Student outcomes key in performance reviews

Queensland children will have the best possible start to their education, with a strengthened teacher performance review process becoming compulsory at state schools from the start of the 2015 year.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek made the announcement with the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) and said it would make sure every school teacher is performing at their best, delivering on the election promise to revitalise frontline services.

“This new performance process will make a real difference to our children by focusing on the most important person in their classroom – the teacher,” Mr Langbroek said.

“The Government and the union recognise that great teachers play a critical role in giving young Queenslanders the educational experience they deserve and preparing them for the future.

“The new process is a central part of the Government’s Great teachers = Great results five-year

$537 million action plan to improve student results, because those outcomes are the most important thing.

“Labor was more focused on bureaucracy, but we know that ensuring the best education will give our children the best possible opportunities.”

Queensland Teachers’ Union President Kevin Bates said the agreed process emphasised the collegial nature of teaching and recognised the complex nature of the profession.

“Teachers work closely together, within and across schools, to share best practice and professional expertise to achieve a wide range of outcomes for students,” Mr Bates said.

Mr Langbroek said the annual review would involve the development of a performance plan for every teacher with ongoing feedback and support from principals and school leaders during a 12-month period.

“The process will have three distinct phases: reflection and goal setting, professional practice and learning and feedback and review,” he said.

“It will draw from a wide range of evidence including student outcomes, classroom observation, parent, peer and student feedback and self-assessment.

“It is about improving our teachers so that the learning and outcomes of our students can also improve.

“The new process will help to strengthen teaching standards and boost school morale.

“Alignment with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers will provide benchmarks for the career stages to which teachers can aspire.”

Cavendish Road School Principal Corrine McMillan said the new process presented an opportunity to ensure real growth in teaching and learning.

“Any opportunity to reflect in a collegiate way on our performance as professionals will inevitably yield positive outcomes for our students of Cav Road, families and this community,” Ms McMillan said.

Mr Langbroek said the Government wanted to ensure that every school teacher and leader was performing at their best.

“We are setting out to improve the academic standing of Queensland schools compared with other states and territories and internationally,” Mr Langbroek said.

The Education Department and the QTU are working together to provide information sessions and professional development opportunities throughout the state before the end of the 2014 school year.

Mr Langbroek said every teacher’s professional development program could now be linked to school and system priorities.

“This will mean a whole-of-school approach to improved teacher performance and tailoring teachers’ professional development to the needs of the teacher, the school and the students,” he said.

[ENDS] 26 August 2014

Media contact: Amy Cobb 0418 996 503