Rutherford Technology High School 8572 - Family Occupation and Education Index ( FOEI 134), Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA 917) was established in 1985 catering for a diverse community. The school is situated within rapidly growing western Maitland and partners with schools in the Maitland Principal Network. The school services a diverse and geographically widespread community from Telarah up the New England Highway to North Rothbury and Branxton. The school's enrolment was 1406 at the commencement of 2026 including 13 inclusion and support classes, 25% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and 12% of the student population from non-English speaking backgrounds. The school has strong ties with the Aboriginal community, a close association with the Maitland Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) and an Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Centre. The school has a proud tradition of providing quality and highly successful programs in STEM, the creative arts, sport and a variety of extra curricula activities. Rutherford Technology High School is one of six schools who are part of the Rutherford Learning Community (RLC) forming a strong and innovative Local Management Group with a P-12 focus. Approval to teach.

- Proven ability to improve attendance, retention and student engagement across a diverse and highly complex school focused on improving student outcomes for all learners.
- Demonstrated expertise in highly effective evaluative practice to enhance established successful school programs within existing school resources.
- Outstanding awareness of and the skills to utilise the NSW Department of Education’s ‘Our Plan for Public Education’ and associated current system priorities to improve teacher practice including the ability to manage and integrate change successfully across a large, diverse and complex school community.




- Ability to lead the school to engage deeply and authentically with the whole school community to support student success including strengthening relationships with interagency partners and the local business community.

- High level educational leadership with the skills to lead and manage a complex public school focused on the delivery of high quality education
- Ability to lead and manage rigorous and inclusive whole school teaching and learning programs
- High level communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build positive relationships and engage all levels of the school and educational community
- Ability to lead and manage the development and performance of staff to improve teaching and learning
- Ability to plan systems and manage resources effectively and equitably to enhance teaching and learning
- Capacity to lead staff in implementing the Department's Aboriginal education policy and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people

An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement.

Classification Structure for Principals

The Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024 details the current principal classification structure based on complexity of schools which commenced in 2016. The classification and remuneration of our school principals is based on school complexity, as measured through each school’s RAM allocation. As part of the ongoing application of the new structure a review of thresholds and outcomes will occur on an annual basis. The principal classification for this school is Principal Level P5 for 2026 and Principal Level P5 for 2027.

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.

📌 Principal Level (Newcastle)
🏢 NSW Department of Education
📍 Newcastle