’ connection to community through strong relationships that form the fine men of tomorrow, men of whom St Patrick’s College can continue to be proud.
Key Areas for Focus
*Contributing to the development of the College’s Catholic culture and the promotion of Christian values through personal witness.
*Co-responsibility for the leadership of the College’s mission and vision, and fulfillment of the Strategic Plan.
*Lead, engage, support, and inspire Junior School staff, students and parents to accomplish the College’s mission within the Junior School.
*Ability to provide proactive leadership and expertise in developing programs for students that develop knowledge and promote awareness in the areas of social justice, peace and ecological sustainability.
*Create a learning environment which stimulates learning and promotes excellence, where students are both challenged and supported.
*Demonstrate and model best practice and contemporary pedagogical practices for all learners.
*Maintain, develop and refine our emphasis on the explicit teaching of foundational literacy and numeracy skills, including the use of data and student tracking to ensure that all students progress across the Year 5 to 6 continuum, while ensuring students’ successful transition to Year 7.
*Build a shared sense of direction, clarify priorities and goals, and inspire others to achieve these
*Leads professional learning in the Junior School by providing access and encouragement for all staff aligned with staff goal setting and lesson observation to improve teaching practice.
*Leads reporting, analysis, and use of data from NAPLAN and other testing for staff, students and parents.
*Work in partnership and regularly communicate with parents, to ensure parental understanding of and support for, the College’s mission and ethos.
*Engaging with prospective families at enrolment events and interviews to ensure our new families feel a strong immediate connection to the College.
Essential Criteria
To be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate you satisfy the following selection criteria:
*A working understanding of, and commitment to the Catholic ethos of a School in the Edmund Rice tradition.
*Demonstrated understanding of appropriate behaviours and professional boundaries that reflect child safeguarding values in practice.
*Postgraduate qualification (Masters level in leadership, education, wellbeing, religious education or theology) completed or nearing completion
*A thorough understanding of contemporary pedagogy and the capacity to improve learning outcomes for Junior School Students
*A passion for primary education, inquiry-based pedagogies and the strongest standards of professional practice.
*Comprehensive knowledge of the curriculum for Stage 3, with an awareness of Stage 4 curriculum, inquiry-based pedagogy, restorative justice and intrinsic motivation.
*Demonstrated success in modelling and promoting effective teaching, learning and assessment practices within a Junior School context.
*Demonstrated track record of working productively and collaboratively as a part of a leadership team to achieve strategic and shared goals.
*The ability to take responsibility and provide effective leadership of staff, curriculum and wellbeing matters.
*Demonstrated high-level of communication and interpersonal skills to develop and sustain quality partnerships and working relationships within and beyond the College community.
*The capacity to lead and nurture teams, ensuring that all members are valued, respected and empowered to make decisions and offer their professional opinions in an inclusive environment
*Demonstrated skill in identifying and implementing significant improvement and change.
How to Apply
To express your interest in joining our highly motivated professional staff, apply via the online ‘Career Application’ available here on the St Patrick’s College website.
Your application should consist of:
1.Cover letter that highlights your claim for the role and demonstrates your suitability by addressing the following four (4) target questions (maximum 500-word response):
a) How will you foster a culture which drives and encourages high performance, collaboration, agility and accountability in the delivery of educational outcomes aligned with the College’s mission.
b) How will you lead and inspire school improvement in the Junior School?
c) How will you nurture a sense of belonging for students, staff and the broader community to ensure a strong connection to the College?
d) What are your core beliefs, understandings and experiences about best practice in the transition of students from primary into secondary schooling?
2.Current CV (maximum 6 pages) outlining your qualifications, experience and skills together with the contact information for three (3) referees, (at least two must be from your current employer).
All applications should be addressed to The Principal (MS Word and PDF attachments are preferred).
We look forward to hearing how your capabilities, knowledge and experience make you the best person for this role.
A working understanding of, and a commitment to the Catholic ethos of a school in the Edmund Rice tradition, a valid Working with Children clearance and participation in the co-curricular program, are essential conditions of employment.
St Patrick’s College is a child safe and child-centred organisation, committed to the protection of children and has zero-tolerance of any abuse of children. It is our commitment to ensure that each and every child and young person under our care are kept safe and free from all forms of harm and abuse.
Applications close 4pm Friday 3 September 2021.
Please contact Karyn Corcoran, Human Resources Leader on 02 8705 9295 for a confidential discussion regarding your interest in this opportunity.
The appointment of the successful applicant will be subject to satisfactory employment screening for child-related employment.
St Patrick’s College is an equal opportunity employer. All recruitment and selection decisions are based solely on merit and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.
We are committed to reconciliation and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.