SC1 Educational leadership
- Outstanding capacity for visionary and exemplary educational leadership of a school or college.
- Highly developed skills in leading and managing change including the leadership of others in the process of change.
SC2 Financial, managerial, and administrative ability
- Outstanding financial, organisational and resource management skills.
SC3 Planning, policy and program develop and review
- Exemplary values appropriate to the development of student learning with a demonstrated capacity to achieve high-quality student outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to implement Department policies to a high level.
- An understanding of, and a commitment to, the use of learning technologies to improve teaching and learning.
SC4 Leadership of staff and students
- A highly developed capacity to motivate staff, develop their talents and build an effective team.
- A clear capacity to foster a learning environment that takes account of the individual needs of students and helps students to develop their special abilities and talents.
SC5 Interpersonal and communication skills
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills in individual, small group, and community contexts.
- Exemplary values pertaining to personal qualities of objectivity, sensitivity, and integrity.
- An ability to work with parents and the community to develop a strong learning environment.
The assistant principal reports directly to the principal.
Assistant principals have a primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program. In exercising the responsibility, assistant principals will have the authority to make all significant decisions relating to the program, budget and staff relating to their area of designated responsibility within the framework of the school's strategic plan, policies and budget. Assistant principals will contribute to the overall management of the school through involvement in policy formulation and decision making.
The management of significant school program or functional areas in schools involve assistant principals in the analysis of the needs of students and the translation of state educational policy and frameworks into appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all students.
Typically assistant principals will be responsible for the effective use of the teaching staff and program budget of a defined area of the school's operation and for the oversight and leadership of the educational programs provided utilising these resources.
Typically, assistant principals perform one or more of the following functions:
- supervision and coordination of the work of senior curriculum or level coordinators;
- allocation of budgets, positions of responsibility and other resources within the area of responsibility;
- supervision of the delivery of teaching programs;
- management of programs to improve the knowledge and experience of staff;
- responsibility for general discipline matters beyond the management of classroom teachers and year level coordinators;
- contribute to the overall management of the school;
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
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:
- The person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and
- if the person completed an Australian postgraduate level initial teaching program or course of study on or after 1 January 2024, they must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education program that has been accredited by an Australian State or Territory Teacher Regulatory Authority as satisfying the requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership 'Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures'; and
- a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program after 1 July 2016 must also 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 ITE program completed by the person).
Details of qualification requirements as updated from time to time can be found at Recruitment in Schools.
Thomastown Secondary College is a co-educational, Year 7-12 government school in Thomastown, in Melbourne's north - on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country. Established in 1971, the school continues to be culturally diverse with ethnicities represented. Creativity, courage, respect and enthusiasm are among what we value in our pursuit of collaboration and individual excellence, that we hope our students are proud of. We embrace our obligation to contribute positively to the school and wider community.
With 430 students, 38.6 full time equivalent teachers (including a principal and 5 assistant principals) and 13.3 education support staff (including the Business Manager). The school has a Year 7-9 team and a Year 10-12 team with a Year Level Manager at each year level and an Assistant Principal in each team also.
The school is alongside Bubup Wilam Aboriginal and Child Family Centre and Thomastown West Primary School in a precinct on Main Street, neighbouring Thomastown Library and Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre and Edgars Creek.
As at March 2026, the school's Student Family Occupation and Education SFOE Index is 0.5915 (March 2026); the school is in the High band (highest band of social disadvantage). Almost 18% of students have English as an additional language. 2% of students (10) identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Last year's Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability showed 14% of students (61) require adjustments and possibly support. Feeder primary schools include the co-located Thomastown West PS, Thomastown Meadows PS, Lalor Gardens PS and Thomastown PS. The school is accessed by the Victorian School of Languages classes outside of school hours.
The school has a personalised and small school feel, with all staff knowing students and on a first name basis. Graduates are commonly the parents of new enrolments at Year 7. Year level specific instruction includes English, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Health and Physical Education, Languages, Technology and The Arts and an elective program from Year 8 that allows students the opportunity further develop skills and knowledge in areas of interest. A genuine sense of community is achieved when every individual feels valued and respected and where the richness of cultural and ethnic diversity is recognised.
At Thomastown Secondary College, students are supported to strive for Individual Excellence in all aspects of their studies and in the way they carry themselves within their school community.
They are curious, creative and enthusiastic about their learning. They are encouraged to be respectful, to work collaboratively and to accept responsibility for themselves.
