Talks on principal review ongoing

With agreement reached on the Annual Teacher Performance Review, attention has now shifted to school leaders.

The process to be used in the development of the principal performance review process will be similar to that used for the teacher performance review process. Both the QTU and DETE support a three phase program: Phase 1 – reflection and goal setting, Phase 2 – professional practice and learning, Phase 3 – feedback and review.

The QTU has advised DETE that it would like a principal to attend meetings of the GT=GR negotiating group for this process. DETE has advised that it would also like to consult with QTU representatives. Consequently a working party of school leaders will be established to further discuss this process.

The remaining outstanding issues regarding the Principal Performance Review Process are the tool for reflection and goal setting and the sources of evidence.

The QTU has been clear that the sources of evidence for the principal performance review should be different from those used to determine school performance. In particular the QTU has highlighted that if the headline indicators used in the school performance and review framework are used to determine school performance, they should not form part of this process. The Union has outlined that the Australian Professional Standard for Principals and the areas of professional practice should be used in this process.

The Union is firm in its view that school leader performance should look at the professional aspects of the role, not simplistic numerical indicators of school performance.

Kate Ruttiman
Deputy General Secretary

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 119 No 7, 3 October 2014, p11