Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Principal - Range 4
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1483861
(a) Vision and values
Demonstrated capacity to create a shared vision, define and gain acceptance of school goals and set and communicate expectations for effective performance.
(b) Teaching and Learning
Demonstrated ability to manage the quality of teaching and create a positive culture of challenge, support and collaboration.
(c) Improvement, Innovation and Change
Demonstrated capacity to produce and implement clear, evidence-based improvement plans and policies and lead innovation and change.
(d) Management
Demonstrated capacity to ensure that the school's human, physical and financial resources are efficiently allocated and managed.
(e) Development
Demonstrated capacity to create a professional learning community that is focused on the continuous improvement of teaching and learning, supporting all staff to achieve high standards and commitment to their own learning and wellbeing.
(f) Engagement
Demonstrated capacity to develop positive relationships with students, parents/families and the local community and participate in and contribute to system-level activities.
(g) Community Criterion
Demonstrated understanding of the importance of leadership in building and strengthening relationships of professional trust between the school, students, staff, parents and carers, and an ability to continue to promote positive community engagement across the school.
The role of the principal is to lead and manage the planning, delivery, evaluation and improvement of the education of all students in a community through the deployment of resources provided by the Department and the school community.
At the same time, the principal, as executive officer of the school council, must ensure that adequate and appropriate advice is provided to the council on educational and other matters, that the decisions of the council are implemented and that adequate support and resources are provided for the conduct of council meetings.
The principal is accountable for the overall management and development of the school within statewide guidelines and Government policies. A clear set of accountabilities, which distinguish their work from other members of the Teaching Service and the education community are set out in detail in the contract of employment.
The core accountabilities of all principals are to:
Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
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.
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. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected]
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
To 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.
To be eligible for appointment as a principal a person must either:
Bell Primary School is a dynamic and community focused school with a 2025 student enrolment of 440 students. The school is proud of its long history of providing education in the Preston community since its establishment in 1928. The pleasant, well maintained school grounds enhance the learning programs and community activities. Bell Primary School is committed to building active student and community involvement with a philosophy that focuses on developing the whole child with a range of programs and community bodies to support that vision.
The school is supported by a dynamic community led by a dedicated School Council including the following Sub- Committees and Working Party:
In 2020, the school opened a new senior school learning hub on the second floor of the main building and a refurbished library as part of a capital works upgrade to support collaborative and connected learning approaches. The learning centre, main building and 7 Modular-5 relocatable buildings provide further opportunities for flexible learning that support staff in catering for the needs of individual and groups of students. In 2025, the school operates with 19 classes.
Stage 2 of the building master plan was completed in August 2024, with the construction of a gym/hall for school and community use primarily in the areas of PE/sport and performing arts.
The school continues to prioritise the core areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Curiosity with a focus on building consistency of practice through implementing our agreed upon teaching and learning model. As a professional learning community, we continue to focus on enhancing teaching and learning practices and improving student achievement outcomes through data driven planning in collaborative teams.
An emphasis on high impact teaching strategies including differentiation and providing additional support and extension is central to our approach to teaching and learning at Bell Primary School. At Bell Primary School, we implement Berry Street Educational Model (BSEM) strategies. BSEM is based on proven positive education, trauma-informed and wellbeing practices that enable students¿ academic and personal growth. BSEM along with the Respectful Relationships, Rights and Resilience form the basis of the school's social emotional curriculum that's explicitly taught throughout the year. As part of our Start Up Program, the first week of the school year is spent setting the tone in each room with a strong emphasis on values and developing effective routines and relationships.
Specialist subjects for Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, STEAM and Language (Italian) are delivered weekly to all grades.
Students also have opportunities to develop leadership skills through involvement in forums such as Junior School Council, Sustainability reps and an extensive Grade 6 Leadership program. Bell Primary School offers a range of extra-curricular activities as part of its commitment to supporting student engagement, wellbeing, motivation and interest including interschool sport, camps, senior vocal ensemble and rock band, art extension classes, as well as offering a number of instrumental music lessons by external providers. Staff also offer a range of lunchtime clubs at various times of the year, some of which lead to school representation opportunities such as debating and Tournament of Minds.
Our school encourages students to operate independently and co-operatively, to be valued and value others and to take pride and pleasure in participation and achievement.
Our vision and values underpin all decision making and guide the behaviours and attitude of all members of the Bell Community:
Vision
Bell Primary school is a caring community that fosters a love of learning in young people. At school and beyond, students are confident to think critically and empowered to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Values
Resilience: As learners, we embrace a challenge and don't give up. We can overcome obstacles and bounce back from difficult situations.
Creativity: We are open to novel ideas and explore new ways to solve problems.
Curiosity: We are excited to explore new and challenging ideas.
Collaboration: We work together to share ideas and knowledge to achieve a common goal.
Respect: We foster a culture in which people feel safe to be themselves and are inclusive of others. We take care of our environment and enjoy the wonders it offers.