Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Assistant Principal - Range 3
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1534003
Pakenham Secondary College is a Year 7-12 College located within the Cardinia Shire on Melbourne's South East fringe. The school now serves a large and diverse community within a designated urban growth corridor.
The College is committed to providing all students with learning opportunities designed to develop socially responsible citizens and build pathways to their futures. We are committed to continuous improvement. We value growth through connection.
The key values that underpin all our work at the College is based around the acronym SOAR.
S ocial and personal responsibility
This means everyone is accountable for their own actions and share responsibility for the development of a positive learning environment.
O pportunities for all
This means that all members of the school community are provided with a variety of learning opportunities to further develop themselves and participate in the decision-making process of the school.
A chieving personal best
This means there is an expectation that all members of the school community commit to a culture of excellence.
R espectful relationships
This means that the school recognises the importance of productive relationships, with all members of the school community showing respect for themselves, others and the environment.
The school community has become increasingly diverse with students from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds creating a diverse school population. It is anticipated that student enrolment numbers will be approximately 1250 in 2027.
We are a great school offering outstanding opportunities to our students in the areas important to our College Community:
Learning growth and pathways
Sport
Performing Arts
Student Leadership and our Community.
The curriculum across Years 7 and 8 is based around a core plus elective model. Students in Years 9 and 10 combine their core subjects with more elective choices in areas of interest to them. Year 10 students also have the opportunity to access a VET or VCE subject. Senior students are able to access the VCE (VCE, VCE Vocational Major and the Victorian Pathways Certificate) and a variety of VET courses and School Based Apprenticeships. The school is committed to supporting students in achieving at least one qualification upon the completion of their Secondary Education.
The school recently completed a new Strategic Plan (2025) which is focused on improving student learning and wellbeing. Key Improvement Strategies include:
Strengthen the Professional Learning Communities approach through collaborative inquiry, improved use of data, feedback and peer coaching.
Develop, implement and embed a whole school approach to formative and summative assessment.
Audit, adjust, monitor and embed the instructional model aligned to the VTLM 2.0.
Embed multi-tiered systems of support that enhance student wellbeing, engagement, and inclusion.
Enhance student voice and agency, a sense of belonging and school pride across the school community.
The College has recently received $11.3 million in funding as part of a Capitol Works Program with works commencing in 2024 - the Program will be complete by the end of 2026.
Our College has also further developed its International Student Program. We view our International Students Program as a further means of adding to our already rich Cultural diversity at the College.
Pakenham Secondary College strives to implement the Child Safe Standards as outlined in Ministerial Order No.870 to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students at the College and promote an organisational culture that manages the risk of child abuse and neglect. The school has developed policies and procedures specifically aimed at keeping children safe.
SC1: Educational Leadership
Outstanding capacity for visionary and exemplary educational leadership of a school or college
Highly developed skills in leading and managing change including the leadership of others in the process of change.
SC2: Financial, Managerial and Administrative Ability
Outstanding financial, organisational and resource management skills.
SC3: Planning, Policy and Program Development and Review
Exemplary values appropriate to the development of student learning with a demonstrated capacity to achieve high-quality student outcomes.
An understanding of, and a commitment to, the use of learning technologies to improve teaching and learning.
Demonstrated ability to implement Department policies to a high level.
SC4: Leadership of Staff and Students
A highly developed capacity to motivate staff, develop their talents and build an effective team.
A clear capacity to foster a learning environment that takes account of the individual needs of students and helps students to develop their special abilities and talents.
SC5: Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills in individual, small group and community contexts.
Exemplary values pertaining to personal qualities of objectivity, sensitivity and integrity.
An ability to work with parents and the community to develop a strong learning environment.
SC6: Local Criteria
Proven capacity to develop a high quality educational or wellbeing program with a successful outcome for staff and students
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.
Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, 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 safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected]
Applicants 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.
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:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy
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. Information on the department values is available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
Interested applicants are welcome to participate in a College Tour. Tours will be running on Thursday 16th July and Thursday 23rd July at 3:30pm
Please contact Principal, Aaron Smith on 59451433 to be included on the College Tour and if you have any questions regarding this position.
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:
Details of qualification requirements as updated from time to time can be found at Recruitment in Schools.
Responsibilities
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
More specifically, the successful candidate will be responsible for:
Staff Development - Professional Development and Learning
Staffing
Timetabling
Daily Organisation
Course Selection, Y7 & 9 inclusive
College Calendar
Camps and Excursions
Coaching (Teaching Staff, ES Staff and Broader Leadership Team)
Staff Wellbeing
Staff Induction (Staff Induction Day, Staff Offices, Mentors, etc)
Staff Meeting Schedules
Staff Opinion Surveys
Respectful Relationships (Staff)
The successful candidate will also be required to:
Oversee the Student Management & Wellbeing of a Sub School (Murnong Sub School)
Lead Check Ins and Leadership of the Sub School Team including Analysis and Action of Data
Lead Staff Performance
Lead OH&S, Buildings and Grounds and Emergency Management
Provide Oversight of our Sporting Programs
Carry out Other Responsibilities as directed by the Principal