Role Description/Criteria
About the business
Padua College is a thriving Catholic Secondary School on the Mornington Peninsula, with 2500 students across four campuses. We believe purpose resides in every student, and so nurture each student’s potential, supporting them to grow in character, discover talents, and embrace their unique callings.
About the role
Applications are sought for the position of Head of English - POL 4. This is a 3 year tenured Position of Leadership in conjunction with an ongoing teaching appointment.
Padua College provides a contemporary Catholic secondary co-education for young people within the regions of the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Bay. Our College was founded by the Sisters of Mercy and is named after St Anthony of Padua. In partnership with our students, staff, parents, parishes and the wider community, Padua College gives witness to the Christian faith in our Catholic tradition. We aim to be a positive, creative, hope-filled learning community where Catholic values and spirit are shared and the sacred dignity of each person is nurtured.
The North Star is our guiding direction. It encompasses our “why” at Padua College as we align our vision and action. It inspires, challenges, and provides direction.
We want every person to:
• recognise and utilise their God-given talents;
• be the best they can be; and
• make a positive impact on their world.
Our Core Values:
a) We welcome and affirm
b) We inspire growth of the whole person
c) We create a love of learning
d) We build positive relationships
e) We embrace diversity
f) We show compassion for those in need
g) We reconcile and forgive
h) We work for a just and peaceful world
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
The Head of English is a senior College leader responsible for setting and sustaining a clear, evidence-informed direction for English teaching, reading and writing across Years 7-12 and the College's three campuses. The role leads the development, documentation, implementation and evaluation of a coherent English curriculum that supports strong student engagement, learning, achievement and pathways.
The role reflects the MACS Vision for Leadership by supporting others to strive for excellence in writing instruction, professional development and engagement. Through clear expectations, professional learning, coaching, and feedback, the Head of English enables teachers to 'direct their efforts more purposefully, focusing on areas that directly contribute to the overall goals of the school' (Groenewald et al., 2023, as cited in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools [MACS], 2026, p. 24).
Reading and writing are foundational literacy skills and underpin learning across the curriculum. Guided by the MACS Vision for Instruction and its vision for writing instruction, the Head of English promotes supportive writing environments in which writing is explicitly taught, practised frequently and valued. The role leads evidence-based instruction, high-quality writing practices, strengthens the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing, and ensures students benefit from modelling, guided practice, exemplars, scaffolding and explicit feedback.
Working with the Vice Principal - Learning & Teaching, Director of Educational Initiatives, Learning and Pedagogy Leaders, Instructional Coaches, Learning Leaders and English teachers, the Head of English builds teacher capacity, strengthens curriculum consistency and uses assessment evidence and other relevant data to improve teacher instructional practice and student outcomes.
The Head of English is a key member of the College's Learning and Teaching Team and reports directly to the Vice Principal - Learning & Teaching.
MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
The Head of English's major areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:
- leading the development, documentation, implementation, evaluation and ongoing refinement of a coherent Years 7-12 English curriculum across the College, aligned with VCAA requirements, Padua's Learning and Teaching Framework, Padua's Instructional Model and the MACS Vision for Instruction (or its equivalent);
- leading the implementation of the MACS Vision for Writing Instruction within English, establishing supportive writing environments and consistent, evidence-based approaches to reading, writing and vocabulary instruction that strengthen student engagement, confidence and achievement;
- leading assessment, moderation, reporting and the analysis of student learning data within English, using evidence to identify priorities, monitor growth, strengthen teacher judgement and improve outcomes, including senior English outcomes;
- building the capacity of English teachers through professional learning, coaching, classroom observation, modelling evidence-based instructional practices and providing timely, constructive feedback that maintains high-quality practice;
- leading performance review, professional goal-setting and annual review meetings with allocated English teaching staff, while developing the leadership capacity of the English team and contributing to succession planning;
- administering the English Learning Area effectively across the College's three campuses, including staffing, meetings, communication, resources, budgets, booklists, curriculum documentation and compliance requirements; and
- undertaking other day-to-day duties and implementing decisions as requested by the Principal or the College Improvement Team.
Teachers are supported by the Department Heads, Learning Leaders, the Assistant Heads of Campus (Learning and Pedagogy), Deputy Principals/Directors of Campus (Heads of Campus), and the Vice Principal (Learning and Teaching) across the College in the development, implementation, and teaching of the curriculum.
They are also supported by the House Coordinators, Assistant Heads of Campus (Student Wellbeing and Growth), the Deputy Principals/Directors of Campus (Heads of Campus) and the Vice Principal – Students, in the pastoral care and discipline of students, as well as the smooth and effective management of classes.
SALARY REMUNERATION: According to the CEMEA 2022, $79,589.00 - $118,063.00 per annum, plus 12% superannuation.
A Position of Leadership 4 is $13,018.00 per annum.
Applications for this position close at 10.00am Monday 19 October 2026.
All applications will be acknowledged upon receipt by return email.
Shortlisted candidates will receive further communication from the College regarding the position.
The interview process may commence prior to the closing date and, if a suitable applicant is found, the role may close early. We encourage applications for the vacancy to be submitted as soon as possible.
Padua College is a Child Safe School and promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children. For teaching positions successful applicants will hold Victorian Institute of Teaching Registration and for non-teaching positions successful applicants will be subject to a Working with Children Check and a National Police Record Check.
Application Procedures
https://form.myrecruitmentplus.com/applicationform?jobAdId=9825273