News

Kindergarten Information Night for 2020

Tue, 28 May 2019 11:38:27 AEST

Education Week 2018 - Today's schools creating tomorrow's world

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 11:54:47 AEST

The future of education will be showcased in NSW public schools from August 6 – 10 as students, teachers and parents across the state celebrate Education Week 2018.

Education Week kicks off on Monday, August 6, with a simultaneous launch at Parramatta and Kiama public schools livestreamed on YouTube so all government schools and their communities can join in.

This year's theme, Today's schools – creating tomorrow's world, highlights how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

For the first time the Education Week launch will be hosted by primary school students and will feature a dancing robot, student performances and a film highlighting how schools are working with their communities to solve real-world problems.

A highlight of the week is the Game Changer Challenge, in which 16 teams of students from schools across NSW will compete in a three-day design program, working alongside leading industry professionals to create the school of the future.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said today's students were learning at a time of great change.

"From the far west to our metropolitan hubs and everywhere in between, our state's schools will celebrate not only what we've achieved, but the future we are creating," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We are living in a time when the traditional walls of the classroom are opening up to new worlds of learning, paving the way for students to connect and collaborate with their peers regionally and globally."

Education Minister Rob Stokes said there had never been a more exciting time to be involved in schools with technology reshaping the way students learn and billions of dollars being invested in new school infrastructure.

"The NSW Department of Education is continually striving for improvement and innovation so that the young people in our care learn in a world-class education system," Mr Stokes said.

"The NSW Government is supporting that vision through a record $6 billion in funding to build the classrooms and schools of the future."

The Secretary of the Department of Education Mark Scott said ensuring today's students had the skills they would need to "not just survive, but thrive" in the future underpinned the department's evidence-based approach to learning.

"I am incredibly proud of the innovative teaching and learning that is being done across our State's public schools to ensure that every student can perform to their full potential," Mr Scott said.

"We don't know what the future will hold, but we do know that we are focused on equipping today's students with the skills and knowledge they will need to lead fulfilling lives in the future."

Wellbeing at Yeo Park - a way of being and learning

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 11:49:57 AEST

Filmpond

This movie was made last year about the wonderful initiatives going on at Yeo Park Infants School by Leadership and High Performance. I am so proud of what we have accomplished and the innovative learning experiences at this school. The education at Yeo Park Infants School is second to none. Please enjoy this celebration of our wonderful school. Fiona Wood (Principal)

EdWeek 2018 - theme and dates announced

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 09:35:04 AEST

This year's Education Week will be held from Monday 6 August to Friday 10 August 2018 (Term 3, Week 3).

The theme for Education Week is ‘Today's schools – creating tomorrow's world'.

This theme communicates how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing, globalised world.

2018 Resource Allocation Model funding

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 08:51:30 AEST

In October 2017, all NSW public schools will receive a 2018 planned school budget allocation report. The report will assist with the management of the total budget delivered to schools through the Resource Allocation Model (RAM).

The Resource Allocation Model (RAM) methodology distributes funding based on the individual needs of students and schools. This gives schools greater flexibility to make local decisions.

Learn more about the 2018 funding by visiting the department's website or watch a short animation about managing the total school budget in NSW public schools.

Talk to your principal to find out how the school is planning to use its 2018 funding to support students to improve educational outcomes.

NDIS continues its roll out across NSW

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 09:29:47 AEST

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) started in NSW in July 2016, rolling out across half of the state. The rollout for the rest of NSW started on 1 July 2017 and the NDIS will be fully rolled out by mid 2018.

The NSW government is writing to the families of children and young people with disability who currently receive disability supports in the rollout areas to advise how and when they will enter the NDIS.

How will people move into the NDIS?

There is a planned approach to the way people enter into the NDIS.

The first people to move into the NDIS will be people living in large and small residential centres, group homes, hostels, attendant care, in-home support or alternative family placement.

People who attend day, recreation and life skills programs as well as people who receive support from therapy, early or behaviour intervention programs or use case management services and respite will start to move into the NDIS from October 2017.

People accessing personal care assistance, personal care, meal services, home modifications and transport services will move to the NDIS from January 2018. While other groups will transition automatically, this group will need to complete an NDIS access request and provide evidence of their disability and functional needs.

Information about providing evidence of disability can be found on the national NDIS website: www.ndis.gov.au.

Children and young people who do not currently receive NSW funded disability supports now have the opportunity to access the NDIS . Families of children and young people can test their eligibility for support with the NDIS. The NDIS can be contacted through its website: www.ndis.gov.au or the National Access Line 1800 800 110.

Other useful resources relating to the NDIS in NSW are available in plain and easy English, community languages and materials for Aboriginal people on this website www.ndis.nsw.gov.au.

NAPLAN online school readiness test

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 09:26:20 AEST

NSW schools will participate in the NAPLAN Online School Readiness Test from 14 August to 22 September. There is a lot of information for schools, students and parents on the NAPLAN online transition website. The school readiness test is a ‘practice run' for schools to assess their technology as we prepare to transition to NAPLAN Online. It provides an opportunity for schools to become familiar with the NAPLAN Online assessment platform but is not an assessment of student ability.

Introducing healthy school canteens

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 09:24:17 AEST

The introduction of the revised healthy school canteen strategy increases the availability of healthy food and drink options in school canteens to make the healthy choice, the easy choice. It replaces the fresh tastes at school strategy in NSW schools that was commonly known as the traffic light system.

The revised strategy is consistent with the 2013 Australian dietary guidelines and classifies food and drinks as either everyday or occasional. Sugary drinks will continue not to be sold.

NSW public schools will have until the end of 2019 to transition to the strategy in consideration of canteen operating arrangements, product availability, rural and remote locations and community and cultural expectations. During this time, schools will be fully supported to address practical issues that arise.

The strategy has been informed by a comprehensive evidence report and a consultation process that included school leaders, canteen managers, health professionals, the food industry, school students and parents to understand the barriers and enablers for increasing healthy food and drink choices in NSW school canteens.

For more information , visit Healthy school canteen.

Our shared responsibility

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 09:19:33 AEST

Welcome back for the 2017 school year. I hope everyone had a relaxing and refreshing break.

I'd like to particularly welcome students (along with their parents) and staff starting in our schools for the first time. May the year ahead be engaging and rewarding – a wonderful year of teaching and learning.

We know the world is transforming profoundly and quickly, and it is our great responsibility to prepare our children and young people so that they can flourish through such change. When our children finish school and enter the evermore demanding world beyond, we will know of our success by their ability to live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.

The challenge for public education is to ensure that every student is engaged in school and successfully learning – and this requires a shared responsibility of every person working in public education committed to the improvement of every child, every teacher, every leader and every school.

Mark Scott

Secretary, Department of Education