Future Sydney’s Post

Rural districts play a large role in Tennessee's education landscape. Our new report reveals challenges rural district leaders face as they recruit and retain educators and provides new data to build evidence-based supports for Tennessee's educator labor market. https://lnkd.in/eTMirkjd

After countless surveys, research, and studies on rural education, here’s a simplified summary of the ground realities: Teachers’ Attendance? Monitoring is for CCTV, not classrooms. Teachers enjoy the best Work from Home perks—without even applying for it! Enrolment and Retention? Why bother? Children can learn real-life skills by grazing cattle, fetching water, or taking up child labor instead! School Infrastructure? Fancy classrooms? Functional toilets? Dream on. The motto is, "A roof and four walls are a luxury; learn under the sky!" Strengthening Citizen Committees? Empowerment is that elusive concept we celebrate in speeches but conveniently forget to implement. Mid-Day Meals & Uniforms? The perfect recipe: pinch a little rice, steal a little cloth, mix with corruption, and voilà—entitlements vanish into thin air! Backdoor Teacher Recruitment? Got the right connections? No qualifications? No problem! You’re hired! And the best part? There’s no shortage of never-ending surveys, research, and studies on rural education. Reports are meticulously written, data is beautifully compiled, but where does it all go? Straight into the black hole of bureaucracy! Nevertheless, there’s hope. It’s never too late to take meaningful steps toward change—with good governance, accountability, and proactive measures. Politicians and bureaucrats must be sensitized and oriented (perhaps annually) to remind them that education isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a responsibility. Let’s invest in schools, not sham! Because the future of millions depends on it. #RuralEducation #Governance #Accountability #TimeForAction

🚨 Big Changes to OFSTED Inspections – A Step in the Right Direction? 🚨 As a former Headteacher with 25 years of experience in education, I've witnessed the damaging effects that Ofsted’s single-word grading system has had on schools. The toll on wellbeing, mental health, and the teaching profession itself cannot be overstated. I'm heartened by the recent announcement to remove single-word grades from Ofsted inspections. Having seen countless colleagues leave due to the long-term stress of these inspections, I know this reform is overdue. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson rightly stated, “Parents deserve a clearer, broader picture of how schools are performing." The new report cards, which replace single headline grades, offer a more comprehensive view and prioritise school context, inclusivity, and pupil wellbeing—essential factors often overlooked under the previous system. I hope this landmark change fosters a healthier environment for staff and students alike, promoting growth rather than fear. Let’s aim for a school system that supports, encourages, and truly reflects the heart of education. What are your thoughts? Will this shift support the teachers, leaders, pupils, and parents in our schools?

Independent schools are actively improving student outcomes through innovative practices. ISA has released a new report showcasing ten Case Studies from Independent schools around Australia, illustrating their innovative approaches to the national school reform priority areas of equity, wellbeing and workforce. These three priority areas will be the focus of the upcoming Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. Read the report here https://lnkd.in/gnJQsX7g Independent Schools Queensland Association of Independent Schools of South Australia Association of Independent Schools of NSW Independent Schools Victoria Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA) Association of Independent Schools Northern Territory Independent Schools Tasmania

I want this pilot rolled out to higher education as well! More forms are not more fun! The Federal and Queensland governments are running a pilot project to help tackle teacher workload. These governments are co-funding a $1.88 million pilot program in Queensland state schools to reduce teacher workloads. The program is employing 11 specialist staff to support teachers and principals across 33 schools. The new staff will manage workplace health, safety and wellbeing administrative workloads, taking the load of teachers and letting teachers teach! At the end of this year, participating schools will assess whether having dedicated staff in schools to undertake these tasks has reduced administrative burden. The 33 state schools involved in the pilot include secondary, primary and special schools, across Queensland. Jason Clare MP said: “The idea that teachers clock on at 9am and knock off at 3pm is rubbish. Similarly, Di Farmer said: “This is an exciting project that aims to reduce the administrative burden many teachers and principals face in their day-to-day work.” One of the schools involved is just up the street from where I used to play cricket. Donna O’Keeffe, Principal Tingalpa State School said “We are pleased to be a pilot school for the Teacher Workload Reduction Fund.” P.S. I think my batting average had more ducks than anyone else in the team.  

Housing Matters published an article about the impact of housing instability on educational outcomes. This article highlights: - How many students face housing instability - How it disrupts learning - How policymakers can help these students Housing instability has a direct impact on students' education even up to two years later. Read more at https://lnkd.in/geES6nfD.

Pupil attendance is set to become one of 10 performance metrics on which schools will be evaluated, according to forthcoming plans from Ofsted and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. With attendance increasingly emphasised, the term “attendance” now appears around 1.7 times per 1,000 words in inspection reports this year—the highest rate since 2017, according to SchoolDash analysis. A DfE spokesperson emphasised tackling the “national epidemic of school absence” through a “support-first approach” for children facing barriers to regular attendance. Thrive’s focus on social-emotional development and wellbeing provides schools with tools to address attendance challenges through whole-child support and individualised interventions. Explore our case studies to discover how Thrive is making a difference: https://lnkd.in/eEzdg3AW #SchoolAttendance #PupilWellbeing #Ofsted #SocialEmotionalDevelopment

📣 Calling all educators, leaders and supporters! 📣 The wellbeing of our teachers is essential to student success and the overall health of our education system. Yet, many teachers still lack the vital support they need. Did you know? Over 1,300 teachers in Scotland have left the profession within their first five years, and teacher absence is at a record high. This crisis impacts both teachers and students. Research shows that reflective supervision—providing teachers with a safe space to reflect and talk—boosts wellbeing, reduces burnout and improves staff retention. Join us on 28th January at The Albany Centre, Glasgow to explore key initiatives in Scotland aimed at supporting teachers through reflective practice. Register here: https://bit.ly/3VxecTP Your experience and insights are vital in shaping the future of teacher wellbeing. Don’t miss out on this important conversation! #TeacherWellbeing #ReflectivePractice #SupportOurTeachers #Education #Scotland #TeacherRetention #MentalHealthMatters #SAIAORG

Reform-minded school boards need reform-minded superintendents who will serve the board and not undermine them and the will of local voters. When there's a shortage like this, we need to be innovative. https://lnkd.in/eTP-u-ca

Interesting! Unfortunately, most universities in Australia have moved to a 'shared services' model as a result of which local support staff have been heavily gutted. Our survey data (analysis is ongoing) illustrates that this has resulted in increased administrative workloads for academic staff due to a lack of expertise, flexibility and continuity in key support functions. Many of our participants (both professional and academic staff) further noted that the move to a 'shared services' model has considerably damaged trust and collegial relationships between professional and academic staff. It will take a monumental effort to reverse this situation.