Restructure

Newington College

developing young men who will contribute positively to society

From the Headmaster

REVIEW OF ACADEMIC & PASTORAL STRUCTURE

From the Headmaster's column in Black & White 24.5.06

At last week’s staff meeting for the teaching staff at the Stanmore campus I outlined a detailed review of academic and pastoral positions of responsibility. This is the outcome of almost three years of analysis of academic and pastoral outcomes and was strongly influenced by the responses from the Parent Survey (conducted at the end of last year). Also during 2005 several staff were involved in providing a detailed proposal relating to enhancing the pastoral care approach and a great many of their recommendations are in the reorganisation.

Fundamental to the changes is placing students at the centre of action – a stronger focus on academic time and outcomes, classroom teachers and tutors knowing their students well and placing much of the professional development program outside of student academic time. In some areas the College already does this professionally but as the Parent Survey indicated there are areas which require improvement as well as there needing to be greater consistency of quality performance – across all years and subjects.

The Union has sought to align the changes with “Work Choices”. At best this is mischievous and at worst an outright and deliberate lie. Staff were informed of the potential for this change almost 12 months ago with the aim being exactly what it continues to be – to provide a better, more consistent and professional commitment to students.

All Heads of Department/Faculty, Heads of House and Year Coordinators are being asked to commit to 42 weeks of “in term” time. This time (an additional four weeks of “in-term” time) is normally provided by staff who work in these positions to ensure they are well organized and prepared for their tasks and to attend their professional conferences – under what some term a concept of “good will”. Such an approach does not provide the level of certainty of quality preparation and consistency that is required to be a “great” education provider. By establishing both a time requirement and the professional development opportunities for staff development it is my aim to provide Newington boys with the best educational service possible.

Also attached to the conditions of these new positions are appointments for five years with an annual evaluation.

There are several reasons why it has been necessary to ask all staff to reapply for positions when many are already doing a fine job. The new structure has meant that the Head of House and Year Coordinator positions will have different status (salary and conditions) to the present role. There have also been minor changes in some academic departments. A full reassessment of positions allows staff to reconsider their professional aspirations and interests and could see a shift between those in academic and pastoral areas of responsibility. In addition staff in these positions need to be given an opportunity to decide whether they are willing to accept the professional commitment of 42 weeks of “in-term” time plus annual evaluation or not.

As the Union appears to want to play a game of misinformation I have arranged for the detailed paper “Restructure of Academic and Pastoral Positions at Stanmore Campus – for 2007” to be placed here: www.newingtoncollege.nsw.edu.au/restructure.pdf

As outlined in that paper:
“The overall aim is to create an educational environment which is warm, involved, responsive yet with firm, strict and clear expectations of behaviour and outcomes and so encourage young men to become psychologically autonomous”.

This I believe is the summary of the expectations of parents – as described in their responses to the Satisfaction Survey. The restructure of these positions is another step along the path to giving your son the best quality education possible.

— David G Scott