The Independent Schools Centre for Excellence (ISCE) is an initiative funded by the Australian Government under the Smarter Schools National Partnership for Improving Teacher Quality. The central aim of the ISCE is to assist schools to raise the quality of teaching and learning throughout the independent sector, thereby enhancing student performance. It facilitates the sharing of high quality teaching practice between independent schools and fosters partnerships across the sector and with Aboriginal communities.
A survey circulated in May 2010 to all independent schools in NSW provided valuable direction for guiding the development of programs within the ISCE. The results identified schools with specific expertise linked to the reform priorities and the types of professional support to achieve improved outcomes for teacher and student learning. ISCE initiatives were designed to match school expertise and identified professional learning needs linked to the reform priorities.
ISCE Initiatives
Teacher Accreditation grants: These grants support teachers to achieve accreditation at the higher levels of Professional Accomplishment, Professional Excellence and Professional Leadership. Since June 2010, 6 grants have been provided to schools.
Professional Exchange and Mentoring: Over 30 teachers, librarians and IT Managers across NSW are being mentored by very experienced educators from other schools. These teachers are mostly in smaller, regional schools and many are in their first three years of teaching. The mentors selected for the program are all recognised as excellent practitioners in their field. Many of the mentors are accredited at the level of Professional Accomplishment or are working toward this level.
Building Relationships Grants: Currently 14 schools have received grants to promote collaboration and sharing of expertise that supports teachers to improve their students’ educational outcomes. By building relationships now the aim is that partnerships will continue to develop beyond the period of the funding and so support sustainable improvement.
Two schools receiving the grants are collaborating on a writing project and another school is working on building a strong relationship with an Aboriginal community. Supported by a university, seven schools are working together on improving literacy and the implementing the NSW Quality Teaching Framework. Two schools are working on projects involving critical reflection on classroom practice and the development of deeper Aboriginal cultural awareness.
Many of these partnerships involve schools serving low SES communities. The grants contribute to the independent sector’s capacity to make a difference for the students’ learning in these schools.
For more information about the ISCE and progress of independent schools in this initiative refer to the documents on the right hand side of this page.
How can you and your school be involved?
If you would like to become involved in the ISCE or explore the possibilities of funding to support improvements in teacher quality in the independent sector, please contact Lynne Stone, National Partnerships Coordinator at lstone@aisnsw.edu.au