Generalist Teacher or specific KLA's

Cobar High School, Cobar NSW

Placement level: Teacher

Contact for enquiries: Shane Carter (Principal), shane.carter@det.nsw.edu.au, 02 6836 2705

Additional resources: explore what it's like to live and work in the Cobar area.

Placement details

Terms 1 - 4, 2024 (Applicants can request a shorter duration in their application).

Placement opportunities are available for teachers looking to work within the broader school community.

Role description: The teaching load of the placement will be negotiated with the successful applicant to include areas of applicant interest and school need. Arrangements could cater to generalist teachers or those with specific preferences, eg, English, PDHPE, science, music and drama, and industrial technology. The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop innovative approaches to learning that address the educational and social aspirations of all students. Extra-curricular responsibilities may be negotiated.

Desired candidate expertise:

• Willingness to teach students in years 7-12 (specific stage preferences can be negotiated)
• Highly developed organisational and interpersonal skills with an ability to work collaboratively to build positive relationships with students, staff, parents and the wider community,
• Knowledge of and commitment to the Department’s Aboriginal Education policies.

Accommodation details

Teacher housing may be available. The town also has private rentals available as well as a quality caravan park.

Please note: Teacher Housing availability can depend upon a variety of factors, including vacancy status and potential priority offers to other staff with full-time rural appointments. Teacher Housing Authority (THA) may not be able to confirm allocation of properties until all applications have been received and processed. Applicants are encouraged to discuss property availability directly with THA. Participants of the Rural Experience Program are not eligible for the Housing Rental Subsidy but may rent a property (at market value) through the THA if available.

School details

Cobar High School is a small comprehensive secondary school located in remote NSW, 700kms northwest of Sydney on the traditional lands of the Wongaibon people of the Ngiyampaa nation, with the nearest regional centre of Dubbo 300kms east. Cobar is a mining town with an approximate population of 4000 people. Students predominantly expect to gain highly paid occupations within the mining sector which does create unique challenges for the school, particularly in terms of engaging students in the notion of tertiary education.

The school has a student population of 215 students, of whom 26.8% identify as Aboriginal and 6.8% from a Non-English Speaking Background. Our support unit currently consists of 2 Multi-categorical classes to cater for our students with additional needs. The student population is transient with on average (past 7 years) only 38.4% of our Year 12 HSC graduates actually starting their secondary education at Cobar High School. Cobar High School is predominantly staffed with inexperienced teachers, who work collaboratively, are enthusiastic and provide a range of extra-curricular activities for students. This, along with our extreme isolation, has resulted in the implementation of a Professional Learning Program that is designed to support the learning needs of our students as well as the developmental needs of our staff. This program, along with our scheduled lesson observations, are key to the school fulfilling its commitment of continually improving our effective classroom practices. This learning will ensure that both literacy and numeracy levels can be enhanced through improved data collection, analysis and use which underpins our belief in individualised and differentiated learning.

The school's staffing entitlement is 30 teaching and 9 non-teaching staff. From school funds we also employ a Head Teacher Teaching & Learning, 2 classroom teachers and 6 part-time School Learning Support Officers. These positions enable us to provide the valuable time required for teaching staff to fully engage with our Professional Learning and Lesson Observation programs as well as leadership in improving data collation and individual student differentiation.

Cobar High School has followed the principles of Positive Behaviour for Learning since its implementation began in 2012 and is proud of its reputation across NSW as a beacon school. We strongly and consistently promote an environment of respect, excellence and safety. Embedding this philosophy into our everyday processes will support all students to enhance their participation and engagement.

The school is very well equipped and resourced with high quality facilities including a Trade Training Centre, upgraded Science Laboratories, covered outdoor basketball/tennis courts and outdoor learning spaces. All classrooms are fully air-conditioned with full access to state-of-the-art technology as are our Support classrooms. In partnership with CSA Mine - Glencore, we have for a number of years successfully operated a Homework Centre in the school library. Operating 2 afternoons a week, staff are available to assist students with assignments, homework or tuition if required.