As part of Sydney Catholic Schools, we employ highly qualified and competent teachers who are accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). To continuously improve our practice, teachers also work towards the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, from proficient teacher to lead teacher level.
The delivery of quality curriculum, pedagogy (teaching methods) and assessment is ensured by our system of schools through the provision of contemporary NESA accredited professional learning in a range of modes. Our Centres of Excellence offer online learning and external face-to-face courses, and timely, collaborative and relevant in-situ learning take place within the context of each classroom. Sydney Catholic Schools’ teachers are strongly committed to their ongoing learning, with many having completed, or are currently undertaking, postgraduate studies in areas related to curriculum, student wellbeing, special education, theology, pastoral care and leadership.
Professional learning is an essential component of each staff member’s role at Our Lady of the Assumption North Strathfield. At our school, professional learning is strategically planned to build the capacity of staff members to ensure all staff can work towards their individual and collective goals for professional growth.
Professional learning takes a variety of forms:
- Collaborative professional learning and planning take place across the grade and stage. Teachers collaborate and teacher specialists to analyse student assessment data and plan learning according to student needs and the demands of the curriculum.
- Staff meetings occur weekly and a staff development day takes place each term. These focus on building teacher capacity and shared understandings across the staff. These times are spent engaging with current research and evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning and applying these to our OLA school context.
- Our staff is highly committed professionals who also pursue their personalised professional learning for continuous improvement. This can take a variety of forms including postgraduate study, external courses, online courses and in-school professional learning with colleagues through data analysis, classroom observation and feedback.