Role
s and responsibilities specific to the setting
As a result of the multi-campus operation and the residential 9-24/7 operation on each campus, the role requires a person with a flexible, enthusiastic and team-oriented approach. All staff work in a close team environment with their colleagues, and a culture of collaboration, sharing and feedback permeates this relationship.
1. The Principal is the instructional leader in the school, the Ex-Officio member of council, direct line-manager to all staff but delegates this responsibility as required.
2. The school Principal is currently primarily based at Snowy Campus and will be often mobile.
3. The Campus Principals and the Leading Teachers with the Generalists will form the core of the teaching staff.
4. Leading Teachers will be familiar with aspects of contemporary DET management practices.
5. The Business Manager has a vital advisory role with both the Principal and the Campus Principals in making and supporting resourcing decisions.
6. The Overnight and Education Support Staff are intrinsically connected to the successful outcomes that the school aims for.
7. The kitchen and catering model is critical to the success of the learning program and the staff follow a “Common Kitchen” approach to healthy food for growing adolescents.
8. The school has a Community of Practice approach to ensure high quality outcome for students, to ensure consistency of practice between teachers, classes, care and supervision, ICT, ICT management, catering and food provision, outdoor and adventure activities, campuses, and days, uses evidence and data and privileging time for inquiry among others.
The operational budget of the multi-campus school is in the order of $9-$10m per annum. The school generates a cash income through parent contributions via home schools.
The governance and leadership model of the School for Student Leadership is unique in the Victorian Education system. The Governance and Leadership models comprise one School Council and a single Principal. The school council, nominated by the education minister, consists of highly regarded members of the Victorian community. There are past student, industry, education and Koorie community representatives on the school council.
The school has a MOU relationship with VAEAI and KAE to ensure the program is accessible for Koorie students and is culturally inclusive.
The School Principal, Business Manager, Campus Principals and Leading Teachers form the School Leadership Team.
The Business Manager is the Secretary of the School Council and has a close working relationship with the Principal, School Council President and Finance Committee.
A Campus Principal and Leading Teacher comprise the leadership team at a campus. The LT Curriculum oversees the pedagogical program.
There is a Learning Specialist at each campus who lead the cross-campus and in campus PLC and community of practice around teaching and learning.
A Digital Technologies Coordinator leads and implements the ICT program across the school.
The school has a unique TSSP support model and students have a one-to-one laptop program.
With this model, a member of the leadership team can be on-site at the school on at least one campus most days as the operation of the organisation is 24/7.
Generally, the Principal is on call 24/7 for the entire program duration each term.
The school, as a co-educational residential school, has two gender specific accommodation wings and has a highly trained team of teacher and non-teacher support staff to maximize the desired educational outcomes.
There are two accommodation wings at our school. These wings are split into the binary options of male and female. The SSL is a secular and inclusive Victorian Government school, the inclusion of gender diverse students is important to us and protected by law. Nonbinary and gender diverse students need to make a choice in conjunction with parental approval, about the accommodation wing they wish to reside in and prior to selection in our program. This will need to fit within the home school student allocation.
The school has a particular focus on ensure the safety of students through the Child Safe Standards. Child Safe reps are at each campus and meet regularly.
There is provision in the Equal Opportunities Act to select staff based on gender due to the residential nature of the program.
Because of the unique nature of the operation of the school, the delivery of the programs involves a range of evening, overnight, early morning, holiday and weekend duties for all staff. Flexibility in working hours and arrangements is a vital part of this role.
The school has a well-structured consultative committee and a thoroughly reviewed and consulted Long Term Planning Document (local agreement) that accommodates the various unique interpretations of the VGSA in a 24/7 operation.