School Performance Management

Why do I need to maintain a record of my Professional Growth Cycle when I know I have all my files for teaching?

By keeping a Professional Growth Cycle document you are providing proof of your professional reflection in relation to the Standards and a record that you are thinking about your professional learning and accountability.

How can I use my Professional Growth Cycle documents?

Your documents can be used for a range of purposes;

• A reflection record for your appraisal and shared discussion feedback meetings,
• Evidence to support renewal of your Practising Certificate,
• To support application for new appointments,
• To record your reflections on teaching and learning,
• An archive of resources for future reference.

Does the Teaching Council ask for these documents?

No. The Teaching Council has indicated that it is up to schools to develop a process that best suits their needs. The Professional Growth Cycle document provides you with an easy way to reflect on school focuses and share this with your appraiser in a reflective manner.

What do I need to show in my Professional Growth Cycle document?

The information you include should be sufficient enough to meet your requirements for Appraisal and Practicing Certificate renewal. This can reflect:

• Whole of school agreed focuses,
• Your professional reflections and collaborative discussions,
• Whole of school collaborative feedback,
• Professional Learning and Development needs,
• Inquiry Learning focuses (if included in your school’s process)
• Teaching as Inquiry reflections,
• Self Reflection material,
• Meeting notes,
• Summary reports,
• Reference documents.

Do you support the Catholic Elaborations of the Teaching Council Standards?

Yes, there is an option to enable the Catholic Elaborations when creating your Professional Growth Cycle document. Catholic Elaborations can be referenced just like regular Standards.

Who is responsible for deciding what I should focus on?

This should be done in conjunction with your Principal and teaching colleagues when setting up focuses for the year. These should reflect the school process and focuses reflecting charter goals.

What should I do with my reflections?

You should keep notes/records of your reflections and links to the Teaching Council Standards that provide enough information for your appraiser to be able to endorse your professional practice and for attestation for your Practising Certificate renewal.

Does the reflection I am doing as part of my Teaching as Inquiry help?

Yes, the components of your Teaching as Inquiry reflection make a good link for your Appraisal and Practising Certificate needs. Many schools have focused their professional learning on the Teaching as Inquiry process.

Who can view my Professional Growth Cycle documents?

Only users in the system who are listed as administrators for your school. Who these are will be decided by your particular school. Your documents may also be seen by administrators of any Groups you belong to in the system. Groups are an optional part of School Performance Management and are also managed by your school.

What happens if I leave my current school?

If your new school also uses School Performance Management, your account can be moved to them. If not, your account can be placed in a special entity so that you can still access it and work on it. You will be responsible for your yearly subscription fee that your old school was paying on your behalf. We encourage you to introduce your new school to School Performance Management. We're happy to answer any questions they might have about the service.