Joint statement signed on teacher performance review

The QTU and DETE have signed a joint statement on the teacher performance review process.

After 24 meetings with DETE, the statement was signed on Friday 8 August. The new process is an elaboration of the Developing Performance Framework and provides a comprehensive process for teacher performance review.

These are the key things to note with respect to the new process.

• A template is to be used, without modification or pre-population of goals and sources of evidence.
• It will follow a 12 month cycle not restricted to a calendar year, which will provide teachers with an opportunity to reflect on the needs of the students they teach prior to the development of their goals.
• Goals will be considered in the school context and in accordance with the proficient standard of the AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers, and are to be jointly agreed between the teacher and the supervisor.
• Simplistic numerical targets such as goals have been removed.
• There is a requirement that evidence used for reflection on performance and development of teachers as aligned to the goals is jointly agreed.
• Levels of achievement have been removed, i.e. no ranking system.
• There is no requirement to maintain a digital portfolio of evidence.

The new process is supported by a step-by-step guide, and processes for familiarisation prior to the implementation of the new process are being jointly developed between the QTU and DETE.

The annual teacher performance review process will replace the Developing Performance Framework.

The new process partly completes Action 1 of Great Teachers = Great Results. However, it is important to note that it was QTU members’ preparedness to take industrial action that has ensured that the new process is not an appraisal process with rankings, but a supportive process that allows for reflection and development of practice.

Kate Ruttiman
Deputy General Secretary

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 119 No 6, 22 August 2014, p9