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2012 NSWSPC Annual Conference will be held in Manly on 12 - 14 June.

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Conference Program        Conference Registration

NSWSPC Initial Submission to Local Schools, Local Decisions Consultation - November 2011

The NSWSPC represents the principals in over 500 secondary schools, central schools and schools for special purposes. The majority of secondary schools and all central schools are located in “communities” and the young people of that community attend the local school. Some secondary schools are specialist settings, enrolling students from a range of communities. These schools include selective schools, single sex high schools, sports high schools, performing arts high schools and schools for special purposes.

In response to this diversity, the definition of the “local school” needs to be far better understood by parents, students and policy makers in defining what “local decisions” will be made. “Local” means a school or community of schools. It is essential that secondary schools and their communities (whether local or wider) are able to take ownership of the philosophy, purpose and practice of a more devolved model of authority, governance and decision making.

In its current form, the NSWSPC thinks the ideas presented in the Local Schools, Local Decisions discussion paper lack substance and the level of detail required for a serious professional response. There are three major issues that the NSWSPC has with the discussion paper and the consultation process:

• There is no funding model and no funding guarantee (such as in relation to additional federal recurrent funding) to enable an informed professional response to whether secondary students, schools and communities will actually benefit from the proposed changes.
• NSWSPC has had feedback that the purposes and processes of the consultation were unclear to many principals. There was a perception that implementation strategies and projects had already been designed. Critically, the consultation failed to establish a purpose for the policy itself and failed to explain how the proposed changes will improve student learning and school effectiveness. Failed to engage participants in a meaningful and deep manner.
• There is no indication about the commitment of government to the strengths of working within the NSW jurisdiction or to maintaining legislative frameworks in relation to hours of study, class sizes and working conditions.

Download the submission

NSWSPC Third Submission to the School Funding Review    September 2011

This third submission responds to the recommendations of the research commissioned by the Funding Review in the four papers released for comment on 31 August 2011. At the outset, the NSWSPC commends the Review Committee for commissioning the research. Overall, the four reports effectively describe the current settings but the NSWSPC would not be balanced in its response if we did not note some disappointment with the level of analysis, the assumptions made and the conservative recommendations in a range of areas.

Download the submission

Honorary Life Membership for Dr. Paul Brock

NSWSPC President Christine Cawsey presenting Dr Paul Brock with his Honorary Life Membership

Dr Paul Brock was awarded an Honorary Life Membership with the NSWSPC on Friday 9 September. Dr Brock supports the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) - watch the video

His Honorary Life Membership citation reads:

Dr Paul Brock is a most worthy recipient of the first Honorary Life Membership Award from the NSW Secondary Principals' Council. His outstanding commitment to secondary school students, his unswerving support of public education, and his tireless work are the tremendous attributes that he brings to his life as an educator. His leadership within public education in NSW has helped numerous schools and principals, and his passion for doing what will bring about "an Australian society that is fair, just, tolerant, honourable, knowledgeable, prosperous and happy" make him worthy of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council's highest award.

2011 Academy Photography Fellowship

Awarded to Chris Presland - Principal
St Clair High School, St Clair, NSW.

The Academy Photography Fellowship provides funding to the amount of $4000 annually to be used for the purpose of educational research.

Chris' research is on the Consultant Principal (a future position?).

He writes ...

It is widely accepted that the Principal of a Public School in NSW is a unique position. It is pivotal in the success or failure of any initiative, policy or procedure. The Principalship is the one and only place in the NSW DEC at which all of the system’s functions come together.

In essence, everyone wants access to and influence over, the Principal.

No Surprises at this assembly?

NSWSPC Secondary Education Priorities 2011 - 2015

Secondary principals have a responsibility to play a leading role in shaping the future of public education for the benefit of students in NSW public schools and for the society and economy at large, by preparing today’s youth for tomorrow’s jobs and to be productive citizens.

With this responsibility, the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council (NSWSPC) has prepared a position paper NSW Secondary Education Priorities 2011, to outline priority areas for policy and funding in education.

There are seven key priority areas:

1. Funding
2. Digital Education
3. Flexibility in staffing formulas and allocation
4. Local decision making
5. Quality curriculum and assessment
6. Teacher development
7. Adolescent mental health

Reform or change at any level within our education system cannot succeed without the proper engagement of principals who will ultimately lead the classroom response, through processes of improvement and innovation.

To deliver that improvement and innovation Principals must be supported with adequate funding, authority and flexibility to tailor the needs of a diverse group of schools and contexts across New South Wales.

Download the full paper             Download the flyer