Effective school leaders putting students first

Helping principals become even better leaders is the focus of a new resource developed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and AITSL Chair, Professor John Hattie today launched the Leadership Profiles based on the Australian Professional Standard for Principals.

The Leadership Profiles are designed to provide current and aspiring school leaders with a model of effective school leadership by presenting the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to effectively lead 21^st century schools.

“The Australian Government knows that great principals lead and inspire teachers to provide young Australians with a first-rate education,” Mr Pyne said.

“Students do better at schools where the principal has more say over how the school runs, that’s why we are investing $70 million to help principals get the skills they need to have more local decision making over how their school operates,” he said.

Professor John Hattie said AITSL’s work focuses strongly on the Australian Professional Standard for Principals as a support for principals leading schools in times of change.

“Leading a school is a complex and challenging role, and I am delighted we have been able to support current and future school leaders with authoritative, evidence-based approaches in these leadership profiles,” Professor Hattie said.

“There is enormous potential to continue to improve the support school leaders receive so they can create successful school communities with quality teaching at their centre,” he said.

AITSL consulted extensively with a range of groups including Government departments of education, Catholic education offices, Independent schools associations, primary and secondary principal associations and practising principals themselves to shape the development of the Leadership Profiles.

Mr Pyne said the Leadership Profiles will help principals to focus their professional development on skills and knowledge that will relate to their changing roles.

“AITSL is doing great work to support our Students First approach and has already developed national initiatives relating to professional teaching standards, the quality of initial teacher education, registration and teacher performance and development,” Mr Pyne said.

“I look forward to working with Professor Hattie and his colleagues to continue improving school leadership across the country,” he said.

The Leadership Profiles will be available online at http://www.aitsl.edu.au/leadership-profiles.

For further information on how the Australian Government is putting students first, visit: www.studentsfirst.gov.au.