Think Pymble: Embracing Inclusion

Why think Pymble?

Whether you are considering a career move or have accepted a position at our College, thank you for thinking Pymble, a unique working environment where each person is valued for who they are, as well as the quality of their work, their unique contribution to the diversity of our community, and their wins, big and small.

We consider our academic, cocurricular and professional services staff to be our greatest assets, integral to the outstanding educational experience we offer students and families. We express our appreciation for our staff in many ways, through recognition programs, celebrations

and competitive remuneration and benefits.

We treasure our caring, inclusive and collegiate community, which we often refer to as our ‘Pymble family’. We also appreciate that our work family is not the only priority in our lives and that our families at home come in all shapes and sizes. So, we walk the talk when it comes to supporting work-life balance, with family-friendly policies and by contributing to community partnerships.

Our respected leadership team has set a clear vision and strategy, which outlines our focus on building

“True belonging never asks us to change who we are, it demands that we be who we are.”

– BRENE BROWN , RESEARCHER AND AUTHOR

Academic, Emotional, Social and Digital Intelligences, and developed a master plan to deliver world-class educational facilities at our main campus at Pymble and our outdoor education campus, Vision Valley, at Arcadia.

These provide the foundation for developing students with a passion for learning and scholarship, a strong assurance of their own worth and the hearts and minds to contribute meaningfully to their local and global communities.

We promote a ‘have a go’ culture that celebrates trying, failing and trying again as an integral component of

success. We believe in playing to people’s strengths and having the right person in the right role. For example, our specialist coaches – not our teachers – typically run Saturday sports.

We also provide a wide range of opportunities for you to plot your path and grow personally and professionally, through professional learning and development, career progression, access to technology and resources, and opportunities to support your health and wellbeing.

Come as you are and bring your passion for what you do. You will belong to a dynamic and committed

team of professionals who find great joy in working together and empowering our students to make the world a better place.

#WatchUsChangeTheWorldTogether

DR KATE HADWEN PRINCIPAL

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the Darramuragal land on which Pymble Ladies' College is located and the Durag people on which the Vision Valley Campus is built. We pay our respects to these First Nations' peoples and their elders past and present. As students, teachers and staff, we draw guidance and understanding from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, one of the oldest knowledge systems in the world.

Our Strategic Direction and Vision

The College’s Strategic Direction 2021-2030 emphasises developing the whole student in all areas of her life. It provides the framework and focus for all aspects of teaching and learning across our four pillars.

ACADEMIC INTELLIGENCE

Knowledge for a better world

“I really value the future-focused vision – I love the innovative ideas and that we are encouraged to try new things in our classroom.” – TEACHER

SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

Diversity as the path to unity

“My team are brilliant. I know that I can be myself and I love the energy and leadership across the school.”

PROFESSIONAL

–

SERVICES STAFF

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Empowered to be courageous

“The community and the people are full of heart and the leadership is amazing.” – TEACHER

DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE

Technologies for an innovative future

“Robotics transcends designing, coding and building. It is teaching students real-world skills like systems-thinking and teamwork.” – SCIENCE TEACHER

These four learning pillars are supported by the College Values of Care, Courage, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility and the Mind, Body, Spirit Framework promoting holistic wellness. Scan the QR code to read more about our Strategic Direction.

Embracing inclusion On the pulse

As a Uniting Church school, we welcome people of all faiths, beliefs, abilities, identities, backgrounds and cultures. We value diversity of thought and understand the power of an inclusive and united community.

Pymble welcomes and encourages applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds. We seek to increase the diversity of staff to reflect the diversity of students and families at Pymble and in the broader community

We understand that a greater diversity of teachers provides many benefits for our students. These include a greater diversity of role models in the classroom and a diversity of thinking and ideas to enrich our teaching practices.

We have an extensive First Nations Program with 24 girls enrolled in Years 7 to 12. We are also well progressed in developing our first Reconciliation Action Plan. Pymble is also a member of the Diversity Council of Australia, as well as a Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Compliant employer.

In 2023 we ran the first Pymble Pulse staff engagement survey. This survey measured our staff’s connection to the College, commitment to working at Pymble and their feedback on our culture.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE KEY RESULTS:

‘best practice’ response rate of (400 staff responded)

of staff understand how their work contributes to Pymble

are proud to work at Pymble

understand how our values relate to their roles

said they are provided with the technology and resources needed to do their job

would recommend Pymble as a n exceptional place to work

say their manager cares about their wellbeing

say there is a genuine commitment at Pymble to supporting staff wellbeing

“The College’s direction regarding diversity and inclusion has meant a lot to me and my family. I never thought I would experience working in a welcoming, safe and supportive school in my lifetime and am very thankful for the culture being built.”

– PYMBLE PULSE STAFF ENGAGEMENT SURVEY

“Overall the culture of Pymble is one of kindness, warmth and inclusivity.” –

PYMBLE PULSE STAFF ENGAGEMENT SURVEY

Did you know?

1 2

MARKET-LEADING TEACHER LOADS

In 2023, Pymble changed our timetable structure to reduce the classroom loads for teachers.

This change was in response to teachers seeking more time to do what they love – teach! We reduced face-to-face teaching loads for secondary teachers with commensurate reductions for our junior school teachers.

This is a highly competitive workload and relieves the classroom pressures for teachers by providing additional time during the day to plan lessons, meet with students, attend to professional development and catch up on administration or marking.

Pymble’s goal is to be a leading school for providing innovative options around flexible work arrangements, while still meeting the needs of our students and the College.

75.5% 68.3%

face to face in 2022 face to face in 2023

NO CO-CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHERS

Unlike many private and independent schools, our Pymble teachers are not required to coach or supervise weekend or after school co-curricular sports or activities. We have a wonderful specialist team of over 300 full-time and casual co-curricular music, sports, drama, dance, aquatic centre and language arts staff who fuel our enormous range of co-curricular activities.

There are some special benefits to working at Pymble Ladies’ College. Here are the top four that you might not know about.

3 4

The Pymble Plus Program was designed and implemented in 2022. It is a bespoke internal accreditation program which encourages experienced teachers to further develop their skills and receive a significant uplift in salary. The benefits of the program for the individual teacher, our students and the College are significant:

• The Pymble Plus Program helps experienced teachers feel recognised, celebrated and rewarded for the work they do and the value they bring to their students.

• Teachers can explore an area of their practice (a passion project) as part of their regular classes. The opportunity to undertake research in this ‘deep dive’ process is highly valued.

• Participants also have the opportunity to work more closely with other teachers in their department (through being mentored) or network with like-minded teachers from other learning areas and sub-schools.

WORKING WITH PEOPLE FROM MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS

Pymble is proud to be home to staff members from many different backgrounds and cultures. Here’s a snapshot of our diversity:

OVER 20

including Afrikaans, Farsi, Cantonese and Mandarin, Italian, Vietnamese, French and German, Hindi, Spanish, Indonesian, Tagalog, Korean, Portuguese and Japanese.

of our staff identify as First Nations people from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

1 IN 4

staff have some form of flexible work arrangements

of our staff identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community

OVER 15

AT LEAST 5% APPROXIMATELY 50%

of staff are of Christian faiths, 30% of no stated faith, and many staff of other faiths including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism

teachers started their careers in different professions such as science, business, engineering and law.

50%

of staff have carer responsibilities including childcare, disability care and elder care.

PYMBLE PLUS ACCREDITATION PROGRAM –RECOGNITION AND REMUNERATION UPLIFT FOR EXPERIENCED TEACHERS

“I have the agency in my work to be creative and challenge myself to give my very best.”

– PYMBLE PULSE STAFF ENGAGEMENT SURVEY

“What I love most about working with my Pymble colleagues is the passion and expertise that we all share. It is a pleasure to work with such an incredible group of educators.” – STUDENT WELLBEING LEADER

OUR STAFF SPEAK OVER A DOZEN LANGUAGES

A commitment to academic excellence

Our extensive curriculum is taught across all years with more than 40 individual subjects offered to students for the Higher School Certificate (HSC).

The College also offers more than 50 co-curricular activities to support the individual passions, talents and abilities of each girl, ranging from sports coaching, dance and music, to coding and robotics.

A strong academic record and focus on each student as an individual creates a truly holistic educational environment at Pymble. Students are nurtured to make the most of their individual potential and consistently achieve well above the state average in all HSC courses offered at the College.

“One of the great benefits of Pymble, is that the College encourages students to take charge of their own learning, and the education on offer is catered to every student with so many diverse opportunities for everyone to find their place.” – CHLOE, DUX (CLASS OF 2022)

78

129 STUDENTS

17 STUDENTS WITH ATARS

>99.00

198 GIRLS ON THE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVERS LIST

28

ALL-ROUND ACHIEVERS

239 51

2022 HSC RESULTS HSC COURSES

THE CLASS OF 2022 ACHIEVED A MEDIAN ATAR OF 90.90

PYMBLE RANKED

20th IN THE SMH TOP 100 SCHOOLS REPORT

“The advice I would give to someone thinking of joining Pymble is do not hesitate; jump in and become part of the family. You will grow and be surrounded by like-minded professionals who are committed to excellence.” – DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Professional learning opportunities

Our staff benefit from the richness and diversity of Professional Learning Programs available at Pymble.

The dual goals of Professional Learning and Development at Pymble are to:

• Develop the skills and expertise of our staff to provide individually and collectively for the best possible student learning outcomes.

• Nurture and develop the careers of our staff, as a key to job satisfaction and wellbeing

Some of the professional learning opportunities which teaching staff have undertaken across 2022 and 2023 include:

• 36 internal workshops

• 250 external courses

• Bright Field Mentoring program

• 16 teachers mentored through the ISTAA Experienced Teacher Accreditation

• Access to Pymble Plus

• Financial and study support provided for Post Graduate study

• Ten Early Career Teachers mentored through proficient teacher accreditation

• Professional Learning Grants

• AISNSW Flagship

• 28 teacher education placements

• Presentations at conferences nationally and internationally.

Some of the professional learning opportunities which professional services staff have undertaken include: IT skills training; leadership development; WHS, growing your career; and business writing.

“I felt incredibly grateful to attend the summit as it allowed me the opportunity to learn from leaders and innovators who are united in their purpose of helping students recognise their talents and unlock their potential.”

– ENGLISH TEACHER

“Thank you for the choice of engaging sessions. I really enjoyed both of mine and feel they will help me in my practice.”

– TEACHER

“The (Pymble Plus) program makes you feel connected to the College and makes you feel valued.”

– TEACHER

Employee benefits at Pymble

Our people mean the world to us. We seek to provide relevant, practical and market-leading benefits which meet the evolving needs of our staff.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

• Welcome Program for new staff

• Annual Professional Learning Grants

• Staff Network Group for those undertaking Masters and PhD degrees

• Mentoring programs

• Leadership development

• Professional Development days for all staff

Discounted Early Learning Centre fees (opening 2025)

Discounted dry cleaning service

Salary sacrifice

MEALS AND SNACKS

MONEY SAVERS

Parking (onsite and in close proximity to the College

Financial support for further study

Discounted school fees

• Daily morning tea provided during term time

• Onsite cafes

• Lunch ordering service

• Dedicated staff lounge for lunch and ‘quiet space’

SOCIAL EVENTS AND GOODIES

• Active Staff Wellbeing Committee

• Funded social events

• Annual staff Christmas party

• Casual for a Cause – casual dress staff charity fundraiser

SUPPORT DURING CHALLENGING TIMES

• Benestar (EAP) provide free, confidential coaching and counselling to staff and their immediate family

• Crisis support including additional paid leave, dinner vouchers and flexible work arrangements

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

• Health and Wellbeing Microsite provides information and resources to assist when ‘life happens’

• Free onsite health checks such as skin cancer checks

• Flexible work arrangements

• Use of the pool and gym

• Pilates, yoga classes and walking group

• Free annual flu shots and COVID boosters

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES

• Pymble Baby Bag with resources and goodies when new babies arrive

• ‘Keeping in Touch’ morning teas for staff on parental leave

• Win-win Parenting Program from toddlers to teens (Benestar)

• Breast feeding facilities

• Borrow books for your family from the College Library

We are serious about staff wellbeing

The wellbeing of leaders, staff and students are inextricably linked and constantly interacting. At Pymble we understand that staff wellbeing is built around four domains – physical, social, spiritual and psychological wellbeing. We work with staff through our Staff Wellbeing Committee, surveys and consultation to design and implement real-world solutions.

We seek to understand the challenges staff face at different stages in their lives and focus on things such as:

• providing programs and support that reflect the diversity of staff needs

• preventative health initiatives such as our on-site skin cancer, diabetes and heart health checks

• mental health and wellbeing with workshops

• a variety of staff social activities

• a staff book club

• yoga, pilates and a staff walking group

• supporting staff returning from parental leave

“Thank you for the gorgeous and very thoughtful Baby Bag goodies. I am overwhelmed by the kindness of this gesture.”

“I had my skin check yesterday – onsite and free! This is such a helpful initiative, keeping us healthy by making it easy.” – HEAD OF LEARNING AREA

– TEACHER

Juggling work and life

At Pymble, we understand that our families come in all shapes and sizes. We aim to support our staff who are parents as they juggle parenthood, wellbeing and work.

The best thing about being a dad is watching and helping two incredible little people become who they are.

As a father of two daughters, it’s great working at a school with such a fantastic culture where our students are empowered to be courageous and chase their dreams and aspirations.

Stay in the moment and don’t wish the crazy days away. They will definitely pass but so will the many wonderful experiences of growing with your child.

DR SARAH LOCH WITH LEO

GREG MEAGHER WITH KATE

DR ALAN ROME WITH ELIJAH AND HANNAH

Recognising our staff

Our staff recognition awards were first introduced in 2021. The L.O.V.E. Awards celebrate those staff who live our values everyday. They are open to all staff and celebrate the achievements of teachers, professional services, administration and cocurricular staff for their unique and diverse contributions.

These awards celebrate our quiet achievers and the unsung heroes that make Pymble such a special place to work. Nominations are made by our staff twice annually and winners receive a beautiful award and gift voucher.

Lauren Green, the head of our Health Care Centre, was recognised for her wonderful care of our students and staff when they are unwell or injured.

Flo Kwang, a key member of our Finance team, was recognised for her dedication, hard work and her passion for Pymble

Peter Ellis, Head of TAS was recognised for his selfless dedication to our students and his colleagues.

Claire Inchbold, Administrative Assistant (Junior School) brings a special kind of enthusiasm and exceptional value to the College.

“I was chuffed to receive a LOVE award. It’s a lovely initiative, a beautiful (and generous) award, and all gratefully received.”

BOARDING STAFF

Grant Jackson, Agricultural Co-ordinator was recognised as a quiet achiever who brings so much care and passion for our Cattle Program.

Why a girls’ school?

Our vision for our girls is they graduate as young women who are confident in their unique skills and personal qualities, ready to embrace the future and help change the world for good.

We build a culture where each girl is known, guided and challenged through a well-rounded education and equipped to pursue a bright and rewarding future.

The questions about where to teach, finding the right cultural fit and an environment which will allow you to grow as a professional are all really important. Some ask what makes a girls’

school different – what are the benefits to students and staff?

We believe that there are many benefits to single-sex education for girls.

These benefits include:

• Girls’ schools create a culture of strong academic achievement, and ultimately, better tertiary entrance scores.

• Girls in single-sex schools are better at STEM. They have more favourable attitudes towards STEMrelated subjects and are more likely to engage in higher level

mathematics, chemistry and physics.

• In all-girls schools, girls are better able to develop a positive selfimage. They are more likely to consider a wider variety of career choices and embrace competition.

• Girls in schools like Pymble are more likely to engage in a wider array of sporting activities, including sports traditionally considered masculine (such as rugby).

• Girls in all-girls schools are more aspirational, their voices are heard more readily and they are more motivated.

“We are often asked what makes Pymble so special. That’s easy, it’s our girls.”

DR KATE HADWEN

“Working in education means you are very close to touching the future. This is an important time in history and young women are shaping the world in a new direction.”

DIRECTOR, PYMBLE INSTITUTE

We are seeking exceptional people to join Pymble

Our Pymble family has deep expertise across a range of disciplines, vast experience in education and a passion for what we do. With more than 250 teachers, 180 professional and administration staff and 300-400 casual staff fueling our expansive co-curricular program, Pymble is where your career will be nurtured and enriched. Pymble recognises the quality and commitment of our staff by paying above enterprise agreement levels, providing flexible work options and competitive benefits. Further allowances are paid to our teaching staff for co-ordination and leadership responsibilities.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

General career enquiries: Please email us at careers@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

For a confidential conversation please contact:

Steve Dunk, Director of Staff: sdunk@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

Kate Rimer, Chief People and Culture Officer: krimer@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au

For further information: Visit our website pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/careers