Work Type: Ongoing - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 4
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1508968
Preston Primary School is located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne in a quiet residential area some ten kilometres from the CBD. It was established in 1875 and has a rich and proud history of state education. In the 1950s it was one of the largest schools in the State. In previous times it has also been known as Tyler Street Primary. Preston Primary is unique in that it is a multi-site school. We have a separate junior school site for Foundation and Year One students who are located at the Bowden Street site, whereas our Year Two to Year Six students are located at the Tyler Street site.
Changing demographics in the area over recent years has seen an increase in enrolments and led to an enrolment cap of 750 in 2019. Student enrolments have remained relatively stable- from 741 in 2015 to 670 in 2023. Currently, the gender breakdown is 52% girls and 48% boys. The proportion of students with a Language Background Other Than English is 30%. The proportion of English as an Additional Language (EAL) students is 14%.
Preston Primary places great emphasis on academic outcomes and as such is a high-performing school. We consistently perform above state benchmarks in all areas. The school¿s core objective is to develop numerate, literate and well-rounded students who have the skills, confidence and desire to continue learning throughout their lives. Our school community takes great pride in the depth of the curriculum and the quality of teaching and learning delivered by our staff.
Our school values are Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, and Learning Success. We are committed to creating an encouraging environment that promotes and supports excellence in learning, recognizes and celebrates individual success, and demonstrates respect between students, staff, parents and the wider school community. We actively promote students to take personal responsibility for their learning, social interactions, personal behaviour and belongings. All stakeholders strive to develop skills, knowledge and confidence which promote personal resilience. We foster positive mutual interaction so all stakeholders can show respect and honesty with each other.
Preston Primary puts emphasis on as small as possible straight grades. We currently have an average of 21 students per grade across the school. The allocation of resources has been directed at the employment of classroom teachers to enable us to maintain these small classes. Our commitment to small classes ensures the best possible basis upon which to build further learning.
We have- 2 Principal Class, 1 Lead Teachers, 3 Learning Specialist, 10 specialist teachers and 11 ES Staff. The school believes its curriculum leaders should be classroom-based and model from the front. The school is organized into Year level teams who work closely together to plan all aspects of the curriculum.
Currently, there are 30 classroom teachers supported by 10 specialist teachers who provide a structured and broad curriculum. There is a comprehensive Physical Education program that includes one specialist session a week in Foundation to Year 6 and an inclusive sports program for Years 4 to 6. We compete against schools in our local area in interschool sport. Individual students compete in swimming, cross country and athletics sports. Summer and winter teams are selected from students in Years 5 & 6. We regularly have individuals and teams make it through to Regional and State Finals in a variety of school sports. Due to the size of the school, two teams are entered in all interschool sports. Italian is offered as a
Language Other Than English.
The school made a commitment to the development of The Arts. Over many years we have embedded the Arts into the fabric of the school. The Arts is about students developing new skills, in visual and performing Arts. An annual highlight of the school calendar is the Art Show which showcases all of the Arts programs including visual art, dance, drama and music. Students are exposed to each of the elements of the Arts Program throughout the year. This allows them to experience new activities and opportunities to develop their sense of self. Our Foundation to Year 3 students have a session of music each week and Year 4-6 students have a session of drama each week.
We are an accredited eSmart school and as such acknowledge and promote the need to educate all of our students on the safe and responsible use of technology. All Grade 5 students complete the Digital Passport program and the Grade 6 students complete the eSmart Digital License program. Cyber safety is consistently promoted across all year levels
The Before and After School Hours Program offers parents care facilities for two and a half hours before school and three hours after school. This accredited high-quality before and after-school care program caters for 150 places and is run by School Council.
At Preston Primary we are passionate about education and determined to be a school that children love to attend, where the staff is proud to work, and the aspirations of parents are met. Embedded in the culture of our school is the ethos that every child should be challenged and encouraged to reach their full potential.
[Attendance requirement for this position]
Range 4 is distinguished by broader management responsibility, particularly in the areas of finance, human resource and other support functions. Range 4 is responsible for managing a range of functions under a wide range of conditions, subject to the size and complexity of school operations.
Objectives will, generally, be clearly defined; guidelines will be broad and day-to-day direction minimal. Management responsibility extends to ensuring appropriate support levels are maintained across the school. Range 4 generally provides key support and timely advice to the leadership team and school council and liaises with the general school community, the Department and other government agencies and service providers.
Specialised professional roles will carry a high level of independence and accountability where suitable scope is provided to achieve objectives.
An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
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