A Casual Word: Education Quarterly, Issue 10 2024
For teachers seeking permanency, the elevation of the Approved to Teach list back to a central appointment option is the most significant change to the new schools Staffing Agreement, which came into effect on day 1, term 2.
This change, which further builds on the amendments made to the Staffing Agreement term 3, 2023, means that the alternating methodology of appointments for classroom teachers first introduced in 2009 will be abandoned.
In simple terms, this means that while under the previous model the only real chance to gain permanency for many teachers was through the so-called ‘merit’ selection process, teachers with permanent approval can now be directly appointed to a school.
As such, Federation advice is that any teacher currently seeking permanent appointment should confirm with the Department that they are on the Approved to Teach list (i.e., have an active permanent employment application), and that all their approved to teach/willing to teach codes are up-to-date. Members should also consider maximising the schools listed as one of their employment preferences.
Generally, when a relevant vacancy arises, approved to teach candidates will be provided an opportunity to express interest in that position. A candidate is not obliged to express interest, however, an expression of interest will be considered a genuine intent of the applicant to accept the offer of permanent employment if it is made.
When matching the vacancy via the Approved to Teach option, the candidate who has an active permanent employment application that matches all subject/teaching areas (approved and willing to teach); has the school listed as one of their employment preferences; and has the highest priority date will be considered for the permanent vacancy.
In the following circumstances, a temporary teacher already engaged at the school who expresses interest in being appointed to the vacant position will be prioritised for the permanent appointment:
- 4 transfer point school: the teacher matches the approved to teach codes AND has undertaken at least two years of continuous service as a temporary teacher
- 6 or 8 transfer point school: the teacher matches the approved to teach codes AND has undertaken at least one year of continuous service.
The reliance of the above process on a teacher’s priority date (which is enhanced for every 50 days of casual or temporary teaching service in NSW public schools, with further enhancement if temporary teaching is undertaken in schools with two, four, six or eight transfer points) is an important recognition of the teacher’s loyalty to the public education system, particularly for teachers who are able to support students in harder-to-staff schools.
More detailed information and advice about the new Staffing Agreement and updated procedures is included in the centre page liftout.