A performance audit into the Department of Education and Training’s (DET) support and management of principals’ performance and development (PD) has found DET did not consistently implement its PD model.
In his report, Systems and Support for Principal Performance, Auditor-General Andrew Greaves said the Principal was the critical leader within a school community and directly influenced its culture and learning environment.
“While some Principals experience a constructive PD process, DET does not consistently implement its PD model to support and manage all principals’ development and performance to optimise student outcomes,” Mr Greaves said.
“DET also does not systematically monitor Principals’ participation in the PD cycle,” he said.
“This means Principals do not have equivalent performance expectations and assessment across Victoria.”
Mr Greaves said DET didn’t analyse PD outcomes to understand Principals’ performance or use information from the PD cycle to identify their professional learning and development needs at a region or State-wide level.
He said that although DET had a better understanding of Principals’ PD outcomes at a local level, its ability to target support to identified performance issues and learning and development needs was limited.
“DET’s PD model is intended to be based on a whole-of-practice approach; however, in practice it focuses more on leading teaching and learning, and less on managing resources and leading the school community,” he said.
“As a result, not all Principals’ performance expectations and assessments are a balanced reflection of these key aspects of their role,” Mr Greaves said.
He said this also meant Principals’ development may not focus on all the skills needed to perform in their role effectively.
Mr Greaves made seven recommendations to DET, all of which were accepted, three related to the principal PD model, and four related to Principal performance and learning and development needs.
The Auditor-General’s 60-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.