Glen Waverley Secondary College
Director of Learning – Middle School
POSITION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
1.
POSITION ANALYSIS:
The leadership structure of Glen Waverley Secondary College incorporates a Director of Learning –
Middle School (Years 7 - 9) who will provide leadership in the design, development and
implementation of learning programs that achieve our Vision and Values and that reflect
international best practice: a learning community that values learning and has a deep understanding
of how learning occurs and is cognisant of the extensive international research base on effective
learning. The Director of Learning will work closely with the other Middle School Directors and the
Principal team to provide staff and students with the necessary support to assist them to participate in
the creation and implementation of a world class learning community.
The College Strategic Plan and the Annual Implementation Plan describe in detail the goals and
priorities of the College and the work in which all staff are involved. The Director of Learning plays a
role in ensuring that these goals and priorities are addressed. Three major themes provide the
operational context for the College:

Caring for each student as an individual and ensuring that they all have
the opportunity to make progress

Improving the quality of the teaching and learning that occurs in every
Middle School classroom and the implementation of the College Powerful Learning Map
and 21st Century Skills Framework in the context of the development of the GWSC
Instructional Model

The integration of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) into the program
and providing all students with the opportunity to gain skills in the use of technologies
that will assist them to become more powerful learners.
The Director of Learning, together with the Director of Students and the Director of Programs,
constitute the Middle School Executive, which is responsible for the management of the Middle
School. This team will work collaboratively to support the implementation of the College’s Vision and
Values, Strategic Plan and DET requirements.
The Director of Learning will be a member the College Leadership Team and in this role will be
expected to:

Attend Leadership Forums and be actively involved in developing, implementing and
reporting on relevant sections of the Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan,
including an analysis of relevant data.

Contribute to the day to day management of College operations at weekly Executive
meetings

Contribute to the development of the College curriculum through active participation on the
Vision and Values, Heads of Learning, Curriculum Executive and Digital Citizenship
committees

Work collaboratively with members of the Leadership Team, House Leaders, wellbeing
staff, teaching staff, parents and other stakeholders in implementing College policy and
programs and in managing change

Be committed to continuous improvement and provide leadership in the design,
development and implementation of programs that reflect international best practice.
2.
DUTIES:
General Responsibilities and Duties of Middle School Directors

Embed high expectations and the pursuit of excellence as pervasive aspects of the culture of
Middle School and ensure that student achievement is recognised and regularly celebrated and
student leadership fostered

Foster and develop a learning culture in the Middle School Building that values the facility
and the people who use it

Maintain effective communication with parents, including communication via COMPASS

Assist with the organisation of Middle School Information Nights, Parent-Student-Teacher
Meetings, manage the Year 6-7 Transition process and support the Year 9-10 Transition
Program

Work with the other Middle School Directors to convene regular meetings with the Middle
School Management Team and conduct student assemblies

Work with the other Middle School Directors to oversee the organisation of social events such
as Middle School socials
Specific Duties of the Middle School Director of Learning

Support the Director of Students, Director of Programs and House Leaders in matters
relating to student management and wellbeing

Manage and develop the Middle School Living and Learning Program and the Student
Personal Learning Goals

Provide leadership in the evaluation of student performance data, eg: NAPLAN,
internal assessment & reporting and student opinion data within the Middle School

Ensure that the literacy and numeracy learning needs of students are identified and
appropriate support structures and practices are implemented to allow students to
make appropriate progress

Support the learning needs of all students and provide opportunities for them to
progress, including overseeing the modification of student work for non-funded
students

Support teams within the Middle School to develop individual learning plans where
appropriate

Support the learning of gifted and talented students

Oversee the organisation of Study Hall

Assist the Director of Students and the Director of Programs with the development
and delivery of effective transition and orientation programs

Attend Vision & Values meetings, HLA meetings and meetings of the Curriculum
Executive

Recognise and celebrate student achievement

Continue to develop, manage and implement the Middle School Peer Support Program
with support from the wellbeing team

Take responsibility with the Director of Students for developing student leadership
and student voice

Provide professional learning support to teachers and education support staff

Responsible for the allocation of Middle School lockers.
3.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:
SC1:
Demonstrated high level understanding of initiatives in student learning including the
Standards, the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 and Assessment and Reporting
Advice and the capacity to provide leadership in the alignment of these areas
SC2:
Demonstrated outstanding classroom teaching skills and the capacity to support colleagues to
continually improve teaching and learning
SC3:
Demonstrated high level ability to monitor and assess student learning data at the individual,
cohort and whole school level and to use this data to inform teaching for improved student
learning
SC4:
Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills and high level interpersonal
skills including a capacity to develop constructive relationships with students, parents and
other staff and contribute to the leadership and management of the school
SC5:
Demonstrated commitment and capacity to actively contribute to and lead whole school
improvement initiatives, manage major curriculum or student activities and a commitment to
ongoing professional learning for self and others to enable further development of skills,
expertise and teaching capacity
SC6:
Demonstrated ability to meet specific role description for this position.