Head Teacher Teaching and Learning - Fairfield High School

Position Information

Fairfield High School is a large, inclusive comprehensive secondary school located in south-west Sydney, providing high-quality education for approximately 1,100 students. The school is recognised for its strong focus on explicit teaching underpinned by high-impact EAL/D pedagogy, high expectations and evidence-based practice, ensuring student growth, engagement and academic success.The school includes a well-established Intensive English Centre supporting newly arrived, refugee and international students, as well as seven support classes for students with intellectual disabilities and autism, enabling equitable access to learning across the school community.

In 2026, Fairfield High School will have a Family Occupation and Employment Index (FOEI) of 200. The school serves a highly diverse community, with 93.5% of students from a Language Background Other Than English, approximately 40% requiring EAL/D support, around 43% from a refugee background, and 1% identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Within this context, the school maintains a strong commitment to excellence through explicit, language-rich teaching practices, the identification and development of high potential and gifted students, and a clear focus on aspiration and post-school pathways, including university, TAFE, vocational education and employment. Fairfield High School is dedicated to ensuring every student is known, supported and and challenged to achieve their personal best and transition confidently into further education, training or employment.

Selection Criteria

Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria,

1. Demonstrated capacity to lead whole-school teaching and learning improvement that drives student growth and attainment through explicit, inclusive and differentiated practice.
2. Demonstrated capacity to use and lead others in the effective use of student performance measures to inform teaching, monitor progress, and evaluate the impact of teaching and learning initiatives.
3. Demonstrated ability to lead high-impact professional learning that builds teacher capability and supports consistent, collaborative pedagogical practice.
4. Outstanding organisational and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to support the development of a school culture based on high expectations and shared responsibility.

General Selection Criteria

1. Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice
2. Knowledge of curriculum, assessment and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs
3. Educational leadership skills to build the capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams
4. Well developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents
5. Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning
6. Knowledge of and commitment to the Department's Aboriginal education policy

Conditions

An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity.

Special Notes

The Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools are located here.

Applicants are to include details of their WWCC clearance number as part of this application.

About the NSW Department of Education

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, neurodiverse people and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please contact the hiring manager using the contact details provided above. For more information, visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion

Merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals provide clear advice for applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are available here.

To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.