How to become a Level 3 Classroom Teacher

Level 3 Classroom Teacher status is given to teachers who demonstrate exemplary teaching practices, commitment to ongoing professional learning and the ability to take a leadership role in their school. 

Selection of Level 3 Classroom Teachers takes place through an annual application process. The application process has two stages:

• Stage One – submitting a written portfolio, which includes supporting evidence and referees’ statements
• Stage Two – facilitating and participating in reflective practice sessions.

Applicants are assessed against five teaching competencies that align with Phase 3 of the Competency Framework for Teachers. It is a rigorous process designed to ensure the most skilful and accomplished teachers achieve this status. Success is not guaranteed for all applicants. Applicants who do not meet all five competencies may take two or three years to attain level 3 status.

There is no quota on the number of people who can attain level 3 each year.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply you must:

• possess a teaching qualification
• have provisional or full registration with the Western Australian College of Teaching
• be employed by the Department of Education
•  be working for a minimum of 0.4 FTE (four days a fortnight) in a public school.

You do not have to be a Senior Teacher before applying for level 3. You may also apply if you are acting in a promotional position (eg deputy principal or head of learning area).

Teaching competencies

To become a Level 3 Classroom Teacher, you need to demonstrate you meet the following competencies:

1. Use innovative and/or exemplary teaching strategies and techniques in order to more effectively meet the learning needs of individual students, groups and/or classes of students. 
2. Employ consistent exemplary practice in developing and implementing student assessment and reporting processes. 
3. Engage in a variety of self development activities, including a consistently high level of critical reflection on one's own teaching practice and teacher leadership, to sustain a high level of ongoing professional growth. 
4. Enhance teachers' professional knowledge and skills through employing effective development strategies. 
5. Provide high level leadership in the school community through assuming a key role in school development processes, including curriculum planning and management and school policy formulation.

Developing a portfolio of evidence

Your portfolio is a collection of your work that demonstrates how you meet the teaching competencies. As you become more experienced as a teacher, you will have opportunities to build your portfolio.

You need to meet all five of the teaching competencies when you apply, so you will need to commit personal time to developing a portfolio. It is recommended to get advice from colleagues about the types of evidence you should collect and how you can display it in an application folder.

Assessment

An assessment rubric is used to assess each competency. Each competency is divided into four or five indicators and it is essential you address all indicators within each competency. You need to achieve ratings of 3 or 4 for each of the indicators, with a mean average score of at least 3.2 for each relevant competency at both Stages One and Two.

Your application will be assessed by two trained assessors who engage in consensus moderation. They may be Level 3 Classroom Teachers, head of learning areas, principals or deputies. If they cannot reach an agreement, a third assessor will assist with the assessment.

You will receive written feedback at both stages of the assessment process. The feedback will be provided against the assessment rubrics. The comments provided are intended as constructive feedback and are a guide only.

You will receive a letter to advise if you have been successful or not.

If you are unsuccessful and can provide evidence the assessment process has been breached, you can contact the Level 3 Classroom Teacher project manager to discuss your concerns. If you are still not satisfied, you may request a review of your case. Your request for review needs to focus on the process of the assessment and be submitted in writing within 10 days of the letter advising you on the assessment outcome.

The review panel will comprise representatives of the Department, the State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia and Level 3 Classroom Teacher Association. They will consider review submissions from either stage of the assessment. You will be advised in writing of the panel’s decision.