Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) 2008 - Australian ...

1.2 Declaration concerning the basic periodicrate of payFor so long as an employee is subjectto the agreement, the employer willprovide a basic periodic rate of paythat is at least equal to:(1) if the employee is within a work classificationthat, immediately before thecommencement of subsection 4(7) ofthe Commonwealth Powers (IndustrialRelations) Act 1996 of Victoria:(a) was a declared work classificationunder the Employee Relations Act1992 of Victoria; or,(b) had been declared by the EmployeeRelations Commission ofVictoria to be an interim workclassification - the basic periodicrate of pay attaching to that classification.(2) if the employee is not within such workclassification and is a junior employee,an employee with a disability or anemployee to whom a training arrangementapplies – the rate of pay specifiedin, or worked out in accordance witha method specified in, the WorkplaceRelations Regulations 2006.(3) if the employee is not within suchwork classification and is not a junioremployee, an employee with a disabilityor an employee to whom a trainingarrangement applies – the standardFederal Minimum Wage.1.3 Declaration concerning the casualloadingFor as long as a casual employee is coveredby the agreement, the casual loadingthat is payable to a casual employeewill not be less than the default casualloading provided by Division 2 of Part7 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996.SCHEDULE 2ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES– TEACHER CLASSThe responsibilities expected of teachers atall classification levels are to:• Engage in ongoing professional learningto improve their practice• Draw on resources and frameworksprovided by the system to inform theirwork and classroom practice• Work collaboratively with professionalcolleagues to improve teaching andlearning within the school• Use multiple sources of feedback ontheir classroom practice to informtheir professional learning goals.The roles and responsibilities expected ofteachers at each classification level are asfollows:Leading teacherLeading teachers will be outstanding classroomteachers and undertake leadershipand management roles commensurate withtheir salary range.The objective of leading teachers is toimprove the skill, knowledge and performanceof the teaching workforce in a schoolor group of schools and to improve thecurriculum program of a school.Leading teachers are responsible fordemonstrating and modelling an outstandinglevel of teaching.Leading teachers will be expected tomake a significant contribution to policydevelopment relating to teaching and learningin the school. They also manage majorcurriculum or student activities across theschool with a high degree of independence.A leading teacher has a direct impact andinfluence on the achievement of the schoolgoals. These teachers provide professionalsupport to teaching staff.Leading teachers are usually responsiblefor the implementation of one or morepriorities contained in the school strategicplan. Typically, leading teachers are responsiblefor coordinating a large number ofstaff to achieve improvements in teachingand learning. Their focus is on the introductionof changes in methods and approachesto teaching and learning. However, they willalso be responsible for the managementand leadership of a significant area or functionwithin the school to ensure the effectivedevelopment, provision and evaluation ofthe school’s education program.Position responsibilitiesIn recognition of the importance of leadershipand management combined withexemplary teaching practice for improvedstudent learning outcomes, the key roles ofthe leading teachers may include but arenot limited to:• leading and managing the implementationof whole-school improvementinitiatives related to the school strategicplan and school priorities• leading and managing the implementationof whole-school improvementstrategies related to curriculum planningand delivery• leading and managing the provisionof professional learning and developingindividual and team performanceand development plans for teachingstaff within the priorities of theschool• leading and managing staff performanceand development (review ofstaff)• teaching demonstration lessons• leading and managing the developmentof the school’s assessment andreporting policies and practices• leading and managing the implementationof the school operations andpolicies related to student welfare anddiscipline• leading the development of curriculumin a major learning area andparticipating in curriculum developmentin other areas• responsibility for general disciplinematters beyond the management ofclassroom teachers• contributing to the overall leadershipand management of the school• contributing to the development ofproposals for school council consideration• developing and managing the schoolcode of conduct.Classroom teacherThe classroom teacher classificationcomprises three salary ranges - graduate,accomplished and expert. The primary focusof the classroom teacher is on the planning,preparation and teaching of programsto achieve specific student outcomes.The classroom teacher engages in criticalreflection and inquiry in order to improveknowledge and skills to effectively engagestudents and improve their learning.As the classroom teacher gains experiencehis or her contribution to the schoolprogram beyond the classroom increases.All classroom teachers may be requiredto undertake other duties in addition totheir rostered teaching duties provided theresponsibility is appropriate to the salaryrange, qualifications, training and experienceof the teacher.Expert teacherExpert teachers play a significant role inassisting the school to improve studentperformance and educational outcomesdetermined by the school strategic plan andstatewide priorities and contributing to the84 85