Career advancement

As a teacher, you have many opportunities to progress your career. You can choose to stay in the classroom or move into school administration.

If you are interested in remaining in the classroom, but would like to take on a leadership role, you can apply to become:

• a Senior Teacher
• a Level 3 Classroom Teacher.

If you would aspire to school leadership and would like to become a principal, deputy or head of a learning area, you can become:

•  a school administrator.

Senior Teacher

Senior Teachers are experienced teachers committed to quality teaching and ongoing professional learning. Well respected by their colleagues and management, they provide a wealth of knowledge and skills to their school communities. They use their experience and skills to:

• provide quality teaching to students
• contribute to curriculum development
• mentor teachers who are new to teaching or public education
• supervise pre-service teachers.

Benefits of becoming a Senior Teacher include:

• formal recognition of your experience and professional learning
• career advancement that enables you to stay in the classroom
• sharing your experience with new teachers
• a salary increase to $75,129.

Find out how to become a Senior Teacher.

Level 3 Classroom Teacher

Level 3 Classroom Teachers are exemplary teachers recognised and rewarded for their exceptional teaching practices. They play an important part in the provision of quality teaching and leadership in schools.
Level 3 Classroom Teachers are highly skilled in:

• meeting the learning needs of their students
• developing and implementing student assessment and reporting strategies
• reflecting on and improving their teaching practice
• developing professional learning for colleagues.

They are experienced, innovative teachers able to role model successful best practice for their colleagues and mentor new teachers. This ability means they are a huge asset for their school and highly valued.

Level 3 Classroom Teachers also exert influence beyond their classroom by playing an important leadership role in the larger arena of the school community. They assist other teachers to improve classroom practice, enhance student learning and solve classroom problems.

As successful leaders, they:

• develop, implement and evaluate curriculum policy and programs
• effectively manage change when there are new initiatives
• promote consultation and collaboration between school staff
• foster and support productive teams
• build partnerships with teachers and the community.

Benefits of becoming a Level 3 Classroom Teacher include:

• formal recognition of your expertise and dedication
• career advancement that enables you to stay in the classroom
• sharing your experience and professional learning with colleagues
• taking on a leadership role
• permanent employment (if you are on a fixed term contract)
• a salary increase to $88,122.

The opportunity to become a Level 3 Classroom Teacher was initiated in 1997 as part of a new career structure for classroom teachers. This new level was negotiated in the Government School Teachers’ Enterprise Agreement (1996) between the Australian Education Union (WA Branch) and Department of Education.

Find out how to become a Level 3 Classroom Teacher.

School administrator

All head of learning area, deputy principal and principal positions are advertised through the State Government Job Board – JobsWA. Visit jobs.det.wa.edu.au for the latest advertised positions.

For information on how to use the JobsWA website visit – Apply to work in a public school.

If you are a female principal who would like to advance to a senior leadership position, you can access support through the Women in Leadership initiative.  Level 4 and 5 principals may be eligible for the Senior Leadership Primary Program and Level 6 principals can apply for the Executive Women's Program.

For more information:

Women in Leadership