Acting Minister for Education Lizzie Blandthorn announced that the Government has implemented six recommendations from the Independent Review of administrative and compliance activities in Victorian government schools – cutting paperwork and admin tasks “so teachers can spend less time at their desks and more time with their students”.
The Government said as a result more than 175,000 hours a year would be freed up to spend in classrooms.
The review found that over time administrative demands on teachers and principals have grown, “and taking up a larger and larger share of school staff time and budget”.
“The main concern is stopping the growth of this workload (not eliminating it entirely) as it is becoming increasingly unsustainable and very costly,” the review read.
The Review also found that school staff are making trade-offs in the limited time they have about what will be the most purposeful work.
It made clear that some schools are much better at managing administrative and compliance requirements than others and that these schools have developed and implemented what the Review calls ‘efficient practices’ – systems, processes, actions and behaviours that manage administrative and compliance activities efficiently and effectively, shielding and buffering staff from unnecessary tasks or inefficient practices.
More schools should adopt these practices, and the department should assist in collecting and sharing best practice, the Review said.
“We listened, commissioned a review, and are actioning the recommendations,” Blandthorn said in a statement.
“While admin is necessary, we know our teachers and principals are passionate about their student’s success at school – that’s why we’re saving them time so they can focus on doing what they love,” she said.
Simpler semesterly reports, the Government said, represent a new approach to reducing the time teachers spend writing reports, “while still giving families clear information about their child’s progress”.
The new reports are already in use at some schools, however a broader roll-out will begin across the system in Term 2, with the changes to be completely in place within 18 months.
Other key changes to be made, the government said, include simpler student learning, health, and wellbeing plans and a new Attendance Support Plan for primary and secondary schools, combining attendance improvement plans and return-to-school support plans.
There’ll be clearer guidance around individual education plans (IEP), simpler travel applications and improved admin support for teacher, including prioritising a pilot that allows education support staff to manage non-teaching admin.
There will also be simpler annual plans for principals, including the removal of funding requirements and professional learning planners.
Gisborne Secondary College Principal Sarah Rose said by far the most rewarding and important part of her role as principal is the work she does in engaging with students, staff and families, and work that improves both learning and wellbeing outcomes for our young people.
“Streamlining of student reporting and school planning documentation feels like a tangible improvement to the heavy workload of principals, allowing us to focus on the work that really matters within our communities.”
The review included 28 recommendations, which the Government said it will be considering for future implementation.
