You would have all received an email from your local PPC President and probably a call discussing the issue from a retired principal. The SPC, Federation and PPA needed to raise your awareness of possibilities related to what we are hearing & seeing.

The Latham Manifesto “Measurement & Outcomes Based Funding in NSW Schools” was the first hint:

• Recommendation 13: That the Government acknowledge that financial incentives have an important role to play in lifting school performance; and that under the Resource Allocation Model (RAM) funding principles, the best way of meeting school needs is through improved outcomes
• Recommendation 25: That the Government place school principals on performance-based contracts with significantly increased salaries. Performance measures should be based on the effective use of evidence and data, and achievement of high-level school results (measured primarily by value adding). Successful principals would receive performance bonuses; failing principals the termination of their contracts. The new system should also be used to meet Minister Mitchell’s goal of giving “incentives to our best principals to take up jobs in our most challenging schools”.
• Recommendation 56: That the Government establish a trial program for the recruitment of school principals from outside the teaching profession: leaders with a track record of workplace success and strategic insight. Under this program, employment would be through performance-based contracts, with financial bonuses for improved school results (and obvious sanctions for failure).

In the Government’s response to Prof Geoff Masters’ Review of the NSW Curriculum “Nurturing Wonder & Igniting Passion” there was a section on strengthening the quality of our school leaders p24 “New principal performance management approaches will be piloted this year, drawing from international best practice to link evidence that supports improved assessment and management of performance.”

Our aim has been to highlight that there are discussions happening in this space and we need to be vigilant and prepared for action.