The NSW Department of Education welcomed a team of education experts from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to Spring Hill Public School today.
The team of three is undertaking research into the School Success Model program, with Spring Hill Public School one of five schools across the state being visited.
Department of Education Secretary Georgina Harrisson said the OECD team would provide an objective and international lens on "what we are currently doing well, as well as offer guidance on how to further enhance the program based on their experience working with other education systems in the world".
"We look forward to seeing the results of the OECD research, as we seek to continually improve our schools' success and our students' learning outcomes," she said.
The OECD team will lead focus group discussions and meetings with NSW education and school leaders, teachers, peak bodies, and stakeholders in order to help bridge the gap between policy and practice, and offer concrete recommendations.
The School Success Model is about equipping schools with essential and more targeted support where it's needed to see improvement in student outcomes now and in the future.
"Through these school visits, we are using the knowledge provided by educators to design policies and programs that can empower schools to make sustained improvements in student learning and wellbeing," Ms Harrisson said.
Spring Hill Public School, a rural school of 55 students near Orange, will showcase its multistage classes and a variety of strategies to ensure all students are engaged in their education, including a whole of school approach to planning and assessment.
"We're very much about inclusivity at Spring Hill. We work on the idea of 'one in, all in', so everyone participates in drama, or sport, or whatever activity we're doing," Principal Ann-Marie McAnulty said
Inclusivity at Spring Hill often includes members of the broader community, with, for example, individual reading program supported by parents and families.
Ms McAnulty credits this positive approach towards peer support and relationships as a factor in the school's attendance and NAPLAN successes.
"We're eager to share what we're doing with the OECD and understand what more we can do to build on our success," she said.
Under the School Success Model, every NSW public school will receive quality support resources to improve the academic success, wellbeing and growth of their students. Tiers of targeted support are offered, depending on the needs of the individual school.
The OECD team will visit the NSW Department of Education from 19 to 27 September, with an analytical report due for publication early in 2023.
About the OECD visiting research team
The OECD team comprises policy analysts and education researchers who have worked with other education systems around the world. Members include:
- Professor Stephen Davies, external expert, Cardiff, Wales (UK)
- Marco Kools, Education manager and analyst, Implementing Education Policies Team, Policy Advice and Implementation Division
- Barry Kenny, Analyst, Implementing Education Policies Team Policy Advice and Implementation Division
Planned activities include:
- School visits to Spring Hill Public School, Bankstown Girls High School, Willoughby Girls High School, Willoughby Public School and Clarke Road School for Specific Purposes.
- focus group discussions with principals and teachers in the Metro South and West regions, and regional schools.
- meetings with educational authorities such as the NSW Education Standards Authority and peak bodies including the NSW Secondary Principals' Council and NSW Primary Principals' Association and the union, NSW Teachers Federation.
