Detail will be presented by your PPC Delegate at your term 4 PPC meeting but here are some highlights…

Simone Walker | Group Deputy Secretary:

Simone spoke of our focus for 2022 was to stay the course. She advised there won’t be radical change, the school success model is a massive leverage for the Department and will continue to be. How will schools be supported? Important things are on their way including the Inclusive and Restrictive piece and curriculum reform. Schools implement the things we know that need to be done.

Schools are achieving against existing targets despite the impact of Covid. Check in assessments and targets need further analysis. Contextual discussions on annual reflections will provide further information.

Murat Dizdar and Leanne Nixon | Deputy Secretaries:

Advised they’ve met with DELS and PSLs and have advised they focus on four things with Principals:

1. Navigate Covid.
2. Finish 2021 with a quality PDP
3. Work together on sighting students not returned to school since 25 October.
   Murat drew attention that the impact is on all students not just low SES communities. Staying the course is important.
4. Ensure Annual Reflection is ready

Murat communicated DEL PL was optional for the remainder of 2021, repeat opportunities will be available for 2022.

Rapid Antigen Home Testing | Murat Dizdar | Deputy Secretary:

Murat acknowledged the schools where they have piloted and are learning, it is not a screening device. It goes into action if there is a positive case in a school and the DoE works with you, goes to close contacts, communication |an app for parents is ready. Feedback from the pilot schools has been very positive. The parents have the responsibility – it is optional.

High Potential and Gifted Education | Ruth Owen | Deputy Secretary:

Ruth clarified the policy and the work that goes into schools continues, including professional learning. It is about deployment of resources. The HPGE team has been absorbed by other teams. Ruth asked we not read that it is not important, it is, it is linked to the management of resources. It will move into curriculum.

The HPGE pilot has come to a halt and instead online PL and support packages have been put into place. I expressed my concerned that these students’ learning, like all students needs to be personalised and supported. Ruth responded that there was, quality PL available, wants people to do it and then if more is needed then come back to her. Ruth agrees with me about the learning styles of these identified students. I commented about these students sitting in all our schools and the need to cater for their learning was dependent on the skill and expertise of the staff – to do that the system needs to ensure the resourcing is available and the mechanism for support is provided. Leanne Nixon added there is a need for it to be strongly connected to curriculum to get the traction. The new curriculum is a lever to focus on the full range of students.

David Withey | Deputy Secretary:

How many carry forward exceptions have you got, chances of being approved, what will the money be used for?
381 applications for exceptional carry forward. Currently working through the applications now. The policy is set, money needs to be spent in the year. Will reflect when they have more information.

Any money that is recaptured will be used to reinvest in the second half of the year in the education system.

There is no denying the complexity of the Principal role, the workload and complexity of schools and communities. Director PSL support is not repeated in any jurisdiction in the country. Peer Principal support is crucial. $52 million in the SBAR for Principal Support.

Sue French Director | SLI is working on NSW Principal Wellbeing Framework, it’s the first of its kind. Completed first round, ready for consultation. A Literature Review has been completed to date. The framework will guide the actions needed. Reducing administrative burden is a focus.

Term 1 landscape ready to be released (Master Schedule), however, they are ensuring that it is front and centre and not overloaded.

Teacher Supply Strategy | Mark Barrakat and Leah Anderson | Human Resources:

3 goals:

• overall supply, more teachers to train in target areas, targeted teachers for areas where needed.
• attraction to teaching – research on why people teach - improve perception and promote impact on students. Faststream – attract and retrain future school leaders. 50 already in place.
• casual workforce – casual supplementation pilot. Hire teachers to support schools that are hard to staff. Mid-career – attract those outside with high skills, attract to teaching to retrain for areas of need.

Hon Sarah Mitchell| Minister of Education:

Thanks to all Principals and acknowledgement of the workload.

School Success Model – better implementation in 2022, giving support to schools that need it. More time for teaching and leading – exciting opportunities and what everyone wants. Shared accountability and responsibility across system. High expectations of corporate staff to support schools

K-2 Syllabuses – launch this week. Exciting work for next year. Online resources have been well received. APCI model to support implementation. Resource hubs.
Despite challenges of 2021 some exciting reform going forward.

Grateful to principals and PPA for input. Minister is proud of Principals and schools for their work, particularly this year.

Georgina Harrisson | Secretary of Education:

Acknowledge the work Principals Staff and schools have done. Thanked Principals for their leadership. Spoke about the support for students and communities has been exceptional especially those in continual lockdown.

Expressed the need for the workforce to relax and recover before the start of the 2022 school year. She explained the increasing focus and pressures due to elections.