To: Subscribers

In this newsletter

• Welcome
• Changes to NESA Curriculum Reform schedule
• Professional learning – LECI
• Have your say
• Regular curriculum reform updates
• Curriculum Reform Communities (CRC)
• Assessment practices
• CESE’s new case studies
• Resources and other PL
• Primary specific information
• Secondary specific information
• Provide your feedback

Welcome

Welcome to the second edition of the Curriculum Reform Middle Leaders newsletter. It’s been an action-packed Term 2, so we’re excited to bring the latest updates, news and resources to help you effectively implement the new curriculum.

Changes to NESA Curriculum Reform schedule

The NSW Government has announced changes to the NSW Curriculum Reform schedule. The new schedule will be staggered, with core subjects available first and all new syllabuses delivered to teachers by 2027. This will give teachers more space to get to know the new syllabuses and the time to implement them well.

All syllabuses that have been released and scheduled for implementation in 2024 are proceeding as planned. The NSW Curriculum Reform schedule will be redeveloped and published on the NESA website once available.

Professional learning - LECI

Modules 2 and 3 of the ‘Leading effective curriculum implementation’ (LECI) Professional Learning (PL) went live in Week 2 and 7 respectively. The PL is free and available to support you as a middle leader to lead effective curriculum implementation for any syllabus. If you missed these sessions, we encourage you to watch the recordings and access the available resources in the LECI Teams space. Membership to the LECI Teams space can be gained by completing this short form.

There are currently 1900+ members accessing the professional learning and resources in the LECI Teams space for Modules 1-3. Modules 2 and 3 are both NESA accredited PD. To gain NESA accredited PD hours, participants will need to complete the evaluation form and upload evidence of completed school-based tasks. More information is available in the LECI Teams space.

Up next:

Register your interest for ‘Meet the experts – Module 3’: Unpacking the Grattan institute guide: How to implement a whole-school curriculum approach (2023)

• Tuesday 27 June 3:45 - 4:45 pm (Term 2 Week 10)

• Monday 24 July 3:45pm - 4:45 pm (Term 3 Week 2)
• Tuesday 25 July 3:45pm - 4:45 pm (Term 3 Week 2)

‘Have your say’ on new syllabuses

In Term 3, NESA will consult on 8 syllabuses.

Mandatory K-6 syllabuses:

• Creative Arts
• Human Society and its Environment
• Personal Development Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
• Science and Technology.

• Geography
• History
• PDHPE
• Visual Arts.

Regular curriculum reform updates

To provide schools with regular and consistent messaging, the Curriculum and Reform team is releasing a communication pack twice per term (Weeks 3 and 8). These packs are designed to provide DELs and principals with access to the most up to date curriculum reform and implementation information. However, the content is also suitable for middle leaders as it includes primary and secondary PL and resource updates and the latest news from NESA. The information can be accessed on the Keep up to date webpage by selecting the ‘principal’ dropdown.

Curriculum Reform Communities (CRC)

CRC are a great way to meet with other schools and share information about curriculum reform and implementation. There are 71 CRC across NSW. If your school isn’t already part of a CRC, check out the webpage for more information.

For those of you who are already part of a CRC, a recording of Simon Breakspear’s Term 2 PL, ‘monitoring impact’, is now available.

Assessment practices

The Assessment practices – consistent teacher judgement webpage has launched to provide the latest advice for school leaders and teachers in designing, marking and moderating school-based assessment. The webpage provides:

• an outline of the key principles which inform assessment practices
• important considerations when administering assessment
• links to additional resources to strengthen knowledge and understanding of consistent teacher judgement and moderation practices.

CESE's new case studies

CESE’s new curriculum implementation case studies share the strategies that have supported the successful roll-out of the new curriculum in 6 early adopter schools with their Year 1 cohorts.

The findings of CESE’s research will be used to strengthen the department’s implementation support to all NSW schools. Along with the supporting discussion guide, the case studies can be used alongside the range of NSW Curriculum Reform resources.

Resources and other PL

Resources continue to be released in Weeks 1, 3, 7 and 10 of every term and details are communicated via Staff Noticeboard, Statewide Staffrooms and on the Keep up to date webpage.

Primary specific

There are a range of new K-6 resources to support primary schools. These include the first scope and sequences for English and mathematics 3-6 and additional units for English and mathematics K-2. It is worth noting that all 200 K-2 units are now published, the first-time teachers have been given units that cover an entire stage – a huge achievement from the Primary Curriculum team. The unprecedented support is part of the department’s commitment to provide a range of quality assured curriculum implementation resources which contribute to decreasing teacher workload.

Join the conversation on the Primary curriculum Statewide Staffroom. This is a space for curriculum collaboration, to keep up to date with new curriculum resources and to connect you with colleagues from across the state.

Schools should continue to plan and prepare this year for implementation of the following syllabuses in 2024:

• 3-6 section of English K-10
• 3-6 section of Mathematics K-10
• Aboriginal Languages K-10
• Classical Languages K-10
• Modern Languages K-10

Secondary specific

There are a range of new 7-12 resources to support secondary schools. These include new resources for English (Stage 5), mathematics (Stage 4 and 5), computing technology 7-10, enterprise computing (11-12), software engineering 11-12, geography 11-12, modern languages K-10 and department approved electives.

Ahead of implementation of the Computing Technology 7-10 syllabus in 2024, the department is running a campaign to inform and motivate schools, teachers, parents and carers and Stage 4 students about the new syllabus to help drive enrolments. Access the range of resources to help encourage students to enrol.

Join the conversation on your KLA Statewide Staffroom. This is a space where you can share, collaborate and ask our subject matter experts questions about your syllabus.

Schools should continue to plan and prepare this year for implementation of the following syllabuses in 2024:

• 7-10 section of English K-10
• 7-10 section of Mathematics K-10
• Aboriginal Languages K-10
• Classical Languages K-10
• Modern Languages K-10
• Computing Technology 7-10
• Computing Technology Life Skills 11-12
• Enterprise Computing 11-12
• Software Engineering 11-12
• Geography 11-12
• Geography Life Skills 11-12

Provide your feedback

We’d love to hear from you. Tell us what’s working with curriculum implementation in your school or let us know if you have any questions in the feedback form.

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