Annual General Meeting

1. Annual General Meeting VASSP Adding Value to Principalship

2. Mission Statement • VASSP adds value to Principalship by supporting members to grow professionally as leaders, representing them in policy development and implementation and staunchly advocating for public education.

3. 3 Pillars • Support members’ personal & professional growth • Represent members’ views to the Department • Publicly advocate for Principalship & public education.

4. Annual Report • VASSP progress and achievements • The National Agenda • Future Challenges

5. Strategic Directions 2008 Personal & Professional Growth • Advice & info support – field officers, eBulletin, website • Project (Consultancy) Services - coaching, mentoring programs • Sharing best practice • Leadership development programs • Regional meetings – share best practice • Recruitment and induction of new members

6. Strategic Directions 2008 Representation • Communication strategy • Collecting & representing members’ views

7. Strategic Directions 2008 Advocacy • Media profile – VASSP issues in the media • Relationship building with media • Begin “In the media” section in the eBulletin

8. Team VASSP • Field Officer Support • Project Officer Support • Committee & Executive • DEECD responses & feedback • Position Papers • Member issues from Regional Groups • New member strategy • Partnerships • Finalising the purchase of Unit 3

9. Gathering the Expertise • Ten Top Tips SRP Booklet • Regional Meetings Good Practice Guide • Position Papers • Leadership and Teaching & Learning Support • Principal Management Support • Staff Recruitment • SSSO Support

10. Workshops & Prof. Learning • EBA Implementation • Principalship – application to appointment • Finance • ICT • Trade Training Centres

11. Representation • Raft of Committees with a variety of organisations – influencing policy and making connections • In Particular: • Value Adding measures • SSSO resourcing • Coaching and mentoring programs • Resources to low socio-economic schools • Teacher supply • VETiS funding

12. NATIONAL AGENDA

13. EDUCATION REVOLUTION– SPIN or SUBSTANCE? ‘This system is socially unjust, it unfairly marginalises and handicaps our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.’ ‘Almost alone in the OECD, Australia has a funding system that sets up one system of schools to succeed and the other to struggle.’ ‘It’s a clue as to why Australia’s education system is not just manifestly unfair but also stupid.’ Chris Bonnor ‘The Stupid Country.’

14. EDUCATION REVOLUTION– SPIN or SUBSTANCE? Paul Kerin, Professorial fellow at Melbourne Business School. “School funding is grossly inefficient and unfair.” • Low-end publicly funded high school: $12,000/student • High-end publicly/privately funded school: $24,000/student • 􀂃 The result? VCE score 80 or more. • 􀂃 1% from low-end funded schools. • 􀂃 24% from high-end funded schools.

15. THE REAL REVOLUTION3 TYPES OF SCHOOLS • Government Schools: Funded as current and completely accountable • Government Supported Schools: Receive Government funds, fees capped and completely accountable as per Government Schools • Independent Schools: Receive no Government funds, require accreditation but are freed from any government accountability requirements

16. THE CURRENT REVOLUTION 1. The Flagship Program. • 􀂃 Trade Training Centres • 􀂃 Digital Revolution – Computers in Schools • 􀂃 National Curriculum

17. THE CURRENT REVOLUTION 2. Problems Ahead Trade Training: Bringing schools and industry together • Works in cities and large provincial towns. • In rural Australia is it just a refurbishment program? • 􀂃 Where are the teachers? • 􀂃 Where is recurrent funding?

18. THE CURRENT REVOLUTION 3. Problems Ahead The Digital Revolution. 8 different state based procurement arrangements. • 􀂃 Where is the watertight guarantee of funds for infrastructure and professional learning? • 􀂃 We know for every $1 spent on hardware we need $3 for infrastructure and professional learning

19. National Curriculum • Syllabus or Framework? • Need to try and influence direction • Will impact on our teaching programs

20. History & Geography • Teacher: Martin go to the map and find Australia. • Martin: Here it is • Teacher: Correct. Now class who discovered Australia? • Class: Martin

21. Maths & Science • Teacher: Jillian why are you doing your Maths on the floor? • Jillian: You said to do it without tables. • Teacher: Fran, what is the chemical formula for water? • Fran: HIJKLMO • Teacher: What are you talking about? • Fran: Yesterday you said it’s H to O.

22. COAG TEACHER QUALITY Is one of the important and controllable components in assisting student achievement. Issues: • Performance pay – BCA Paper • Teacher supply • Teacher preparation, Standards and Accreditation. • Ongoing professional learning • Support for and Preparation of School Leaders

23. The equity push • The next four-year funding round starts in 2009! • We have little time left to influence where the $$$ goes. • SES Review promised in 2010/2011

24. WHERE DO WE SIT?

25. Australia’s Place • Government spending on public education is the second lowest in the OECD • In overall education spending, Australia ranked 19th out of 28 countries • Australia has below average class sizes as a result of above average teacher workloads • Experienced teachers are paid significantly less than the OECD average, but work longer hours and more weeks than most nations

26. Victoria’s Place • 6.7% below the national average of funding per student • In fact, the lowest funded per student • In 2005-6 • NSW $12,397 • WA $13,732 • TAS $11,877 • Australian Average $12,418 • Victoria $11,329

27. VASSP Challenges 1 • General Funding • SRP allocations • Program Resourcing • VETiS • SSSO • Teacher Supply • Blueprint Initiatives • Principal autonomy

28. VASSP Challenges 2 Engagement of members Professional representation of member interests Increasing membership

29. Tips for aspiring RNLs • Practice nodding – everyone will think you’re being empathetic • Agree to anything and then delegate • If you nod off in a meeting say it’s workload • Be positive at all times and blame others for your mistakes • Talk lots and say nothing • Learn the jargon and email constantly

30. VASSP Adding Value to Principalship