Filter Content
- President’s Report
- A Tale of School Buildings:
- TPMI – Teacher Performance, Management & Improvement Project
- NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Over-Crowded Curriculum
- Pre-2004 funding
- Submission to NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) on the future of A-E reporting:
- Local Schools, Local Decisions 2020+
- Merit Selection
- Art of Leadership 2018
- Principal Well-being Policy Framework
- Expansion of Primary Staffing Codes
- NSWPPA Website:
- LEAP 2018 International Peer-Shadowing Primary Principal Opportunities
- Meetings:
- Literacy & Numeracy Strategy
- Wagga Start Up Conference
- New HR Payroll System
- Flourish
- The National Scene – APPA
- Schoolzine
Welcome back to the 2018 school year after hopefully a great Christmas break. This year promises to again be a busy and interesting year.
We all hope that you got those magic enrolments that got you across the line and all your classes settled early with very few parent “inquiries”.
We started the year off with controversy surrounding the demise of Reading Recovery and then there was the issue of schools not having their demountables ready to start the school year. We also had some great “building” stories with Artarmon PS opening up their 21 new classrooms, Wentworth Point PS opening and Ultimo PS moving across the road to a new “pop up school”. Wentworth Point PS and Ultimo PS feature later in this Newsletter.
This term some crunch activities need to be done ….uploading your budget and completing the Annual Report. – let’s hope it all goes well for you. We will soon hear what we are required to do for the A-Z tool & I’ve heard there will be some schools followed up by their Directors as they haven’t completed their 2016 &/ or 2017 A-Z uploads.
As usual this Newsletter has a great variety of news from schools, PPA and the Department has also some featured updates.
Disappointingly 6 demountables weren’t in place for the start of school at Carlingford West PS and according to the media they weren’t the only schools who had a difficult start to the school year. Just very frustrating for the school communities & it does nothing for the image of Public Education. Executive will be discussing this
However on a much brighter note there were some good news stories with the students at Artarmon PS moving into 21 new classrooms and reclaiming some of their playground. There are some great new facilities & even some “grassy mounds” for the classrooms!!
Ultimo PS is a school on the move. Situated close to the inner city, the site had reached its capacity and there was an identified need for more space and increasing its capacity to take up to 800 students. Across the road from the school is Wentworth Park & a “pop up” school was established whilst the original site will be modified. Principal Nic Accaria provided this great look at his temporary school.
Wentworth Park PS, is a brand-new school opened up in the growth area near Homebush on the Parramatta River. Principal Rose Manousaridis provided this information:
Recently when I was bemoaning that I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, John Goh provided me with some salient advice and that was to keep chewing, because eventually it will taste good. I’m chewing like mad….
Wentworth Point Public School is a stunningly beautiful school, overlooking the Parramatta River, located in a very densely populated developing suburb, Wentworth Point in Olympic Park. It has been designed purposefully to accommodate Futures Learning pedagogy and has 18 Homebases including 4 Homebases for Au/IO and Au students, 4 Special Programs rooms, a larger COLA, and a hall. The school also has a Learning Resource Hub (Library) which extends across three levels and which is inviting us to think of innovative ways we will utilise this area as it is extremely unique. The school is also fitted with flexible furniture which can be accommodated to the learning needs of the children.
The ups:
- Ambiguity, uncertainty and unpredictability can be really energising and bring out the best in us. I have become a lot more flexible as a result.
- Teaching and learning in a magnificent building, with amazing views, spaces and furniture (we have a lot to learn about how to make it work for children and teachers). And no, my office does not have a view of the river it has a view of the IGA Market Cellarbrations sign which is quite ironic as I do not drink alcohol, but things might change!!!
- Leading the branding process, including the development of the logo, motto and the school uniform was really exciting and allowed me to express my creative side which had been in hibernation.
- Getting straight into creating what we know will work for children, staff and the community without having to concern ourselves with reshaping an existing culture.
- A fabulous community who are really excited that the school has opened.
- A very supportive Director in Kathy Powzun.
The downs:
- Ambiguity, uncertainty and unpredictability can be really terrifying and bring out the worst in us.
- Working continuously through Spring and Summer breaks because of the tight time frame and not getting access to the school until the 18th of January. Huge thanks to Stacey Furner who kindly gave me an office next to hers for term 4 and provided me with space to conduct lots of parent forums and K orientation sessions.
- Trying to get answers from many people was extremely and continues to be extremely time consuming. I remind myself that everyone is learning.
- Not being able to provide transition programs for our children in the Support Unit.
Thank you family, friends, colleagues, Dr Glasser, Fitness First, my meditation stool and Boris my Siberian cat. All visitors welcome. Tours are on every Thursday 3.30 – 4.00. Please email me rose.manousaridis@det.nsw.edu.au Please follow us on Facebook.
TPMI – Teacher Performance, Management & Improvement Project
I attended workshops with the two Teams [Ultimo & Tamworth] in the first week of school. I discussed the shoulder-to-shoulder support that primary principals required when involved in these Improvement Programs. I re-iterated the special need to support principals as there is always collateral damage, particularly in smaller communities. This initiative, as part of the Leadership Strategy, will be closely watched & hopefully extended state wide.
NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Over-Crowded Curriculum
NSWPPA members have consistently voiced concern surrounding the volume of content in the specified curricula and the extent of overcrowding in the amount of teaching time allocated to each Key Learning Area.
The Australian Primary Principals Association research on how well primary schools felt they were placed to deliver the Australian Curriculum showed that principals are deeply concerned. Asked whether they were able to implement the subjects in the primary curriculum within 80% of the school day, as ACARA suggests should be possible, over 88% said ‘No’ and 83% said they did not have the fiscal resources to do so. Over 64% said they could not deliver all five Arts strands.
To address these concerns, the NSWPPA has engaged with NESA on this issue during a recent forum, comprising senior Department of Education officers, Catholic and Independent leaders. Your Association robustly advocated for:
- being clear about which subjects should be mandatory and which should be optional or at school discretion;
- reducing the number of content descriptions to the number that can realistically be taught and learned in depth, in a classroom, in the time available;
- giving priority to literacy and numeracy throughout the school curriculum;
- clear and unambiguous communication to system leaders and politicians that media announcements on additions to the curriculum come at price to core learnings;
- recognition that Languages can only be taught effectively in primary schools if there is a qualified teacher available, if adequate time is available, and if the language can be maintained for a period of years; and
- high quality face to face professional learning.
This will be an ongoing process in 2018.
Over 60,000 pre-2004 teachers received Proficient Teacher accreditation from 1 January 2018. Significant software issues have not made this a smooth transition. The NSWPPA has sought to address three areas of concern with NESA regarding this process.
Firstly, the review of BOSTES, (2016) clearly articulated the need for additional consultancy primary support. Over 12 months ago NSWPPA provided a detailed submission on the nature and scope of this resourcing without response. This will continue to be high on our agenda.
Secondly, the significant increase in funding to NESA provides the opportunity for the development of high quality professional learning support for primary schools. To date, no consultation has occurred on the development of a coherent plan on how the “$100” per 60, 000 teachers will be spent.
Thirdly, the NSWPPA, Catholic and Independent Principals Associations have universally received representation from their respective memberships at the failure of principals to be recognised at the Principal Standard. Representation by all three Associations will shortly occur at the highest political level to address members concerns.
Art of Leadership
Due to strong demand a second Art of Leadership Course has been set up at Rooty Hill.
The course dates are November 19-21 2018 and 20-22 March 2019 . To register follow the link below
Submission to NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) on the future of A-E reporting:
The standardized A to E grading system was introduced by the State Government in 2006. Research indicates that the allocation of A-E grade varies widely and is often used to show effort rather than performance. Inconsistencies are systematically embedded across grades, stages and schools and jurisdictions. The NSWPPA stakeholders throughout schools have voiced the need for greater professional learning regarding consistency in assessment, evaluation, and reporting practices.
The NSWPPA has found that the mandatory use A to E grades in schools has not served schools, parents/carers, teachers or students well. New technologies and national resources have made this reporting scale outdated and no longer meeting the learning needs of students.
Therefore, shortly the NSWPPA will formally request NESA to review how student learning outcomes are reported and recommends to the Minister the abandonment of A-E grading in favour of an individual growth model that focuses on cumulative progress, advice on next steps and future learning strategies.
Local Schools, Local Decisions 2020+
In 2012, the DoE launched the Local Schools, Local Decisions (LSLD) education reform. The original intent of LSLD was to give NSW public schools more authority to make local decisions about how best to meet the needs of their students.
The Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) is conducting an evaluation of LSLD. This evaluation began in mid-2016 and will conclude in mid-2019. The evaluation includes a process evaluation that investigates the implementation of LSLD, and an outcome evaluation focussing on the impact of the reform on school and student outcomes.
By the end of 2018, the Local Schools, Local Decisions Unit within the department will close. The NSWPPA will be working closely with members over the coming months to begin drafting our preferred position on what “Local Schools, Local Decisions Mark 2” may look like.
Merit Selection procedures have mostly remained unchanged for more than twenty years. Recently, members will be well aware of this Association’s grave concerns about the ongoing “Bulk Principals Recruitment Process”. Last year the Federation repeated its long-held view that existing selection processes are inadequate and advocated for significant reform of the current promotions system.
While this trial had significant issues for us, it did provide an opportunity to reflect on the shortcomings of the current Merit Selection process, some of these include:
- the research showing that the traditional interview processes has a low predictor of future work performance. Predictive validity increases when multiple assessments are used.
- Merit selection is not related to the standards.
- Data highlights the low level of applications to principal / executive positions.
- At 60% + the proportion of internal appointments is so high as to indicate that the process tends to favour internal applicants. Capability based assessment will help optimise equity and quality of appointment.
- Recruitment reform could facilitate increased principal mobility limited by current classification structures.
The NSWPPA agrees with the Federation that applicants should meet a standard for promotion at that level in the state-wide system, and that this should be a prerequisite for proceeding to local selection at the school level.
Therefore, the NSWPPA will be engaged around proactive work to provide a new approach to recruitment that ensures consistency, merit and fairness.
Our first Art of Leadership course started in the January holidays with a large group of excited educators taking advantage of their break time.
Principal Well-being Policy Framework
Principal wellbeing remains the NSWPPA’s highest priority.
Our key focus area for 2018 is the creation by the NSW Department of Education of a best practice policy framework for developing and implementing workplace health and wellbeing programs especially for Principals. Meetings have been held with WH& S and are planned with the Presidents of SPC and Teachers Federation this month.
Such policies are currently being developed or in the case of the Northern Territory implemented. Can I encourage you all to read:
This Association is currently engaged in negotiations that will hopefully see a significant injection of funding to enhance Principal wellbeing provisions.
Expansion of Primary Staffing Codes
Members may recall, the then Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli initiated specialist STEM (science, technology, engineering and Mathematics) teachers into NSW classrooms. Unfortunately, while the university sector quickly engaged in establishing programs for pre-service teachers, public schools were not able to utilise this expertise due to the limitations of the school staffing codes.
It is very pleasing therefore to announce that after NSWPPA intervention and strong advocacy, the staffing codes will be expanded. This is a significant betterment to all NSW public schools.
We have been working closely with Schoolzine to develop a better website for our Association. Our web master Andrew Stevenson has spent countless hours ensuring our website will offer a better experience and “works” with our Newsletter & App. Andrew & I met at Merrylands East PS’s John Goh and discussed the latest version. Hopefully Schoolzine will be able to demonstrate the website at Term 1 State Council and make it “live”.
Andrew is one of our members who has taken up a Director’s role & has handed the website baton onto Vice President Ian Reeson and the “Social media” over to Simon Mulready. We have been very fortunate to have Andrew in this role, we thank him and wish him well in his new role as Director, Educational Leadership.
LEAP 2018 International Peer-Shadowing Primary Principal Opportunities
Warren Marks has asked that we advertise the following great opportunity:
There are currently 3 applications from overseas primary principals wishing to be matched with a NSW primary principal and to join the 2018 LEAP program :
- Fiona Smyth is a single female principal from Bathgate, Scotland (who will be travelling alone)
- Anne Bately is a single female principal from Nottingham, England (who will be traveling alone)
- Bobby Samra is a married male principal from Vancouver, BC, Canada (who will be travelling with his wife)
All NSW primary principals are eligible to apply for these 3 exciting opportunities. The program involves an international professional leadership program with the NSW principal billeting and hosting the overseas principal from 22nd July-1st August; and returning to the northern hemisphere location to be billeted and hosted from 30th September-10th October. Interested principals should visit the website for more information view the link below and/or immediately contact Warren Marks (0412049637; warren.f.marks@det.nsw.edu.au) or Sue Lazenby (0412960108; Suzanne.Lazenby@gmail.com)
Last week our PPA Executive met with each of the Deputy Secretaries and many of the Executive Directors working in Head Office to discuss their 2018 plans and answer some key questions. It was a great opportunity to learn of the upcoming initiatives and to question them on the expectations and support.
The Ed Services Review holds great interest for us and Deputy Secretary Georgina Harrisson & Executive Director Jane Simmons outlined the broad themes and the processes needed to address the findings.
- Quality teaching to improve every student
- Tailored support to support every school
- Prioritising teaching time
- Leading the improvement journey
- Executive have seen the draft report & will be very interested in how it will be operationalised.
This week Executive will be meeting both the Secretary and our Minister and the Agenda includes: Principal Support, our submission on other support initiatives, leadership development, buildings & demountables, phonics check, Principal Standard, Special Education & inclusion debate.
A/ Director of the Literacy & Numeracy Strategy Paul Wood was asked a few questions at our Executive meeting & provided the following information:
Literacy and Numeracy Intervention
Principals were advised via email on 10 November 2017 of their anticipated Literacy and Numeracy Intervention allocations for 2018. Schools who previously held a Reading Recovery allocation will be notified of their staffing entitlement through the published 2018 Enrolment and Entitlement Report. There should be no change from the anticipated allocation. The staffing entitlement will appear as Literacy and Numeracy Intervention.
Both the Literacy and Numeracy (FTE) and Literacy and Numeracy Funds will also appear in the 2018 School Budget Allocation Report due at the end of March. If you require a copy of your anticipated Literacy and Numeracy Intervention allocations please contact gillian.omalley@det.nsw.edu.au
Literacy and Numeracy update
The National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions were released by ACARA on 18 January 2018. The learning progressions are a new, national, evidence-based resource. The progressions build on the NSW continuums in a range of ways. They do not simply replace the continuums but represent different ways of thinking about student learning progress. Together with the department's program of professional learning (which will be supported by 50 new dedicated roles), the progressions will provide teachers with a deeper understanding of the literacy and numeracy demands of syllabuses across K-10.
Later this term NESA plans to make the progressions available on their website, along with advice about the relationship of the progressions to the NSW syllabuses. Work has already been undertaken to map the K-6 English and Maths syllabus to the Learning Progressions and can be viewed in PLAN2.
Implementation and support for Early Action for Success schools
Schools involved in Early Action for Success and a group of selected supplementary schools began professional learning in Term 4 and will commence using the learning progressions, PLAN2 and the revised Best Start Kindergarten Assessment from the beginning of 2018. They will be the first group of schools to be supported in using the new progressions.
Implementation and support for all other NSW public schools
All other schools will be able to access professional learning and PLAN2 software from Term 2, 2018. Planned professional learning will be led by 50 new dedicated Literacy and Numeracy positions in School Services and includes:
- One day introductory workshops for school leadership teams on the progressions and PLAN2 (K-12)
- Two day introductory workshop for early years executive on Effective Reading, including a focus on explicit and systematic phonics (K-2)
- Intensive professional learning in writing and numeracy for literacy and numeracy leaders (K-12).
- The professional learning will focus on developing leadership capacity for literacy and numeracy and supporting school decision making around engaging with the learning progressions.
Schools that have not yet undertaken professional learning on the learning progressions are encouraged to view the ACARA release as an opportunity to read and familiarise. It is important that schools carefully consider the process for engaging in the progressions including access to professional learning before teachers engage in programming or designing resources. The learning progressions will have maximum benefit for NSW schools if they are well understood and used in the way they were intended.
All primary schools will commence using the revised Best Start Kindergarten Assessment from 2019 with professional learning in Term 4, 2018. A trial of a Year 7 assessment in reading and Maths will commence in Term 2, 2018.
For more information
For more information about the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, including an implementation timeline, please visit the link below
Deputy President Robyn Evans & I attended & presented at this conference with 80 local principals from Albury PPC, Wagga PPC, Griffith PPC and Deniliquin PPC. Presenters included Deputy Secretary Murat Dizdar, Executive Directors Mark Grant, Jane Simmons & Geoff Pellizer as well as LSLD Director Mary-Lou O’Brien & Margaret Baker, Principal Legal Officer.
Our Term 1 Flourish sessions get under way soon:
February 23 – Ballina
February 28 – Castle Hill
March 6 – Sutherland
March 9 – Broken Hill
Bob Willetts, provided the following summary of results for the original Shellharbour group showing the value of the program:
I attended a 2 day APPA Board meeting last week where we focused on some of the key issues affecting schools nationally.
- National Schools Resourcing Board – funding particularly for non-government schools & funding for students with disabilities
- ACARA and the Learning Progressions
- Review of NAPLAN – strongly supported by schools. Biggest issue is around the use of data & who uses it.
- Teacher Registration Board – APPA President a member. The talk of tradies becoming teachers discussed. How to make it easier to transfer to teach in each state/ jurisdiction.
- Tony Cook, Ass Secretary of Federal DoE spoke frankly on several issues, including Gonski 2 (he believes there will be no big surprises/ or onerous compliance for funding), phonics check (which APPA opposed to it).
- National conference in Perth September.
On behalf the Executive, Robyn Evans, Rob Walker, Lyn Davis, Diane Robertson, Louise Green, Ian Reeson, Terry Fisher, Jackie Malecki, Mark Pritchard, Andrew Stevenson, John Mularczyk and myself . . .
Phil Seymour
PRESIDENT
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