Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Principal - Range 4
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Melbourne - Eastern suburbs
Reference: 1547109
(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.
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.
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
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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.aspx
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.
To be eligible for appointment as a principal a person must either:
School Vision
Empowering our community to be curious, creative and confident learners.
At Fairhills High School, our vision is more than words - it's a lived experience across our classrooms, corridors and community. This is reflected in our strong results in the Attitudes to School Survey, capturing students' perceptions of their school life, and in Year 9 NAPLAN Relative Growth, both of which are consistently well above the state average. These outcomes highlight a school culture where students feel valued, engaged and supported to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
School Philosophy
Fairhills High School is a vibrant learning community where every student is known, supported and challenged to succeed. We believe every young person deserves a learning environment that empowers them to flourish.
Our values drive respectful and positive relationships across the school. The School Wide Positive Behaviour Framework, high expectations for all community members, and consistency of teaching through the Fairhills Instructional Model create a safe, supportive and engaging learning culture.
We are committed to using innovative and engaging teaching strategies that spark student curiosity and meet their individual learning needs. Through our comprehensive personal growth programs, students are equipped with essential life skills and resilience that extend beyond the classroom.
Local Community
Established in 1973, Fairhills High School is located in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs and serves a proud and diverse community. With a current enrolment of approximately 406 students, we are a co-educational secondary school committed to academic excellence, personal growth and community partnerships.
We collaborate with local schools and community organisations to enhance learning opportunities for all Knox students.
Our Student Family Occupation and Education index (SFOE) of 0.4066 reflects a medium socio-economic community, with a mix of professional, skilled and semi-skilled employment. We are proud of the support we offer all students, including those from low-income households, to ensure equity in educational access and outcomes.
Support and Professional Development
At Fairhills High School, we invest in our staff as much as we invest in our students.
New staff are supported with a comprehensive induction program tailored to their role.
All staff have access to instructional coaching, ongoing mentoring and collaborative planning time.
At Fairhills, staff are supported through a strong culture of professional growth, with access to meaningful development opportunities tailored to their interests and career goals.
Staff who consistently go above and beyond are recognised through professional incentives and leadership development opportunities.
Our culture of trust, growth and collaboration ensures all educators feel empowered to contribute and evolve in their practice.
Our Approach to Teaching and Learning
We have developed and embedded a consistent instructional model across all learning environments to ensure excellence in teaching and learning. Our LEARN model (Lean-in, Explicit, Assist, Refine, and Next Steps) provides a shared framework for lesson delivery and promotes the use of evidence-based instructional strategies. Together with our School Wide Positive Behaviours Matrix, it supports an orderly and empowering environment where students can grow and succeed.
Curriculum
Fairhills High School offers a documented, guaranteed and viable curriculum aligned with the Victorian Curriculum.
Students in Years 7 and 8 participate in a core curriculum across eight learning areas and also take part in our instrumental music program.
STEM is a key focus across the school. From Year 7, selected students can join the STEM Academy, a specialised program that extends learners with a passion and aptitude for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. All students from Years 7 to 10 have the opportunity to engage in high-quality STEM initiatives including VEX Robotics and the Hydrogen Grand Prix, where our students have achieved outstanding results.
In Years 9 and 10, students pursue their passions through our Specialism Program, selecting three electives per semester to deepen their learning in areas of personal interest.
Students in Years 7 to 9 also engage in targeted self-development programs that support their personal growth, wellbeing and transition to senior years.
High-achieving Year 10 students may accelerate into Early Start VCE subjects. In Years 11 and 12, the school offers a broad range of VCE units and VET programs that cater to diverse interests, strengths and future pathways.
School Structure and Wellbeing
Fairhills operates two sub-schools - Middle School (Years 7 to 9) and Senior School (Years 10 to 12) - each led by a dedicated Assistant Principal. This structure enables strong relationships, a tailored approach to each developmental stage, and consistent expectations across all year levels. Additionally, the school has an Assistant Principal - Inclusion, to support our neurodiverse learners.
Our approach to wellbeing is proactive and embedded across the school. With a team of dedicated and highly experienced wellbeing staff, and a whole-school positive behaviour approach, we prioritise student safety, belonging and success.
Facilities
We are proud to offer outstanding learning spaces that support innovative and engaging teaching practices:
A state-of-the-art STEM Learning Centre
Access to the KIOSC STEM Centre at Swinburne University's Wantirna Campus
A purpose-built Music Learning Hub
An Inclusion Hub to support the needs of diverse learners
A double-court Sports Stadium with weights room and theory classroom
A central Resource Centre housing the library, IT support and an International Student Hub
BenQ Premium boards in all classrooms to enhance engagement and learning.
School tours for prospective candidates are available from 4.30pm-5.30pm on Thursday 22nd and Tuesday 27th October.