11 Dec 2014
The DEC are now introducing the School Excellence Framework for school planning, assessment and improvement. It is a statement of the quality of education we provide in NSW to our 755,000 school students in our 2,218 public schools. The framework is evidence-based and identifies explicit school practices that are directly related to continuous, school-wide improvement and better student outcomes. It provides a clear description of quality practice across the key domains of education – Learning, Teaching and Leading – to underpin and guide decision-making by principals.
Schools will set goals and measure progress in partnership with parents and school communities. The framework helps schools make informed judgements and plan the next steps for improvement, drawing on national and international research and the National School Improvement Tool developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research.The framework is particularly important in the context of Local Schools, Local Decisions. It will support schools to critically assess their achievements and identify areas for change by providing a transparent description of quality practices to underpin school planning, self-assessment and external validation.
There is more detailed information on the School Excellence Framework on our department website.http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-the-department/our-reforms/school-excellence-framework