Principal Standard elaborations

Senior school leaders establish and promote a positive culture that is inclusive of all in the school community, through modelling inclusive behaviours and setting high expectations of all staff to include students with disability.

They consistently collaborate with teaching staff to reflect on the school’s approach to curriculum design and pedagogy, ensuring high quality and inclusive teaching practices so students with disability have the same opportunities to learn as students without disability.

Senior school leaders ensure thorough consideration is given to the needs of students with disability with respect to the school’s planning, facilities, extra-curricular activities, at-home learning and support services. They ensure that teachers establish regular discussions with the student, their guardian/s and associates ², and service provider/s (where relevant) to determine a range of reasonable adjustments to assist in the student’s education.

Principals work with and through others to build a professional learning community that is focused on continuous improvement of teaching and learning. Through managing performance, effective continuing professional learning and feedback, they support all staff to achieve high standards and develop their leadership capacity. Principals support others to build capacity and treat people fairly and with respect. They model effective leadership and are committed to their own ongoing professional development and personal health and wellbeing in order to manage the complexity of the role and the range of learning capabilities and actions required of the role.

Senior school leaders model fair, equitable and respectful treatment of all in the school community, leading by example to follow ethical values and behaviours.

Senior school leaders seek coaching and professional learning opportunities for themselves and all staff to build their knowledge about inclusive practices and the skills required to implement them. They build the capacity of all staff in understanding how to best support the diverse needs of students with disability from a whole-school perspective (including specialist services) as well as implementing strategies that effectively respond to harassment, victimisation, and discrimination.

Teachers are regularly encouraged by senior school leaders to collaborate with colleagues in evaluating their practice and engage in learning opportunities that help them to provide individualised teaching and learning and assist in the implementation of reasonable adjustments.

Senior school leaders ensure that all staff are informed of their obligations as outlined in the policies, procedures and codes of conduct related to inclusive education. Senior school leaders implement inclusive strategies that effectively respond to harassment, victimisation, and discrimination for all learners.

Senior school leaders empower teachers to collaborate with colleagues to evaluate and reflect on practice and seek opportunities to improve equitable educational experiences within their classroom.

Principals work with others to produce and implement clear, evidence-based improvement plans and policies for the development of the school and its facilities. They recognise that a crucial part of the role is to lead and manage innovation and change to ensure the vision and strategic plan is put into action across the school and that its goals and intentions are realised.

Senior school leaders work with all staff, guardian/s and associates, and service provider/s to develop and implement plans to enhance the inclusion of all students. This can form part of whole-school improvement planning, including the modification and maintenance of school facilities.

Senior school leaders regularly collaborate with their leadership team, all staff and service provider/s to innovate better ways of providing a positive and equitable school experience for all students.

Senior school leaders keep themselves and all staff accountable to any improvement efforts. They establish clear communication channels to gather feedback from all in their school community. They leverage school boards, governing bodies, parent/carer groups and student representative councils to regularly incorporate their perspectives and considerations for more inclusive school experiences.

Principals use a range of data management methods and technologies to ensure that the school’s resources and staff are efficiently organised and managed to provide an effective and safe learning environment as well as value for money. This includes appropriate delegation of tasks to members of staff and the monitoring of accountabilities. Principals ensure these accountabilities are met. They seek to build a successful school through effective collaboration with school boards, governing bodies, parents and others. They use a range of technologies effectively and efficiently to manage the school.

Senior school leaders contribute to implementing legislative and system-wide requirements to support the safety and wellbeing of all students. They inform all staff, students, guardian/s and associates of their obligations to support the inclusion of students with disability under the DSE. They work consultatively with other senior school leaders and staff to set up clear monitoring processes to ensure requirements are met.

Senior school leaders and their teaching staff use student data to determine school improvements. They empower all staff to take responsibility and creativity in all aspects of the school’s commitment to equitability.

Senior school leaders ensure mechanisms are accessible and available to report grievances, and appropriate action is taken to respond to bullying and discrimination of students with disability, in-line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA). Senior school leaders will provide communication and support to victimised students, their guardian/s and associates.

Senior school leaders work with their school boards, governing bodies, parent/carer groups and student representative councils to regularly incorporate their perspectives, experiences and suggestions for more inclusive school operations.

Principals embrace inclusion and help build a culture of high expectations that takes account of the richness and diversity of the wider school community and the education systems and sectors. They develop and maintain positive partnerships with students, guardian/s and associates, and all those associated with the wider school community. They create an ethos of respect taking account of the spiritual, moral, social and physical health and wellbeing of students. They promote sound lifelong learning from preschool through to adult life. They recognise the multicultural nature of Australia’s people. They foster understanding and reconciliation with Indigenous cultures. They recognise and use the rich and diverse linguistic and cultural resources in the school community. They recognise and support the needs of students, families and carers from communities facing complex challenges.

Senior school leaders, together with all staff consistently promote an inclusive school culture that connects to the wider school community. All staff do so by recognising and celebrating the diversity of the school’s students, exhibiting exemplary behaviour and building positive relationships with all students, their guardian/s and associates.

Senior school leaders are responsible for implementing the school’s admissions and enrolment procedures with a focus on ensuring equitable opportunities for all students to participate in the school. During transition into the school, senior school leaders work with all staff to ensure students with disability feel welcomed, understood, valued and safe.

They work closely with the student’s guardian/s, associates, and service providers in maintaining consistent communication, consultation and support to provide a positive learning journey for the student.