Assistant Principal-Range 2 (West Melbourne)

Overview Work Type: Ongoing
- Full-time Salary: Salary not specified Grade: Assistant Principal
- Range 2 Occupation: Principal and assistant principal Location: Melbourne
- Northern suburbs Reference: 1529293 Location Profile Mount Ridley P-12 College was founded in 2009 and is located in the City of Hume, one of Melbourne's rapid growth corridors. Situated on an 11 hectare site along Hampton Street in Craigieburn and approximately 26 kilometres north of the CBD, the College includes provision for both primary and secondary students with an enrolment figure of approximately 2750 students across the whole College. The current College's Student Family Occupation (SFO) index is 0.59 whilst our Student Family Occupation and Education (SFOE) index is 0.48. Although these figures indicate a high level of family social disadvantage, increased funding levels provided by the Education Department aim to assist with raising the educational outcomes of our students. The College offers curriculum provision and facilities for students in Prep to Year 12 governed by a single School Council. It incorporates an innovative and flexible design to meet new and changing pedagogical approaches to State education. Located adjacent to the Maternal and Child Health Service developed by the Hume City Council, the College works closely with the Craigieburn Child and Family Centre in integrating learning and teaching programs so as to achieve a seamless transition into primary school. Adjoining recreation facilities established by the Hume City Council, Stockland, the AFL and the Calder Cannons Football Club are also providing opportunities for shared ventures. The College has developed a Community Garden project which is focussed on providing students of all ages with the opportunity of learning, applying and sharing practical sustainability and healthy living skills. The College has four Mini Schools:
- Early Years (Prep
- Year 4);
- Junior Years (Years 5
- 7);
- Middle Years (Years 8 and 9); and
- Senior Years (Years 10
- 12). An extensive senior leadership team structure consisting of Principal Class members, Leading Teachers and Learning Specialists, assisted by Administration Staff, supports students, staff and families in each Mini School. Mount Ridley College is well serviced by a range of facilities. Buildings in the Early Years Mini School are based around Learning Neighbourhoods with creative, interactive and reflective spaces in each neighbourhood. There are Prep, Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 Learning Neighbourhoods. The creative spaces are used for small group work and for problem solving or project based work. A common space in the centre of each Learning Neighbourhood is used for larger group work and team teaching. In addition, there is a separate music space, a multipurpose room and gymnasium that can be used for performing arts and indoor recreational activities. Our Early Years Italian and Japanese Languages program is delivered from a dedicated Learning Hub, whilst a canteen, library and designated administration area service the wider needs of the Early Years Mini School. In recent years, an Early Years DICE room has been created for the purpose of providing students with a cross-curriculum (Science, Design Technology Digital Technology, Mathematics and Inquiry) based approach to learning. Like their older peers, this space supports students in developing skills in critical thinking, creativity, communication and self-direction. As part of the national Community Hubs project, the College operates a Community Hub on the Early Years site for the purpose of connecting refugee families with their community. Services being provided include English language programs; cultural heritage and diversity projects; and vocational training. The Junior Years Mini School consists of two Learning Neighbourhoods incorporating interactive learning and teaching spaces, student `break-out studios, computer labs and specialist science rooms. Years 5 and 6 students are exclusively accommodated in the Midland Learning Neighbourhood, whilst Year 7 students are located in the Paddington Learning Neighbourhood and adjacent Learning Hubs. Each Learning Neighbourhood has flexible learning areas that promote creative, interactive and reflective practices. An administration area servicing the needs of the Mini School is based in one of the Learning Neighbourhoods, accommodating support and senior staff. Teaching teams are also located across the two Learning Neighbourhoods and nearby Learning Hubs. For ease of access for students and staff, the Junior Years Student Management team is located in the Paddington Learning Neighbourhood. Students and staff in the Middle Years Mini School are accommodated in a Learning Neighbourhood, along with a number of re-locatable general purpose classrooms. Specialist facilities in the Learning Neighbourhood include a Science laboratory, Computer Suite and a combined Art and Technology room. In order to support students, the Middle Years Student Management team is located in the Brighton Learning Neighbourhood. Years 8 and 9 students undertake a two-year program known as The Middle Years Certificate. Over the course of this time, students are invited and provided opportunities to participate in additional activities such as excursions, incursions, community projects and leadership ventures. These activities are recorded and acknowledged at the end of Year 9 when students are awarded their Completion Certificate at a celebratory ceremony. The Willandra Learning Neighbourhood incorporates a Prep to Year 12 Student Pathways Centre and teaching and learning spaces for our Years 11 and 12 students. A Study Centre is located within the central area of this facility, supporting students to connect, create and learn collaboratively and individually as required. At the same time, half of the building converts into a Senior Years student assessment and examination centre when necessary. A Community Hub has also been incorporated into this facility to support and expand our numerous business and community alliances. An administration area is located in the building to service the needs of Middle Years and Years 11 and 12 students. Senior staff, teachers and the Years 11 and 12 Student Management team are on hand to support students. In 2024 we welcomed the addition of a new facility in the form of a double storey building known as Nottingham. It consists of 8 general purpose classrooms (that can be transformed into another student assessment/examination centre), an Art space, a Science classroom, two computer labs, student breakout spaces, staff workrooms and staff amenities. This state-of-the-art project accommodates the learning needs of our Year 10 students. The Year 10 Mini School Administration and Student Management office is also located in this building for ease of access for our students. A 300 seat Theatre and additional performing arts spaces are also key features of this building and have been designed to further enhance student¿s acting, dance, and music skills. Our Languages and Professional Learning Centre, known as Landale, services our Italian and Japanese Languages program, EAL Classes, Sister School partnerships and International Students Program. Staff associated with these programs are conveniently located in this building so as to provide students with the necessary supports they require. Professional Development programs for staff, aimed at building pedagogical knowledge and enhancing student engagement practices also operate from this space. In 2025, the College implemented a Punjabi Language Immersion Program at Year 7. Students study the Punjabi language content as well as being further immersed in the application of its vocabulary, listening, writing, and speaking skills in Humanities classes. This program has continued into Year 8 and will continue to Year 9 in 2027. By incorporating the Punjabi language in the teaching of Humanities, students will have the dual advantage of learning the Humanities subject content matter, along with the simultaneous learning of an additional language. This approach is practised and highly regarded in overseas countries where students are required to study a language and at least one core subject area together. Given the immersive and unique nature of this program, Year 7 students will be required to submit an Expression of Interest and undertake a two-fold entry process involving an aptitude test and interview. At Year 10, Punjabi has been added to the College's current Italian and Japanese languages programs which students can then select from. Connecting our students to the world around them remains a major focus of our College. Our sister school Japanese program has been successfully operating since 2013. On six reciprocal occasions, students from Akatsuki Junior High School have visited our College and students and staff from our College have visited Akatsuki. The sister school partnership program developed with the Liceo Scientifico Alessandro Volta in Sicily, Italy commenced in 2014. During this time our College has visited the Liceo Scientifico on three occasions for the purpose of enhancing student language skills; providing a rich cultural experience; and developing staff professional opportunities. Alongside this, we have developed a sister school partnership with Delhi Public School (DPS) in Noida, India. This has resulted in two visits from students and staff from Delhi. Members of our senior leadership team toured India and visited DPS in January 2019 for the purpose of investigating joint programs including staff professional learning exchanges and student learning opportunities. In late 2018 we worked closely with the Victorian Department of Education for the purpose of expanding our sister school program to include partnerships in China. As a result, the …