Introduction:
This position is for a Term 1 2027 Start
St Philip’s Christian College is a rapidly growing network of learning communities continuing its journey to deliver holistic Christian education that develops the whole child - emotionally, intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually.
Our team thrives on fostering strong working relationships that continue to encourage innovative and effective change, benefiting both students and staff while staying true to the College’s core values:
Christ first
Serve one another
Strive for excellence
Do what is right
Build community
For over four decades, we have been trusted leaders in education, pioneering new approaches and educational opportunities across the Newcastle, Hunter, and Central Coast regions. We invite you to join us as we continue to explore and create better ways to educate, grounded in Christian values for the whole of life.
Description:
What’s the focus of this position?
The Director of Studies is a member of the Executive Education Team (EET) and reports directly to the relevant Head of School (Junior, Middle, or Senior). This role works collaboratively with the EET to lead and develop the curriculum, providing strategic direction aligned with the priorities of the School Improvement Plan, particularly those related to curriculum and pedagogical development. Leadership in this role is demonstrated through a creative and innovative approach to curriculum design and teaching practices that enhance student learning. The Director of Studies holds strategic responsibility for assessment, reporting, and curriculum development, and leads a team of curriculum leaders in collaboration with key stakeholders – most importantly the Director of Studies Middle School. This role requires a mature Christian worldview, enabling the staff member to integrate faith-based principles into educational practice.
What will you be doing?
1. LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC COLLABORATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING
- Collaborate with the relevant Head of School to continuously enhance and implement the College’s vision for Teaching and Learning.
- Prepare documentation to support relevant staff meetings and strategic planning.
- Attendance and active participation in Executive Education Team (EET) and College Leadership Team (CLT) meetings.
- Co-lead and contribute to Curriculum Team meetings, including Faculty and where relevant Stage meetings.
- Facilitate individual leadership discussion with direct reports (eg Faculty Leaders)
- Engage in curriculum and compliance discussions with EET members and Teaching and Learning teams (e.g., Learning Support, High Potential Gifted Education, Faculty Teams).
- Familiarisation of current educational research and best practices.
- Prepare budget projections for Sub School subscriptions and annual teaching and learning needs.
- Analyse student achievement data from internal assessments to inform future strategic planning.
- Support with administration of student surveys and evaluations where relevant at the request of ELT.
- Consider the role that a Christian World View has on the implementation of learning
2. QUALITY CLASSROOM PRACTICE
Quality Assurance Leadership
- Ensure continuous improvement of learning outcomes and compliance, within Senior School in collaboration with the relevant Head of School (HoS) and Director of Professional Practice (DoPP).
- Lead professional discussions on effective learning practices, including feedback strategies, moderation protocols, student work samples, reporting, program evaluations, and assessment reflections across Faculties.
- Promote excellence in student engagement, bookwork, and completion of learning activities.
Operational and Curriculum Oversight
- Assist the Head of School with class building and monitoring processes when required.
- Liaise with Year Leaders, Faculty Team Leaders, Assistant Head of School, and Head of School to finalise class structures and coordinate online administration where required.
- Review content delivery via iLearn in collaboration with Faculty Leaders, and the relevant Head of School.
Staff Development and Observation
- Undertake Learning Walks and Staff Observations, to support professional growth and instructional consistency in collaboration with relevant HoS and DoPP.
3. LEAD AND MANAGE PROGRAMMING, ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING
Curriculum Management
- Review and implement NESA curriculum dates relevant to the Sub School (e.g., ROSA and HSC requirements).
- Review internal curriculum timelines and integrate them into the College Calendar.
- Administer and update Curriculum and Assessment Guides.
- Maintain and update curriculum documentation on MySPCC, including procedures and templates (e.g., Scope and Sequences, Assessment Schedules, Unit Planning/Evaluation).
- Collaborate with the Head of School to ensure compliance with NESA requirements (e.g., indicative hours, compulsory curriculum components).
- Update and improve processes related to curriculum development, reporting, and assessment.
- Work with EET to ensure College is successfully prepared for any random NESA inspections.
- Work with EET to ensure College is successfully prepared for the regular (every 5th year) NESA inspection (currently accredited to Dec 31, 2028).
Assessment Administration
- Oversee assessment due dates, appeals, and extensions in collaboration with the Curriculum Office, Faculty Team Leaders.
- Ensure timely administration of student assessment notifications.
- Maintain guidelines and security for markbook development and student achievement data from school-based summative assessments.
- Manage and/or assist in the scope of assessment and standardised testing across the Sub School (where relevant), including:
o Achievement and potential testing (e.g., CAT4, PAT, AGAT)
o National assessments (e.g., NAPLAN)
o Literacy and numeracy diagnostics (e.g., LNAP, Initial Lit, LEM, DIBELS)
o HSC Minimum Standards and All My Own Work
o Examination schedules and external communications to parents and students
o Liaise with the Curriculum Office to manage testing platforms and train staff
o Coordinate with Learning Support for disability provisions
External Examinations Oversight (excluding NAPLAN) - HSC, Trials etc (DoS-SS only)
- Coordinate the administration and quality assurance of external examinations across the College.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and support staff in preparation and implementation processes.
Reporting and Communication
- Align reporting practices with the Australian Education Act and the College’s vision for parent communication.
- Communicate reporting protocols to staff, including expectations, procedures, and timelines.
- Collaborate with other Sub School Directors of Studies to review and implement consistent reporting guidelines.
- Liaise with EET members to set key dates and timeframes for reporting and assessment.
- Provide ongoing reminders to staff about reporting processes at key times.
- Oversee and direct the use of MySPCC iLearn for publishing assessment dates.
Staff Support and Onboarding
- Collaborate with Faculty Team Leaders to ensure new staff have a clear understanding of curriculum expectations and assessment procedures.
- Lead curriculum management initiatives with teaching staff, as directed by the Principal, for accreditation and registration purposes.
4. ANALYSING STUDENT DATA
- Analyse student achievement and potential data to identify trends and inform improvements in teaching practice.
- Review standardised testing data within the relevant Sub School, including PAT, NAPLAN, CAT4, and other assessments, to identify areas for student growth and instructional refinement.
- Collaborate with the Head of School, EET, Faculty Team Leaders, and teaching staff to share key findings and develop responsive strategies.
- Partner with Faculty Team Leaders to conduct a rigorous review of HSC RAP Analysis data and establish targeted goals for future teaching and learning.
- Deliver professional development about data analysis to build staff capacity in:
o Administering standardized tests and navigating testing platforms
o Interpreting and analysing assessment data
o Applying data insights to enhance classroom practice
5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Personal Professional Growth
- Actively seek and engage with current research on teaching and learning, sharing key findings with staff to inform practice.
- Participate regularly in professional development to deepen understanding of best practices in education and curriculum compliance.
- Review publications and resources from NESA, ACER, CESE, and other educational research bodies to guide curriculum direction.
- Investigate emerging trends in educational futures and pedagogical practices and communicate insights to the Head of School and EET.
Implementation of Staff Development Programs
- Design and deliver professional development sessions as directed by the Head of School, EET, and College Principal.
- Collaborate with ELT to develop, implement, and sustain training programs for new and early-career staff focused on curriculum understanding and instructional practice in collaboration with DoPP.
- Provide targeted professional development to enhance staff knowledge of syllabus documentation, reporting protocols, and assessment requirements.
- At the direction of the Principal support centralised educational initiatives.
6. LEAD AND MANAGE ALLOCATED K-12 TEACHING AND LEARNING PORTFOLIO(S)
Artificial Intelligence in Learning and Teaching
- Provide strategic leadership in the ethical and effective use of AI to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment.
- Support staff in developing confidence and capability in AI-informed pedagogical practices.
- Liaise/collaborate with Central Office and organisation wide staff in the development of policy and procedure for organisation.
Faculty Team Leader Oversight (as relates to 9-12 and in direct collaboration with DoS-MS)
- Provide leadership and support to Faculty Team Leaders to ensure consistency, accountability, and alignment with College priorities.
- Monitor and enhance faculty planning, review, and professional practice.
- Work with HoSS and other EET as needed to implement thorough RAP analysis and strategic improvement related action.
- Work in partnership with the Director of Studies (Middle School) and relevant Heads of School to ensure alignment and continuity across Years 7–12.
The essentials you’ll need:
- Be passionate about Christian education.
- Be a committed Christian and an active church member.
- Uphold and support the mission, core values, vision, policies and aims of St Philip’s Christian Education.
- A current paid Working With Children Check.
- Current teaching qualification with at least 5 years’ experience.
- Represent the College in a positive manner to the wider school community.
- Display discretion, confidentiality, honesty and integrity. Lead by example, with high professional standards, in all aspects of College life.
- Maintain and build upon your professional expertise, by participating in appropriate professional development courses - developing best practice in teaching, student management and procedural matters.
- Demonstrate high level interpersonal skills, accurate and consistent communication skills, effective collaboration, and effective conflict resolution skills and strategies.
- Demonstrate a high level of organisational proficiency, maintaining high standards with a calm and methodical approach.
- Be positive, self-directed, empathetic, enthusiastic and highly motivated, demonstrating adaptability, flexibility, resilience, multi-tasking and capacity to manage work related pressures.
- Work cooperatively and collaboratively as a member of a team.
- Work successfully to build positive, caring relationships with staff, students, parents/carers and the wider community.
- Excellent working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite of products and a willingness to embrace new technologies.
- Support the health and safety of yourself and others by undertaking duties in a manner that is positive, proactive and sustainable.
- Compliance with workplace policies and procedures for risk identification, risk assessment and risk control.
- Identification and timely reporting of health and safety risks, accidents, incidents, injuries, and property damage at the workplace.
- Correct utilisation of any Personal Protective Equipment.
WE’LL PARTNER WITH YOU ALONG THE WAY
As a member of the St. Philip’s team, we are committed to advancing your God-given purpose and potential by supporting your personal and professional growth, while approaching the changing needs of the future with confidence and ingenuity.
Note: All SPCC employees are responsible for ensuring the workplace is free from sexual harassment and must not engage in any behaviour that could amount to sexual harassment. They are also committed to a culture that supports and embraces Child Safe Standards and strictly complies with work health safety standards.
Skills and Experiences:
Current teaching qualification with at least 5 years’ experience.
