Associate Principal - Academic Achievement
Department of Education WA – Rockingham WA
This is a permanent full‐time position commencing Term 3, 2026
About the School
Rockingham Senior High School (SHS) is committed to building REAL Futures through a shared moral purpose grounded in our values of Respect, Engagement, Achievement and Learning for Life. Our vision is to empower every student to live and learn with purpose, developing the skills, capabilities and mindset needed to contribute meaningfully to a global community. We pride ourselves on fostering a positive, inclusive and high‐expectations culture where every student is known, valued and supported to achieve their personal best.
Our school provides a broad and engaging range of academic, vocational and specialist pathways designed to meet the diverse needs and aspirations of our students. Through a strong focus on high‐quality teaching, student wellbeing and future‐focused learning, we create opportunities for all learners to grow their strengths and build pathways into further education, training or employment.
At Rockingham SHS, our commitment to Learning for Life underpins everything we do. We work in partnership with students, staff, families and the wider community to ensure every young person is equipped to thrive in school, in life, and in an ever‐changing global future.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly effective leader to join our Executive Leadership Team as Associate Principal – Academic Achievement. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across the school, with a particular focus on ensuring all students are supported to achieve success in their chosen pathways and are well prepared for life beyond school.
The Associate Principal plays a critical role in leading and supporting students in Years 7 to 12, with a particular focus on ensuring successful completion of senior schooling and strong post‐school pathways. Central to this role is oversight of the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) tracker, enabling rigorous monitoring of student progress, achievement, and pathway attainment, alongside the implementation of timely and targeted interventions.
An understanding of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and oversight of the school's Industry Links program and pathways is desirable. The role includes supporting students to engage in meaningful, future‐focused pathways aligned to their aspirations and workforce opportunities.
The Associate Principal leads key transition points, ensuring students are effectively supported as they enter senior school and move beyond into further education, training, or employment. This includes establishing clear, individualised pathways so that every student is known, supported, and positioned for success.
Working in close partnership with the Principal and Executive Team, the successful applicant would help shape and enact the school's strategic direction. They will ideally display confidence in using evidence‐informed practice and data analysis to identify priorities, articulate a clear rationale for change, and lead improvement in key school performance measures, including Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), and the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) outcomes. A highly motivated and reflective leader with a demonstrated growth mindset should have a track record of effective leadership and contribute strategically through participative decision‐making, policy development, and the establishment of aligned and effective systems.
Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills are integral, with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, families, and the wider community to achieve positive student outcomes.
A highly developed operational skill set is advantageous. The role requires the capacity to lead complex administrative and organisational systems that support efficient school operations. Experience in timetabling is highly desirable, with an understanding that it is a complex, multi‐layered process requiring strategic decision‐making to balance student choice, curriculum provision, staffing, and resource allocation to achieve optimal and resource‐efficient solutions. Proficiency in platforms such as Compass and reporting systems, alongside experience in human resource management, recruitment processes, regulatory compliance, implementation of information systems, and oversight of strategic workforce planning will be highly valued.
Rockingham SHS offers a diverse range of high-demand and competitive specialist pathways, including Maritime Training, Specialist Netball, Basketball and Rugby League Academy programs, an Academic Extension pathway, and Learning Support Enrichment. The successful applicant should display experience in leading staff to effectively manage specialist programs, ensuring high‐quality teaching and learning, strong student outcomes, and alignment with community expectations.
A commitment to Learning for Life underpins this role, with a focus on maintaining high expectations and equitable outcomes across all pathways. The Associate Principal would also play a key role in strengthening enrolments in specialist programs through strategic promotion, clear communication of program value, and ensuring sustained program excellence.
Professional Benefits
Working for the Department of Education you will enjoy a range of benefits including competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, training and career development opportunities and attractive leave provisions.
Equity and Diversity
We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
* be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment;
* obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start.
Selection Criteria
The following selection criteria are considered:
* Demonstrated capacity to provide effective leadership in a diverse range of educational settings.
* High level of interpersonal and public relations skills that demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships to achieve planned outcomes.
* Demonstrated professional knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge to ensure a high level of educational outcomes for all students, (e.g. Aboriginal students, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and students with special needs).
* Demonstrated capacity to manage staff, physical and financial resources.
Application Deadline
Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Monday, 15 June 2026.
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