Teaching at NGC

Teaching at New Generation College is a different experience because the College makes a serious obligation to allow teachers to concentrate on their teaching. Expectations are high and teachers are required to be committed to their craft: in return the College is committed to support them.

Because of the College has only senior classes and adopts a university style, there are no formal pastoral care responsibilities and no roll-calls, no formal yard duties, no sport or other extra-curricular activities and no uniform. Naturally, individual teachers are required to maintain class rolls and to care for the welfare of their students. Pastoral care is maintained in a collegial way, with staff discussing the progress of students and implementing strategies when required.

Students have small-class tutoring in four subjects out-of-hours: two hours per week per subject at Year 11 and two-and-a-half hours per week per subject at Year 12. The tutors are experienced teachers and liaison with the tutor is desirable.

Another effect of the College's unique approach is that there are no parent-teacher evenings. The College consistently places the responsibility for every student's progress with that student so all discussion of progress is with the student: it is expected that students discuss matters with their parents. The College reports to parents – in a simple, one-page format -twice yearly but these reports are prepared by the administration (obviously from results and comments made by staff).

Staff meetings are another distraction from teaching and, as far as possible, the College avoids unnecessary meetings. There is a staff day at the start of each term with a staff meeting. Our practice has been that these meetings run for less than two hours. It has also been our practice to have no after-hours meetings. Rarely, a brief lunchtime meeting has been necessary. While these practices are not a condition of employment and cannot be guaranteed, they demonstrate the College's firm promise to its teachers that there will be as few distractions as possible.

Teachers are not required to be on campus when they are not teaching. As there are no formal duties (like roll calls or pastoral care groups) or morning meetings, there is no need to be in at the start of the day unless a teacher is teaching the first period. Additionally, as there are only senior students, formal classes end after the examination period in November. Teachers are encouraged to be involved in VCAA marking in their disciplines.