As governments continue to ease COVID-19 restrictions, schools are taking comfort in a growing sense of normalcy that is taking shape throughout their communities.
In January, the NSW Government announced that parents and carers of children in Kindergarten, and Years 1, 2 and 7 would be able to enter school grounds on the first day to drop off their children
The Department has also re-introduced school events, including assemblies, incursions, excursions, sporting and arts events with COVID safety plans for large events and general school guidelines.
In an encouraging sign that the state may have eliminated the virus – at least for the time being – there have been no recorded cases of community transmission for 18 days.
However, while some issues that have plagued the education system are improving, others remain.
Craig Petersen, president of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council, said school leaders are likely to meet a range of ongoing and new challenges throughout Term 1.
“COVID will continue to impact on a range of school activities, and whilst we all hope for the best, we will also be preparing for the worst,” Petersen told The Educator.
“A range of new policies will roll out this year and these need to be managed, and principals will be working with their school teams to finalise their situational analyses and strategic improvement plans”.
Petersen said the NSWSPC’s highest priority, however, will be making sure that students and staff settle into class and that everyone is focused on teaching and learning.
“Much of the focus at the moment is on compliance, accountability and management rather than on innovation, support and leadership. We showed last year what can be achieved when broad guidelines are in place and school leaders are trusted,” he said.
“What we are seeing now, however, is success reduced to simplistic measures and a one-size-fits-all formula. This works for some schools and some students, but severely impacts on the disadvantaged and limits our high achievers from reaching their full potential”.