4-year status not a requirement for head teacher eligibility

WENDY CURRIE puts stop to a head teacher myth.

The new head teacher eligibility requirements provide for a Head Teacher Qualifications Committee, comprising one representative each from the Department of Education and Training (DET), the Secondary Principals Council and Federation.Teachers who do not satisfy the eligibility requirements and who believe that their training skills and experience should be deemed to be equivalent to the requirements are invited to apply to this Committee for an assessment of equivalence.

The Committee met for the first time on November 17. It was an important meeting because it began the process of establishing the detail around the criteria used for such assessments.

It is important that teachers are aware of some significant outcomes of that first meeting, as they may guide teachers' decisions about whether to apply and what is required in the application.

1. Federation was concerned that some teachers had been notified they were ineligible for a head teacher position because, although they had a degree, they did not have four year status, that is, their initial training included a degree but was of only three years' duration. DET has been giving this advice for some time. The advice is incorrect and may well have had serious repercussions for some teachers' careers.

2. Four year status has never been a criterion for head teacher eligibility, either under the new requirements, the 1990 requirements or anything that preceded them. DET has now adjusted the advice they use to determine eligibility and such cases will not need to come before the Qualifications Committee. If any teacher is notified that they do not meet the requirements solely on the basis of their status, they should contact Federation immediately, although it is not anticipated that this mistake will occur in the future. If a teacher has been notified of ineligibility because of status in the past, they should contact DET immediately and ask for this to be rectified.

3. It is unlikely that any teacher in NSW currently meets the requirements for head teacher computing studies, as university courses designed for teaching software design and development, and information processes and technology, have only recently been endorsed. Students doing these courses have not yet graduated.

This means that any current teacher who thinks they might apply for a head teacher computing studies position in the future, should apply now to the Head Teacher Qualifications Committee for an assessment of equivalence.

4. Teachers are asked to address a number of possible criteria in their applications. These are listed in the new document on page 4. It is important for applications to include verification of the evidence provided, for example, certificates, diplomas and so on, and an endorsement from the principal verifying teaching experience, professional development, Board of Studies Committee membership or marking, or participation in other relevant activities.

Applications should be sent to the address given in an email sent to principals by the DET'S General Manager, Human Resources, Trish Kelly on October 28, 2004.

Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

For further information

December 2004 contents