Learning Specialist

Location: Melbourne | Northern Metropolitan
Job type: Full time / From 28/01/2025 - 26/01/2028
Organisation: Schools (Government)
Salary: Salary not specified
Occupation: Education and Training
Reference: 1436641
Location ProfileVISION
The vision of the school community encompasses a commitment to achieving excellence in education for students with additional learning needs through a curriculum which integrates learning technologies with best practice in teaching and learning.
VALUES
The values embraced by the school community are:
- Respect
- Personal Best
- Inclusion
- Cooperation
- Honesty
These values are imbedded in the Student Code of Conduct and the Staff, Principal and School Council Codes of Practice.
CONTEXT
Located in Bundoora, a northern suburb of Melbourne, on two campuses, Concord is a specialist school which caters for students with mild intellectual disability between the ages of 5 and 18 years. Students come from a wide geographical area and a diverse socio-economic background. The Watsonia Campus caters for students aged between 5 and 9 years of age. The Bundoora Campus caters for 9 to 18 year old students. Both campuses are situated in attractive, well maintained grounds with excellent facilities which include:
- Discovery Centre
- Fully equipped gymnasium
- Food Technology Centre
- Art and Craft room
- Well-resourced library
- Physical Education & Performing Arts Centre
- Six school excursion buses
- Comprehensive and innovative eLearning facilities and resources
- Modern playground equipment
- Shaded outdoor playing areas
The school, with 160 teaching and ancillary staff, has a current enrolment of 440 students. Enrolment is dependent on eligibility criteria as determined by the Department of Education. Concord School supports integration into or from mainstream schools. Support services available to parent/carers and students include access to educational psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and visiting teacher services. Intensive social competency programs also form part of the core curriculum across the school.
Concord School is focused on student achievement and learning. Concord School is recognised as being a leader in the provision of education for students with additional learning needs and, as a specialist school, is highly regarded for its curriculum, learning technology programs and educational leadership.
The students are taught the mainstream Victorian Curriculum (Prep-Year 10) and VPC (Year 11-12) curriculum however the educational pathway of each student is specifically tailored, through the use of Individual Learning Plans, to meet their targeted learning needs. The students are supported through extensive resourcing, small class sizes of 8-12, education support staff in each classroom and specialised staff including a school nurse, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and student wellbeing coordinators.
Concord School has a high level of commitment to a curriculum which integrates learning technologies with best practice in teaching and learning in order to enhance educational outcomes for our students. The Discovery Centre, a technology rich learning environment, has facilitated opportunities for our students, our staff and for staff from neighbouring schools. The Physical Education/Performing Arts Centre, Food Technology Centre and Library ensures our students have access to outstanding facilities and resources in these areas.
Staff members place a high priority on communication and work with parent/carers in Student Support Groups to communicate and discuss individual Student Learning Plans. These plans focus on the development of learning outcomes based on the course content of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards. Student progress is closely monitored against these learning targets through extensive formal and informal assessment.
Student achievement is celebrated to promote increased self-esteem and self-confidence to assist students to become independent in their work and acknowledge participation at school. At Concord we expect that students will develop respect for others and achieve personal excellence.
The values of the school are promoted through all curriculum areas and emphasised through student responsibility areas such as the Student Representative Council and other student leadership programs.
Concord School provides many enrichment programs such as:
- Work Experience
- Travel Education
- Excursion / camping programs
- Swimming programs
- Inter school sport
- Electives
- Presentation Ball
- Perceptual motor program
- Annual Christmas concert, performing arts concerts and incursions
- Bike education
- Walkathon
- Footy Day
The school looks forward to continuing to meet the challenge of educating our students so that each can continue 'To be The Best I Can Be'.
Selection CriteriaSC1 Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum (Victorian Curriculum and Victoria Pathways Certificate). Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities relating to wellbeing and engagement and/or Disability Inclusion.
SC2 Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs, with a particular focus on the ability to work with students with additional needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.
SC3 Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.
RoleLearning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning. Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.
The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.
Learning Specialists at Concord School Each Learning Specialist will have their own designated responsibilities. These will be reviewed and amended on a regular basis to suit changing student, DE, operational and professional needs.
Concord School is therefore looking for an educator who has the flexibility to adapt and positively respond to the challenges of future educational initiatives. Position descriptions are reviewed regularly by the Principal and may change, by consultation, to support the School Strategic Plan.
Whole School Leadership - Teaching and Learning Leader – One role each in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary 7/8, Secondary 9/10, Secondary 11/12
- Wellbeing and Engagement Leader – One role each in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary 7/8, Secondary 9/10, Secondary 11/12
- Disability Inclusion – One role for Lower Primary campus
- Digital Learning and Specialist Team Leader – One role, school-wide
These roles will be negotiated with the Principal with experience and expertise taken into consideration and will be rotated as required.
Enquiries regarding the position can be directed to Acting Principal Bronwyn Hart on 9467 3972.
In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:
Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practiceModelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessonsWorking with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practiceLeading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and deliveryPlaying a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaborationModelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practiceProviding evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and developmentProviding expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learningSupervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachersModelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approachesDeveloping and promoting school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning CommunitiesModelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practiceWho May ApplyTeachers 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.
EEO AND OHS CommitmentApplicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. 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.
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via ******
Child Safe StandardsVictorian 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:
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools.
Where an ongoing teaching position in a special school is advertised:
- an ongoing teacher who does not hold an approved special education qualification may be offered permanent transfer to the school if the teacher has completed 3 or more years continuous employment in the teaching service in a special setting and is assessed by the principal as suitable for ongoing employment in a special setting
- an external applicant, including an existing fixed term employee, who does not hold an approved special education qualification, but who holds provisional or full registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, may be offered ongoing employment if the teacher has completed 3 or more years of continuous employment as a teacher in the teaching service in a special setting and is assessed by the principal as suitable for ongoing employment in a special setting
Other than set out above, a teacher who does not have an approved special education qualification can only be offered:
- temporary transfer for a period not exceeding 3 years where the successful applicant is an ongoing employee, or
- fixed term employment for a period not exceeding 5 years where the successful applicant is not an ongoing employee
Conditions of EmploymentAll 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.aspxVIT LANTITETo be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.
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