About the role

We are seeking a committed, strategic and highly motivated Principal to join our School. Strong relationships with our school community, established leadership team and connection with the wider community is a priority for us. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with a team-oriented and collaborative approach to promote our school’s values, vision and strategic direction as articulated in the 2025-2029 Pioneer Village School Business Plan.

About Us

Due to the retirement of our long-standing dedicated Principal, an opportunity has arisen for an experienced Principal/Head of School to join our school from Term 1, 2026.

The Pioneer Village School senior leadership team has strong pedagogical experience as well as strong strategic, management and finance experience. We are seeking a skilled Principal to oversee the management, finances, and running of the school supported by an incredible team.

Pioneer Village School

Pioneer Village School offers a unique educational experience for students from Kindergarten to Year 6, with both Kindergarten rooms licensed as a Long Day Care under ECRU. We currently have approximately 250 students in our school.

We are a non-denominational primary school that embraces traditional values while incorporating modern best-practice and individualised learning approaches to ensure all students are supported to succeed. We understand the importance of supporting the whole child and pride ourselves on the fact our students graduate as respectful and kind people.

Our school follows research-based strategies to improve student performance. Our staff are committed to developing their knowledge of evidence-based strategies to enhance student achievement. We are a multi-age grouping school and our primary classroom configurations are all multi-age. Our school has a range of supports in place for students social and emotional development and we understand the importance of connection and play to children’s development. We understand the power of relationships and there are strong bonds between our students and staff.

Our classrooms cater for a range of students with diverse learning needs and cultures. We have a focus on developing relationships and creating safe learning spaces. We follow a response to intervention model to ensure all students make progress and have a restorative justice approach to behaviour management.

Our Values:

Excellence- Encouraging each child to be outstanding in their own way.

Fairness- Encouraging each child to treat each other justly.

Integrity- Encouraging strong moral principles.

Perseverance- Encouraging our students to be brave and have the courage to overcome difficulties.

Respect- Understanding that we all have rights and that we must try our best to be respectful to people, our surroundings and nature.

Key Responsibilities of the Principal:

As Head of School, you will be the key leader and ambassador for our school, responsible for:

Operational Oversight: Managing the school’s financial sustainability, facilities, and compliance with educational regulations of both our ELC and School.

Strategic Leadership: Implementing the vision for the school’s growth and success while upholding our education values.

Educational Excellence: In partnership with the School Deputy/Head of Learning and Curriculum, overseeing curriculum delivery, teaching quality, and student outcomes.

Social and Emotional Support: In partnership with the School Deputy overseeing restorative practices and supporting staff with management of student behaviour.

Community Engagement: Fostering a strong, inclusive, and collaborative school culture among staff, students, parents, and the local community.

Staff Development: Supporting professional growth and creating an environment where teachers thrive. It’s important that our Head of School develops our future leaders.

School Culture: Develop strong relationships with the families as well as leadership, administration and teaching staff to contribute to our culture. Our staff work closely with leadership which supports our team culture, promoting a culture of learning and excellence. The Principal is supported by an experienced leadership team comprising of the School Deputy, ELC Centre Director, School Bursar and Office Staff. The Head of School is also supported by the school governing body.

Selection Criteria

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

Proven experience in educational leadership, within an independent, private, or Department school.

Strong strategic and operational management abilities, including financial oversight.

Strong understanding of governance and responsibilities of the Board.

Capacity and skills to delegate and empower others, staff, students and community.

A track record of fostering community partnerships and engagement.

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to inspire staff, students, and the school community.

Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and inclusivity.

Exceptional skills in conflict management and understanding of restorative practices.

Western Australian College of Teachers registered, or ability to be registered.

Desirable Skills

A deep understanding of Multi-age education philosophy and its practical application is desirable but not essential, however a willingness to be open to multi-age education and commitment to learning is.

An understanding of universal design and trauma informed practices. While this is not essential knowledge it is expected that the new leader works closely with the School Deputy to develop their understanding and support these processes.

Running an Early Learning Centre and experience dealing with ECRU and the Assessment and Rating process.

Experience with non-government school re-registration in Western Australia.

Five or more years of experience as a Principal/Head of School

Experience working with Traditional Custodians in an educational setting.

Personal Attributes:

Integrity, empathy and cultural sensitivity

Alignment with our school values

Visionary and adaptable with the ability to manage change effectively

Personable and relatable to students, staff and families

Effective and efficient manager

Excellent with time management to balance the demands of the role

Accountable and self-motivated to lead by example

What we measure:

That we are compliant with financial, operational and regulatory standards.

We offer a rich learning environment that facilitates positive student outcomes across academic, and social and emotional domains.

Students feel safe and feel a sense of belonging.

Growth of enrolments coming in to the school at a sustainable pace.

Our families commit and choose to stay on the journey with us.

That our staff feel supported and continue their own learning and growth.

That we have a culture of continuous improvement underpinned through our strategic goals and objectives.

What We Offer:

An opportunity to lead a growing school with a highly skilled team.

A supportive and dedicated staff and parent community, unlike any other.

Professional development tailored to education and leadership.

Competitive salary and conditions in line with experience.

A stable senior leadership team with tenure at the school so that you are supported.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must:

be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.

hold registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia.

obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and

consent to a National Criminal History Check with the Department's Screening Unit.

How to Apply

If you are interested in the role, please contact Caroline Tuthill, Board Chair via [email protected]

Applications close 4pm Monday April 28, 2025.

Please send your application, including:

1. A cover letter addressing the selection criteria (maximum 4 pages).

2. A comprehensive resume.

3. Contact details for three professional referees.

All applications must be submitted through SEEK and are to be addressed to: Caroline Tuthill, Board Chair.

For more information about our school, visit https://pvs.wa.edu.au/

and https://pvs.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Principal-JD.pdf

Please note that Pioneer Village School reserves the right to withdraw the advertisement at our discretion at any time during the advertising period.

Pioneer Village School is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in its staff and leadership. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

We are committed to child safety and work practices that keep children safe. On application, candidates will be subject to a teacher registration check, police check, referee checks, identification verification and the requirement to disclose any information relevant to the candidates’ eligibility to engage in activities including children.

Pioneer Village School respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land as being the first peoples of this country. We embrace the vast Aboriginal cultural diversity throughout Western Australia and recognise their continuing connection to country, water and sky. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging