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As the 2020 school year closes it is timely to reflect on the year that it has been. Our year opened with drought, bushfires and floods and then the COVID 19 pandemic stuck the world.
We as school leaders have continued to hold each and every student at the heart of what we do in our schools. The students across NSW are our reason. The work of the Association is to LEAD, SUPPORT, ADVOCATE and EMPOWER school leaders in NSW. We have initiated and sought opportunities to work at the ground level with the Minister of Education Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, Executive Directors, Directors Educational Leadership, PSL’s and colleague Principals.
Our work with senior Departmental Officers is valued and appreciated – authentic collaboration, human and physical resourcing and efficient systems shape our future. It is time to back the profession in to achieve the aspirant and achievable goals and priorities the system has set.
To capture 2020 and the exponential effort and action taken is incredibly difficult. Yet, WE made it happen and WE responded to EVERY initiative and recommendation - even when they changed daily… if we heard once, we heard a million times the catch cry of 2020 – ‘you’re on mute’. We also learnt a different way of operating as a system and also as schools. YOU have been the difference this year – I commend and applaud each and every one of you – be PROUD and walk knowing you matter, you are valued and TOGETHER we have kept our school communities – students, staff, parents and carers safe and calm. Leaders in schools have enable the rest of the economy to operate. You have enabled parents and carers to continue their employment when they needed to work most. Never lose sight of the significance of that in itself.
cheers
rob
Welcome to the Principalship
On behalf of the NSW Primary Principalship, I warmly welcome newly appointed Principals across New South Wales. Our role is increasingly significant and you are stepping into a role that shapes and leads communities of practice. The NSWPPA Executive and I look forward to meeting you at PPC meetings and conferences during 2021.
I encourage you to prioritise your attendance at PPC meetings each term and to connect with your colleagues. Together we can achieve so much more. Working in collaboration with our leadership teams and staff and those of neighbouring schools reaps reward.
Congratulations and welcome to the Principalship !
Rebecca Ingram | Peakhurst West PS |
Michael Duffy | Miranda PS |
Andrea Dziubinski | Ebenezer PS |
Megan Bobbin | Tathra PS |
Catherine Flamos | Campbelltown PS |
Patricia Webb | Alma PS |
Kate Hogg | Burke Ward PS |
Anthony Leary | Junee PS |
Cameron Jones | Roselea PS |
Larissa Maraga | Quakers Hill East PS |
Tanya Black | Athelstane PS |
Melissa Vallorani | William Stimson PS |
Term 4 State Council Meeting
Your delegates will have shared the reports from Georgina Harrison – Group Deputy Secretary, Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC - Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Mark Scott- Secretary, Jane Simmons - A/Deputy Secretary Learning Improvement, Lisa Alonso Love – Relieving Chief People Officer, Gerard Giesekam - Chief Finance Officer, Vanessa Felton - Director Finance Excellence and Jess Horn - Manager Finance at your Term 4 PPC meeting.
These meetings each term provide you with the most current and relevant messages from our senior DoE personnel. I encourage you to engage in robust conversation at your PPC Meetings so your delegate can feed forward your thinking and contextual issues to our DOE colleagues.
We have our fingers crossed our Term 1 2021 meeting will be held face to face. Speaker summaries and details are available on the NSWPPA website.
Retired Principals Celebration
It was such a privilege to attend the Association of Retired Principals celebrations recently. Our retired Principal colleagues gathered at the Epping Club to celebrate the year that has been. It was something rather special to be in the room with esteemed colleagues including Heather Causley (Yarrawarrah PS) and Ray Causley (Laguna Street PS) – high profile and much respected and loved Principals in the Sutherland Shire. As a beginning Executive, I was in awe of the leadership these two Principals took. Talking to many retired Principals in the room, they continue their work in schools and for charities, some sharing their travel adventures, spending time with their families and grandchildren as well as others significantly contributing to professional learning and leadership in their retirement. I was of course hearing a lot about those that were quite handy on the golf course!!
Trish Peters Principal Kincumber PS and Vice President NSWPPA will commence as the Executive Liaison to the Association of the Retired Primary Principals. We look forward to working with you in 2021.
Carry Forward Policy
A new ‘carry forward’ policy will be implemented in 2021. The key message of the policy is that government funds must be spent on students in the year it is provided.
The policy applies to funds in the 6100 fund code only. At the end of the 2021 schools will only be able to carry forward a small contingency amount into 2022. Additional funds will be returned to central funds. More details will be provided when the policy is released in term one 2021.
Schools will be able to apply to carry forward larger amounts for specific projects such as photocopier replacement, capital works, ride-on mower replacement.
Schools that carry forward 6100 funds at the end of 2020 will have those funds transferred to a new fund code 6101. Schools will then have four years to spend the money in 6101.
Funds remaining in 6101 at the end of 2024 will be returned to central funds.
School Success Model
The NSWPPA responded strongly when the media splashed their reports across the front pages of their papers about the School Success Model. We have had phone conversations and this week we have meetings with the Senior DoE Executive to discuss the matter further. Principals have NOT failed.
Key points we have raised include:
- Our public schools have become increasingly complex places serving increasingly complex communities and meeting the academic. Social and emotional needs of our student enrolments.
- Principals have been very clear in articulating to the Department both individually and through the NSWPPA State Executive the additional support and resources required in schools. We have time and time again advocated and provided clear communication about the need for curriculum consultancy services, additional counselling services and efficient and fit for purpose technology - administration and finance systems in schools.
- The School Success Model has no research evidence base and in fact ignores a range of research from international experts like Pasi Sahlberg and Michael Fullan. It also ignores the myriad of factors outside the school control that impact on student learning.
- NSW Schools already have extraordinary levels of accountability. We annually self-assess and report on progress using a range of frameworks including the Teaching Standards and School Excellence Framework which is externally validated by an expert panel – External Validation every 4 years.
- Student attendance, literacy, numeracy and wellbeing data, as well as finance and HR data, is utilised by school leaders and monitored centrally through the SCOUT system. SCOUT has only recently become sophisticated and powerful enough to triangulate data to inform evaluations and planning.
- There is a natural implementation dip with any new reform and the implementation dip of LSLD was vastly exacerbated by inadequate systems, resourcing and financial management tools. The dip was further compounded by the stripping out of curriculum support structures that coincided with new syllabuses being released.
- At the end of a year when front line school based staff have faced fires, floods, droughts and a pandemic showing extraordinary leadership, stoicism, care and compassion; the announcement and negative media coverage certain was demoralising. The timing of the release of the announcement was appalling. Every teacher and every principal focuses on student improvement. They work within the resourcing and systems provided by the Government. They step up and network with colleagues and communities of practice to close the gaps and lift performance. Seemingly, the deficits lay with the system for the lack of effective provision to do so.
- The School Success Model was unpacked in a a number of meeting with the NSWPPA Executive with Murat Dizdar and Sally Blackadder where we were told plans replacing LSLD. It was in those meetings was that Exemplar Schools would now be called Ambassador Schools.
School Excellence in Action
The PPA Executive on the School Excellence Advisory Group have continued to work on refining school planning, annual reporting and external validation tools and processes.
This is the core business of our schools and must remain the priority as we move forward. We have been successful in providing strong advocacy to keep other changes on hold to allow Principals to focus on our core business.
2021 PPC Meetings and Liaisons
During 2021 I look forward to joining you at your PPC Meetings and conferences. Please forward lisa.beare@det.nsw.edu.au your dates and invitation to attend your meetings/conferences. I will be accompanied by the Executive Liaison for your Regional Area.
Areas:
Hunter/ Central Coast | Norma Petrocco |
Illawarra/ South East Area | Gregory Grinham |
New England | Michael Trist |
North Coast | Stuart Wylie |
North Sydney | Rob Walker |
Riverina | Greg Mc Laren |
South West Sydney | Trish Peters |
Sydney | Jude Hayman |
Western NSW | Bob Willetts |
Western Sydney | Michael Burgess |
Corporate Sponsors and Business Partners
A special thank you to our Corporate Partners – Teachers Mutual Bank, Sentral Education, Dance Fever Multi Sport and The School Photographer as well as our Business Partners Academy, Berry Street Educational Model, eBoard, Life Skills, MSP Photography, Sport in Schools Australia, Training 24/7, TeethNSmiles and Your OSHC – Camp Australia. Your support of the Association and in our schools is very much appreciated. We look forward to a new year where we can collaborate with you further and meet with you all personally to strengthen our future partnerships in education.
T’is the season…
Thank you for your extraordinary leadership this year colleagues – I, along with the State Executive - Rob Walker, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Jude Hayman, Trish Peters, Norma Petrocco, Michael Trist, Stuart Wylie, Greg Mc Laren, Gregory Grinham, Mark Pritchard and Lisa Beare applaud you for your resilience, support, courage, responsiveness, positivity, agility, kindness and superb commitment to Public Education during 2020.
YOU have led your communities with your leadership teams and staff to ensure every other profession could continue with theirs. You took care of your staff, your students and your community to ensure safety and care during the COVID 19 pandemic. Pandemic aside, you have individually and collectively led brilliantly. I acknowledge and feel the toll this year has taken – WE ARE exhausted – WE DID OUR JOB – in fact we went above and beyond and opened our school doors every day.
My festive season wish for you all is that you prioritise yourselves and spend treasured time with your family and friends. Rest, relax, recover and reenergise – it is time to take care of yourself. YOU MATTER. Close the door on your school this week and step away.
We look forward to working with you and catching up with you in person at your 2021 at your PPC Meetings and Conferences.
Have a wonderful summer break everyone and enjoy the festive season -…I thank you for the extraordinary work you have done in your school this year. Take care of yourself and each other.
Put the NSWPPA mobile phone number in your contacts – I am just a text or a call away.
m: 0429 547 619
Enjoy the festivities over the next few weeks
Cheers
rob
From Deputy President Rob Walker
Consultation is not negotiation
Over the last 12 months a review has been conducted into the operation of special education class placement panels across the state. There has been a lot of information gathered about the processes being employed in each area. It was found there was considerable disparity around the state as to how the panels were operating. A state office team has looked at the variations in practice, trialled some new routines, and settled on a new way forward.
Our Disability Programs Reference Group has been consulted and kept informed of some developments in the process, primarily how the principal representatives on the panels were determined. The group were disappointed to have been kept out of the loop on the remainder of the processes.
When presented with the proposed new routines, we could see improvements in the process and overall it appears the process refinements will be positive. Once aspect the group did not agree with was the move to having principal of the student being nominated for a special class being the person responsible for advising the outcomes of the decision of the placement panel. While there have been a small number of schools involved in the practice to date, following a survey by the NSWPPA Disability Program RG, it was found that 94% of principals were opposed the nominating school principal being specified as the person to provide this advice.
There were a number of reasons for this including potential damage to relationships between school and family in what is often an already sensitive time for families, a break from departmental policy on the convenor of a panel being the person responsible for providing panel feedback, and the failure to recognise workload issues we are already experiencing at the school level. It is notable that an additional clerical position is being established to support the work of each panel in the relevant DoE office. DoE senior management felt the principal was best placed to support the families at the time of the decision being advised. DPRG and State Executive escalated the matter with the relevant Executive Director, Deputy Secretary and the Secretary. The Secretary advised he would look further into the concern raised but the procedures have now been distributed unchanged.
The new processes commence from the beginning of 2021 and will be accompanied by a feedback process for everyone involved to indicate how the new processes are working for them.
Celebrations at Term 4 State Council – Delivery on the Association’s Priorities during 2020
Our Priorities for 2020:
- Principal Wellbeing
- The Principal in a Changing Environment
- Learning and Quality Teaching
- Communication
- School Operations
An interesting and happy part of Term 4 State Council was a ‘round the table’ report back from the Chairs of our reference groups and standing committees on the progress on the achievement of the Associations goals by each group. Despite a year loaded with debilitating conditions the achievements of the groups have continued unrelenting. When compiled, the achievements were able to be shared in a 37 slide powerpoint, so too much information to share here (the powerpoint is on the website in the State Council materials area).
A few notables:
Annual Conference - Chair: Kylie Donovan
A high quality and engaging virtual state conference which saw more than a 50% increase in the number of members able to access the conference.
Rural Education - Chair: Steven De Roos
A strengthening of relations with ITD leading to innovative solutions to issues presenting for rural schools.
Communications and Engagement - Chair: David Munday
Vast input in the planning of Education Week 2020 and advocacy surrounding app trials, the attendance portal, the digital strategy, the school website service and Schoolbiz 2.0.
School Viability and Education Provision - Chair: Grant Schaefer
Continued support to colleagues regarding school closure, amalgamation, recess or consideration of alternate educational provision coupled with a strengthening of the knowledge of the protocols from DEL through to Deputy Secretary level.
Human Resources - Chair: Glenn Walker then Skye Seymour
Strong advocacy on all matters staffing and in particular with respect to the design of the Human Capital Management solution and the process which sit around HCM.
Aboriginal Education - Chair: Paul Byrne
Establishment of collegial networks building strength in our provision of Aboriginal Education; liaison with the School Leadership Institute regarding support for Aboriginal teachers and school leaders; significant contributions to the state virtual Aboriginal Education staff room; assistance in the shaping of the Aboriginal Education component of the DoE Leadership Credential.
Disability Programs - Chair: Graeme McLeod
Advice and advocacy relation to the Inclusive Education Statement and Draft Policy, Restrictive Practices Draft Framework, Specialist support for complex behaviour and the Behaviour Strategy, the Disability Royal Commission, the Disability Criteria Review, Special Education Class Placement Panels, Integration Funding Support processes, and Vision and Hearing Support.
Principal Support - R/Chair: Grace Palamara
Issues included workload, ineffective communication and consultation with Principals, the role of the DEL and the inconsistencies in their operation that impact on Principals and in 2020 the extraordinary issues that resulted from Covid-19; liaison and work with the Association’s Professional Support Officers and the increasing numbers of cases in which they are involved; supporting the provision of professional learning opportunities which provide Principals with the tools to manage their wellbeing; advocacy relating to the School Community Charter; follow up on the implications of the Phil Riley research on Principal Wellbeing.
Curriculum - Chair: Norma Petrocco
Advocacy regarding the Masters Curriculum Review and NESA and DoE subsequent support; submission and evidence presented to the NSW Legislative Council review of the Masters Review, Early Action for Success; significant progress on the provisions for EAL/D students.
Assessment, Planning & Accountability - Chair: Scott Sanford
Advocacy relating to the School Excellence in Action strategy, including the situational analysis, SPARO software school planning and annual report components, the External Validation process; the Masters Curriculum Review, the NSW Phonics Check, advice regarding reporting to parents during the COVID period, the work of the NAPLAN review committee, SCOUT enhancements, and advice to CESE regarding professional learning relating to What Works Best.
Technology - Chair: Drew Janetzki
Advocacy relating to technology innovation which leads to reduction of administrative workload; identification of schools involved in UAT; emerging tools suitable for use in the school; involvement in numerous DoE project control groups, and responses to numerous technological issues brought forward by members.
Finance and Administration - Chair: Karen Mortimer
Advocacy relating to the Carry Forward Policy, Finance reports at the school level, Scout reports, EFPT improvements, the student finance project, the office furniture agreement, procurement solutions, utilities funding, HCM project, DEL financial skills and shoulder to shoulder support for principals.
Teaching Principals - Chair: Bek Zadow
A significant improvement in liaison with the NSWTF on matters impacting small schools. Advocacy relating to the HCM project, the Rural and Remote Leadership Development Program. Resolution of 137 issues raised by members through 2020 relating to classification, working conditions and systems issues impacting on small schools.
From our Professional Learning Officer - Margaret Charlton
Transition of our professional learning programs to Zoom format for 2020. Professional learning for 464 school leaders during 2020. Delivery of the Principal Credential, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Leading at the Speed of Trust, and Flourish - all with evaluations strongly recommending ongoing provision and encouragement to colleagues to take up the professional learning.
From our Professional Support Officers - Wendy Buckley & Geoff Scott, recently joined by Phil Seymour
Individual confidential support ranging from telephone conversations, referrals to appropriate support sources, meetings with Principals, representations and advocacy to DoE senior officers and on-site visits. Support to members where complaints and allegations are directed at Principals, whether managed by DELs or PES (formerly EPAC). Encouragement to Area Council leadership to maintain contact, particularly with colleagues that regularly miss PPC meetings.
From Deputy President Bob Willetts
PPA Priorities 2021-2022
The Executive have been working on our future priorities following significant input from all PPC Delegates and Chairpersons at our Term 4 State Council Meeting.
Whilst our association will continue to cover the whole field of issues in public education, the top seven issues identified in State Council were:
- Principal Wellbeing
- Student Wellbeing (Mental Health)
- Principal Classification
- Curriculum
- Staffing Entitlemet
- Disability Support
- Leadership
We will continue to pull our priorities together whilst continuing to have a positive impact on each and every area of education through our vision of SUPPORT, EMPOWER, ADVOCATE and LEAD.
Curriculum Review
The Parliamentary Inquiry into the curriculum review has concluded with the NSWPPA providing written advice, giving evidence in Parliamentary hearings, and answering supplementary questions.
Many thanks to Norma Petrocco for her outstanding work throughout this process.
We will continue to work with NESA and the Department on the curriculum reform at every possible opportunity.
The full transcripts of the parliamentary inquiry hearings are found in the link below:
NSWPPA and NSWDoE hearings were on the 4th November 2020.
Professor Geoff Masters hearing was on 30th November 2020.
Principal Wellbeing
We all deserve badge “I survived 2020”.
Congratulations to everyone for leading your school communities and teams through the most extraordinary year.
Your passion, courage, commitment, dedication, support, empathy and overarching leadership and management skills have held public education, and to a large degree the social fabric of our communities together.
Life Saving 101 – Put up your hand and ask for help early
Our Principal Support Officers, Wendy Buckley, Geoff Scott and Phil Seymour have provided outstanding support for our colleagues facing the most challenging situations in their schools.
As we move into 2021 their strongest advice is to seek support and advice from colleagues early.
The most effective Principals are the ones who have strong collegial networks in their PPCs and are leveraging them to the full extent and seek support early when it all hits the fan.
“Principals don’t have a resilience problem, they have a RECOVERY” problem” (Dr Adam Fraser – Flourish Research)
We ALL must practice self-care in order to be able to lead our schools effectively for long term.
The NSWPPA sessions on self-care and recovery strategies have PROVEN to be highly effective for those who make it a priority, a “Big Rock”.
We ALL must take a significant break over the Christmas holidays to relax, recharge and recover physically, mentally and emotionally. Please take the time to do whatever you need to do for yourself to make that happen.
NSW Premier’s Sporting Challenge 2020 – Peter Banks – Leader School Sport Unit
During 2020, the NSW Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) team worked with a range of stakeholders to design and implement strategies and programs to support schools in encouraging daily participation in physical activity. The significant challenges presented by COVID-19 and its impact on the daily operations in NSW schools required processes and procedures to be done differently. As a result, the PSC team developed a suite of strategies to support physical activity both in schools and in the home.
GetActive@Home is a digital online program, which was developed to support primary school staff, parents and students during the period of home learning. The program to date, has had over 40,000 views. It includes a series of presenter-led episodes that take students through the learning of specific techniques to perform a range of foundational movement skills. It also includes other resources such as lesson guides, assessment proformas and tracking cards. These resources can be accessed on the School Sport Unit website. Teachers are encouraged to continue utilising the program to support the teaching of Physical Education and as an option for classroom energisers or active homework.
Race Around Australia (RAA) is a virtual physical activity challenge that supports participation in daily physical activity in NSW schools. The program was to be piloted in 2020 to a small group of schools. However due to COVID-19, the pilot size was increased to provide more schools with the opportunity. RAA was piloted in 46 schools and 46 corporate department office teams, totalling 4,300 participants. These schools and teams raced around a virtual map of Australia, clocking up RAA kilometres from their daily activity. Along the way, participants’ unlocked content blogs aligned to curriculum key learning areas and also received personal achievement badges. The review of this pilot challenge has shown very positive results, such as increased physical activity time across the week for most participants and specifically for students, improved on-task behaviour in the classroom. The most exciting outcome is that students have continued to ask their teachers when they can take part again. This challenge will be offered to all Department of Education schools in 2021.
The PSC team was delighted to see that overall participation in the PSC 10 week Challenge exceeded 2019 and saw significant increases in staff and secondary student participants. Existing resources were amended to be more accessible for online learning and some new resources were developed. The PSC Tracker app was adapted to be accessible on any device so that activity can be tracked online. A series of activity cards were developed to provide teachers and students with quality options to engage in various skill-based and foundational movement activities whilst at school and at home. New digital and editable logbooks were created, so teachers could share with their students through online learning at home. New PSC@Home certificates were also created, so parents and carers could recognise their children for their efforts in completing their physical activity.
The traditional face-to-face nature of professional learning also had to be considered during 2020. The School Sport Unit worked with various partners to develop online courses to support remote and self-paced learning. Delivery through webinar was also trialled for some courses. These included support for school leaders to implement the 2021-2024 School Excellence Cycle, Meet Manager Online and Burn2Learn. These new developments allowed teachers from all over NSW to access the learning opportunities and have been considered highly successful. This type of course delivery will be further explored throughout 2021, with courses such as Thinking While Moving and Games-Based Learning currently being developed.