HEAD OF DRAMA - Newington College

HEAD OF DRAMA

HEAD OF DRAMA
                                     STANMORE SECONDARY CAMPUS
                             PERMANENT FULL-TIME COMMENCING JANUARY 2021

Newington College, a boys' school with 2040 students and four vibrant campuses across Sydney, is committed to
developing young men who learn with curiosity and rigor, who have open minds and who strive be their best in
everything they do. Preparing boys for the complexities of the future is at the heart of the College's vision: To
provide an internationally respected education that encourages boys to become men of substance and resilience
who make an active and positive contribution to society.

Newington was founded in 1863 and is a member of the GPS Association of NSW. We are associated with the
Uniting Church and pride ourselves on our inclusive and diverse community. We are a comprehensive school and
offer the Higher School Certificate, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and VET pathways to boys
in their senior years. Our prep schools at Lindfield and Stanmore are inspiring, energetic environments with
programs designed to excite young minds.

Through its wholehearted commitment to the best in education for boys, the school is devoted to the pursuit of
excellence in all that a boy does and achieves. Each boy is valued for his unique capacity to contribute to the life
of the College. Newington’s tradition of individuality, excellence and community are trademarks of our boys; it is
the cornerstone on which our College was built and the heritage for its future.

Further information about the College, its programs and its strategic plans is available on the College website:
www.newington.nsw.edu.au

A.   OUTLINE

The College is seeking to appoint a full-time Head of Drama to commence at the beginning of 2021 to lead
Newington’s innovative and popular curriculum and performance programs. The position becomes vacant after
the long-serving and highly-successful incumbent has accepted a senior pastoral role at the school.

Based in the specialist Duckmanton Drama Centre building the Drama department has a strong presence as an
academic discipline and a co-curricular pursuit. In Years 8 – 10 the Department delivers the elective Drama
course, and school-developed electives in contemporary satire (Revue-ing The Situation) and from 2021 in Dance.
In Years 11-12 Higher School Certificate Drama attracts a strong candidature and IB Theatre will see its first
graduating cohort in 2021. The Department has a tradition of supporting students to deliver quality individual and
group projects, with students nominated for inclusion in NESA showcases each year.

The curriculum is balanced by the popularity of Drama in the broader school life.
An annual program of co-curricular productions and ensemble performances is combined with a biennial musical
production that draws links with girls’ schools in the inner west. The College has a growing tradition in improvised
performance, with popular after-school groups and participation in a variety of Theatresports competitions.

Further details about this position can be obtained by contacting Mr Trent Driver, Deputy Head of Stanmore
(Academic): tdriver@newington.nsw.edu.au or (02) 9568 9333.

B.   DUTY STATEMENT FOR HEAD OF DRAMA

A Head of Department is directly responsible to the Deputy Head of Stanmore (Academic) for the delivery of high
quality learning and teaching. Heads of Department also work collaboratively with the Headmaster, Deputy
Headmaster/Head of Stanmore, Deputy Head of Stanmore (Students), Head of Learning and Teaching, Head of
Learning Analytics, Head of Co-Curricular and the Head of Year and Heads of House (Years 8 – 12).

Heads of Department are members of the Academic Executive at the College and influence the strategic direction
of Learning and Teaching at Newington. In line with the National Standards for Teachers, Heads of Department
role model high standards in their professional knowledge, professional practice and professional engagement.

The Head of Drama is responsible to the Head of Co-Curricular for the scheduling and resourcing of performance
and co-curricular programs, and the management of teaching staff, external staff or contractors engaged to
support the delivery of those programs.

1. Professional Knowledge

A Head of Department models exemplary pedagogical practice and administers, leads and positively influences
their team members to ensure they also exhibit exemplary pedagogical practice.

Know students and how they learn:

•    Encourage exemplary classroom practice by selecting from a flexible and effective repertoire of teaching
     strategies to suit the physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students.
•    Foster selection and development of teaching strategies to improve student learning using knowledge of the
     physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students.
•    Expand understanding of how students learn using research and/or workplace knowledge.
•    Develop models of self-evaluation and assist colleagues in evaluating learning and teaching programs, using
     student assessment data, and differentiate those programs appropriately for the specific learning needs of
     students across the full range of abilities.
•    Develop teaching programs that support the engagement, participation and learning of all students including
     those that require significant intervention from the Learning Enhancement Department and may require
     Lifeskills programs; to those at the gifted and talented levels.

Know the content and how to teach it:

•    Lead initiatives within the department to evaluate and improve knowledge of content and teaching strategies
     and demonstrate exemplary teaching of subjects using effective, research-based learning and teaching
     programs.
•    Exhibit innovative practice in the selection and organisation of content and delivery of learning and teaching
     programs.
•    Lead and manage the development learning and teaching programs using comprehensive knowledge of
     curriculum, assessment and reporting requirements.
•    Develop learning and teaching programs that support the Newington Learning and Teaching Framework.
•    Foster and model high-level teaching knowledge and skills and work with colleagues to use current ICT to
     improve their teaching practice and make content relevant and meaningful.

2. Professional Practice

A Head of Department models, leads, administers and positively influences the professional practice,
departmental culture, actions and critical reflection of their team members.

Administration:

•    Implement and maintain processes, structures, resources and documentation within the College to ensure
     that all staff are informed and equipped to provide quality learning and teaching. All curriculum documentation
     must reflect NESA, IBO and College policy.

Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning:

•   Ensure exemplary practice and high expectations and lead colleagues to encourage students to pursue
    challenging goals in all aspects of their education.
•   Ensure exemplary practice and lead colleagues to plan, implement and review the effectiveness of their
    learning and teaching programs to develop students’ knowledge, understanding and skills.
•   Work with colleagues to review, modify and expand their repertoire of teaching strategies to enable students
    to use knowledge, skills, problem solving and critical and creative thinking.
•   Conduct regular reviews of teaching and learning programs using multiple sources of evidence including:
    student assessment data, curriculum documents, teaching practices and feedback from students, colleagues
    and parents/carers.

Create and maintain supportive and safe learning:

•   Lead colleagues to maintain a quality learning environment by implementing effective classroom
    management strategies and promoting student responsibility for learning.

Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning:

•   Develop and apply a comprehensive range of assessment strategies to diagnose learning needs, comply with
    curriculum requirements and support colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of their approaches to
    assessment.
•   Model exemplary practice and initiate programs to ensure colleagues apply a range of timely, effective and
    appropriate feedback strategies.
•   Work with the Head of Learning Analytics and the Heads of House to coordinate student performance and
    program evaluation using internal and external student assessment data to improve teaching practice.
•   Work with colleagues to construct accurate, informative and timely reports to students and parents/carers
    about student learning and achievement within published College timelines.

3. Professional Engagement

A Head of Department models a commitment to professional learning and leads, administers and positively
influences their team members to continuously seek improvement.

Engage in professional learning:

•   Use the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to plan personal professional development goals via
    Appretio (AISNSW), support colleagues to identify and achieve personal development goals via Appretio and
    pre-service teachers to improve classroom practice.
•   In partnership with the Head of Learning and Teaching, initiate collaborative relationships to expand
    professional learning opportunities and engage in research.
•   In partnership with the Head of Learning and Teaching, implement professional dialogue within the
    department, school and/or professional learning committee that is informed by feedback, analysis of current
    research and practice to improve the educational outcomes of students based around the Newington Learning
    and Teaching Framework.

Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community:

•   Advocate, participate in and lead strategies to support high-quality professional learning opportunities for
    colleagues that focus on improved student learning.
•   Model exemplary ethical behaviour and exercise informed judgements in all professional dealings with
    students, colleagues and the community.
•   Initiate, develop and implement relevant policies and processes to support colleagues’ compliance with and
    understanding of existing and new legislative, administrative, organisational and professional responsibilities.
•   Demonstrate responsiveness in all communications with parents/carers about their children’s learning and
    wellbeing.
•   Contribute to professional networks and associations and build productive links with the wider community to
    improve teaching and learning.

Lead the College’s pastoral and co-curricular program:

•    All teaching staff, including Heads of Department, are expected to participate in our pastoral and co-curricular
     programs. Some of these duties will need to be undertaken at times other than during the school day,
     including weekends.
•    In addition to the above, general engagement in the co-curricular life of the school, the Head of Drama is
     responsible for all Drama co-curricular offerings. This involves coordinating external staff recruitment,
     employment,        induction    and     time-sheets,    as     well    as    supervising     and     organising
     events/showcases/performances and productions, including but not limited to the Junior, Middle and Senior
     Production, alongside the School Musical (every second year).
•    Manage external coaching staff for co-curricular ensembles.
•    Liaise with external contractors for the technical support (lighting and sound) of productions and curriculum
     requirements.

C.   THE EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN AND AIMS OF THE COLLEGE

The Educational Strategic Plan for 2020 - 2024 and annual reports, report to parents on our initiatives to date,
and the Aims of the College are to be found on the College website. It is a condition of employment that staff
comply with all the policies and practices of the College and that conduct is consistent with the Christian ethos of
the College. All staff must be fully supportive of the aims of the College.

D.   CHILD PROTECTION AND FIRST AID

The successful applicant will be subject to employment screening processes with the Office of the Children’s
Guardian and will be required to provide a current Working with Children registration number. In addition, teaching
staff will be expected to possess a current First Aid qualification.

F.   SELECTION CRITERIA

We have deliberately not provided set and narrow selection criteria. However, it would be expected that the
successful candidate will:
    • have appropriate teaching and tertiary qualifications relevant to the position, registered as a teacher
        with NESA.
    • lead and manage colleagues to achieve excellence in learning and teaching and the delivery of co-
        curricular Drama programs
    • be a dynamic and successful classroom practitioner with experience in leading others in the
        development and implementation of rigorous and innovative learning and teaching programs
    • have experience in leading and managing performance and co-curricular activities with students across
        diverse year groups and levels of experience in Drama
    • have a sound understanding of the learning needs of boys
    • exploit technologies to enhance the learning and teaching
    • work effectively as a leader and member of collaborative teams
    • show a genuine appreciation and commitment to pastoral care of boys
    • participate in the College’s co-curricular program.

It is recommended that you use this information, the information contained on the College website and your
own initiative to present a curriculum vitae that reflects you, your career to date and your priorities.

Short-listed applicants will be required to undertake a demonstration lesson as part of the selection process.

Dress standard for staff is smart professional in nature and smoking is prohibited on the College site.

G.   REMUNERATION

The remuneration for this position will be set in accordance with the Independent Schools NSW/ACT Standards
Model (Teachers) Multi-Enterprise Agreement (2017).

H.    GUIDELINES FOR THE APPLICATION

      To apply for this position you must be eligible to work in Australia, e.g. hold an appropriate and current
      Australian work visa, be registered as a teacher with NESA and hold a valid NSW Working with Children
      Check (WCC).

      a)     Applications should be submitted in one attachment of no more than 6 pages. This document will
             include your cover letter and CV.
      b)     Applicants must apply electronically for their application to be considered. The online application form
             can be accessed at: https://www.newington.nsw.edu.au/about-newington/careers/
      c)     Applications close on Friday 6 November 2020.

This position description provides a general overview of the major tasks, duties and responsibilities of the position. This position description
is not intended to be all-inclusive and the position may be required to perform other tasks, duties and responsibilities not specifically listed
within this position description. Newington College reserves the right to change this position description in consultation with the successful
candidate to meet the requirements of the College.