Performance and Development Culture

Continuous improvement drives our best schools. A sustainable performance and development system in schools improves student outcomes by identifying areas for the improvement of individual teacher's professional practice, and providing targeted professional development to do so.

Schools that provide an effective performance and development culture for their staff also create a more enriching and supportive environment for staff and better outcomes for students. Over time all teachers should be able to work in a school that has an effective performance and development culture.

An accreditation scheme for Performance and Development Culture was introduced in 2005 with an objective for all schools to be accredited by 2008.

Accreditation

The accreditation process for Performance and Development Culture is largely by self-assessment and is verified by an external accrediting body. The external verifier is Mercer Human Resource Consulting in association with the University of Melbourne.

The criteria include:

  1. Induction for teachers new to the school.
  2. Use of multiple sources of feedback on teacher effectiveness for individual teachers and teams of teachers.
  3. Customised individual teacher development plans based on individual development needs, student learning and school priorities.
  4. Quality professional development to meet individual development needs.
  5. A collective belief by staff that the school culture is supportive of individual professional growth and development.

Creating and sustaining a Performance and Development Culture will have significant benefits for schools including:

  • improved student outcomes by identifying areas for the improvement of individual teacher’s professional practice and providing targeted professional development to address these areas
  • the creation of a more enriching, supportive and motivating environment for staff.

Further information regarding the registration and the accreditation process is available at Performance and Development Culture - Accreditation 
(http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schoolimprovement/panddc/accreditation/default.htm)

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