A note from Steve
Welcome back, I hope you all enjoyed a rejuvenating break and had the chance to spend time with those people most important to you.
Completed in 2023, the five-year Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools project marks a significant milestone for the Academy as we strive to expand the reach of QT. I encourage you to have a look at the Final Report which outlines the compelling body of research demonstrating the significant impact of QTR on student and teacher outcomes.
Over the summer, we took the opportunity to engage in strategic planning and set our goals for the next three years. One of our primary objectives is delivering the Strengthening Induction through QTR project. Funded by the Australian Government, this project presents an exciting opportunity for QTR to be embedded on a national scale and make a real difference for early career teachers.
During our strategic discussions, we acknowledged that while some schools may face constraints engaging in Rounds, there remains a strong desire to embed the QT Model to enhance teaching quality. Our vision of “quality teaching for every student every day” extends beyond Rounds and our team continues to collaborate with schools and teachers to support the use of the Model in daily practice. You can see an example of this collaboration in action in our story on Staff Development Days below.
Interest in QTR is not limited to Australia; it continues to attract attention internationally, as evidenced by Michelle’s recent trip to Sweden. We are actively exploring several other international opportunities and look forward to sharing more details about these later this year.
Finally, preparations for QTiP24: Evidence for impact are well underway. As always, this event promises to be a highlight of the year. I am looking forward to connecting with you there (plus, don’t forget, early bird registrations close soon 😉).
Steve Hannan
Executive Director
From Junee to Burraneer Bay: Our Staff Development Day visits
Three NSW schools hit the ground running this year with tailored Staff Development Days (SDDs). Our QTR Advisers travelled large swathes of the state from the Saphire Coast, to Junee and Burraneer Bay, to greet staff returning to school for Term 1 with a range of highly interactive professional learning.
Beth’s first stop was beautiful green Bega where she received a warm reception at Sapphire Coast Anglican College. The level of staff engagement was wonderful – they were enthusiastic and highly receptive to QTR and the interactive activities conducted during the day.
Meanwhile, following on from a successful twilight session late last year, Rob was welcomed back to Junee High School to run a full SDD. The staff at Junee High were excited about the plans to embed the QT Model and implement QTR across the school this year.
Our trifecta of SDDs concluded with Beth and Kate travelling to Burraneer Bay Public School for a full day on QT Assessment. The atmosphere was warm and supportive, and staff enthusiasm for embedding the QT Model into their assessment practice was clear.
It was a real privilege to be invited to these SDDs, to work with small and large cohorts of staff in their school environments, and to see such a high level of engagement and commitment. We thank all three schools for welcoming us, engaging with QT, and for their positive feedback. We look forward to continuing to support their QT journeys.
If you are interested in having our QTR Advisers deliver a tailored PD session at your school, please get in touch.
Beth’s EZEC conference recap
QTR Adviser, Beth headed to the beautiful Longneck Lagoon Environmental Education Centre on Darug Country on Wednesday, 7 February for the annual Environmental and Zoo Education Centres (EZEC) conference.
“Working with EZECs is such a delight as students experience learning in such diverse environments,” Beth said. “And yet the QT Model still applies and is so valuable for their teaching.”
The longstanding relationship between EZECs and the QT Academy is a testament to the fact that the Model applies no matter the teaching style, age, stage or subject area.
“We’ve developed a great relationship with NSW EZECs thanks to the wonderful work QTR Adviser Michelle has done with a range of Centres over the last few years,” Beth said.
Unlocking the power of QTR in Sweden
Following a successful pilot last September, QTR Adviser, Michelle Ware, returned to Sweden in January to deliver a QTR workshop to 50 teachers.
The trip marks the next stage of a promising collaboration with Mälardalen University researchers, who were inspired by the work of Laureate Professor Jenny Gore and her colleagues at the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre at the University of Newcastle, Australia.
Laureate Professor Jenny Gore appointed AM
Founder of the QT Academy, Laureate Professor Jenny Gore has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in this year’s Australia Day Honours for her significant service to tertiary education.
“I’ve always felt that we can do more in teaching to get better outcomes, to me the most important things are to ensure that we’re delivering quality to really try to do something to address inequities that have been enduring for way too long, and to support teachers,” Jenny said.
“Some people have tried to improve teaching by increasing regulations and standards and blaming teachers for not doing a good enough job, and what my commitment has always been is recognising the great qualities of teachers and the important work of teaching in a way that can actually lead to powerful outcomes for teachers and students, rather than setting up what sometimes feels like barriers to good teaching.”
QTiP24 keynote and guest speakers released
Dr Michele Bruniges AM and Laureate Professor Jenny Gore AM will be your QTiP24: Evidence for impact keynotes, along with guest speaker, comedian and writer Anthony Ackroyd.
At the 2024 Quality Teaching in Practice conference, you will:
- Hear from a series of high-profile guest speakers, as well as your three keynotes, and two thought-provoking panel discussions;
- Gain insight into the latest educational research directly from the researchers gathering and analysing the data;
- Learn hands-on strategies for meaningful data collection in your schools; and,
- See firsthand how more than 30 teachers and school leaders are using, adapting, and evaluating Quality Teaching and QTR to make a positive difference in their classrooms across Australia.
Don’t miss out! Get 20% off your registration for the 2024 Quality Teaching in Practice conference until 1 March 2024.
QTiP24: Evidence for impact will be held at Novotel, Sydney Olympic Park on 3-4 June 2024.
Upcoming workshops and webinars
Recent publications and media
Publications
- A new conceptual framework for understanding and implementing train-the-trainer professional development on a large scale – Matthew Harper, Jennifer Gore, and Jess Harris; Professional Development in Education
Media
- When it comes to teachers, Professor Jenny Gore’s done her homework – Madeline Link; Newcastle Herald
- University isn’t right for everyone. Pushing young people to go can have devastating effects – Kristina Sincock, Felicia Jaremus, and Sally Patfield; The Conversation
