school excellence framework version 3 pdf
The School Excellence Framework Version 3, developed by the NSW Department of Education, guides schools in achieving equity and excellence through a structured approach. It focuses on three core domains—Learning, Teaching, and Leading—emphasizing evidence-informed practices and continuous improvement to support student success and wellbeing.
Overview of the Framework
The School Excellence Framework Version 3 is a comprehensive guide developed by the NSW Department of Education to support public schools in achieving excellence and equity. It provides a clear and structured approach for schools to enhance student outcomes, focusing on three core domains: Learning, Teaching, and Leading. The framework outlines 14 key elements across these domains, which define high-quality practices and guide schools in identifying strengths and areas for improvement. By emphasizing evidence-informed practices, collaboration, and continuous growth, the framework helps schools create a culture of excellence and inclusivity. It also prioritizes student wellbeing, ensuring holistic development and preparing learners for future challenges. The framework is designed to be flexible, allowing schools to tailor their strategies while aligning with statewide goals. Through this structured approach, the School Excellence Framework Version 3 empowers schools to deliver equitable and high-quality education, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence for all students.
Key Principles and Objectives
The School Excellence Framework Version 3 is underpinned by core principles that guide schools in their pursuit of equity and excellence. These principles include a commitment to evidence-informed practices, continuous improvement, and a focus on student wellbeing. The framework aims to ensure all students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality education and opportunities to thrive. A key objective is to close achievement gaps by addressing the diverse needs of students through targeted support and inclusive practices. The framework also emphasizes the importance of collaboration, professional learning, and leadership in driving school improvement. By fostering a culture of excellence, the framework seeks to prepare students for future challenges while ensuring equitable outcomes. These principles and objectives provide a clear roadmap for schools to align their practices with the framework’s goals, ultimately enhancing student outcomes and fostering a culture of continuous growth and excellence.
Key Domains of the School Excellence Framework
The School Excellence Framework Version 3 focuses on three key domains: Learning, Teaching, and Leading. These domains provide a structured approach to achieving equity, excellence, and continuous improvement in education effectively.
Learning Domain
The Learning Domain in the School Excellence Framework Version 3 prioritizes student-centered approaches to foster academic, social, and emotional growth. It emphasizes creating a culture where students thrive through engaging, relevant, and inclusive curriculum design. Equity is central, ensuring all students, regardless of background, access high-quality learning opportunities. Evidence-informed practices are encouraged to cater to diverse learning needs, promoting critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. The domain focuses on holistic development, supporting student wellbeing and voice to prepare learners for future challenges. Continuous improvement in learning outcomes is driven by data-informed decision-making and a commitment to excellence. Tools like the Self-Assessment Survey (SEF S-aS) help schools identify strengths and areas for growth, aligning practices with the framework’s goals. By prioritizing equity and excellence, the Learning Domain ensures every student can achieve their full potential, fostering lifelong learning and resilience.
Teaching Domain
The Teaching Domain in the School Excellence Framework Version 3 emphasizes the importance of evidence-informed teaching practices to enhance student outcomes. It highlights high-quality teaching strategies such as explicit instruction, formative assessment, and differentiated teaching to meet diverse student needs. The framework aligns teaching practices with educational research, ensuring educators create engaging and effective learning environments. The NSW Department of Education has partnered with Evidence for Learning to provide practical tools and resources, supporting teachers in implementing evidence-based approaches. This collaboration fosters a culture of professional learning and innovation, equipping educators with the skills to deliver impactful instruction. The domain prioritizes continuous improvement, encouraging teachers to reflect on their practices and adapt to student needs. By focusing on teaching excellence, the framework aims to drive student success, promote equity, and ensure all learners benefit from high-quality instruction. This emphasis on professional growth and collaboration underscores the framework’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence in education.
Leading Domain
The Leading Domain of the School Excellence Framework Version 3 emphasizes the critical role of leadership in driving school improvement and fostering a culture of excellence. It focuses on building capacity across the school community to achieve sustainable growth and equity. Leaders are encouraged to promote collaboration, professional learning, and innovation, aligning with evidence-informed practices. The framework highlights the importance of strategic planning and self-assessment to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions. Tools such as the Self-Assessment Survey (SEF S-aS) support leaders in this process, enabling them to lead with clarity and purpose. By prioritizing equity, leaders ensure all students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to high-quality education. The domain underscores the importance of leadership in creating a culture of high performance, resilience, and student wellbeing, ultimately preparing students for future success. Effective leadership within this domain is essential for embedding excellence into the school’s culture and achieving long-term, positive outcomes for all students.
Core Elements of the Framework
The School Excellence Framework Version 3 is built on three core elements: Equity and Excellence, Evidence-Informed Practices, and Continuous Improvement and Growth. These elements guide schools in achieving high-quality education, fostering a culture of excellence, and ensuring equitable outcomes for all students.
Equity and Excellence
Equity and Excellence are foundational principles of the School Excellence Framework Version 3, ensuring all students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality education. Equity focuses on addressing diverse student needs, providing targeted support to close achievement gaps, and fostering inclusive environments. Excellence emphasizes high standards in teaching, learning, and leadership to prepare students for future challenges. Together, these principles create a foundation where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. By prioritizing equity and excellence, schools promote lifelong learning, resilience, and success, aligning with the broader goals of the NSW education system. This dual focus ensures no student is left behind, enabling all to reach their full potential and achieve sustainable growth. The framework’s emphasis on equity and excellence supports schools in delivering education that is both inclusive and rigorous, driving long-term success for students and communities alike.
Evidence-Informed Practices
Evidence-informed practices are a cornerstone of the School Excellence Framework Version 3, ensuring that teaching and learning strategies are grounded in robust research and data. The framework emphasizes the importance of using evidence to guide decision-making, enabling schools to adopt practices that are proven to enhance student outcomes. Teachers are encouraged to draw on educational research to design engaging and effective learning environments. The NSW Department of Education has partnered with organizations like Evidence for Learning to provide schools with practical tools and resources that align with the framework. These tools support educators in identifying and implementing evidence-based strategies tailored to their students’ needs. By fostering a culture of evidence-informed practice, schools can ensure that their approaches are both impactful and sustainable. This focus on evidence not only improves teaching quality but also drives continuous improvement, ensuring that all students benefit from high-quality education. The framework’s emphasis on evidence-informed practices is crucial for achieving equity and excellence in education.
Continuous Improvement and Growth
Continuous improvement and growth are central to the School Excellence Framework Version 3, enabling schools to systematically enhance their practices and achieve long-term success. The framework encourages a cyclical approach to improvement, where schools engage in self-assessment, planning, implementation, and reflection to drive progress. By aligning with the framework’s 14 elements, schools can identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth, ensuring targeted and impactful strategies. Data and evidence play a critical role in informing decision-making, allowing schools to track progress and adapt their approaches over time. This iterative process fosters a culture of continuous improvement, where schools are empowered to address emerging challenges and seize opportunities for innovation. The framework’s focus on growth ensures that schools remain adaptable and forward-thinking, ultimately preparing students for future success. By prioritizing continuous improvement, schools can sustain high-quality education and equitable outcomes for all students. This commitment to growth aligns with the framework’s vision of excellence and equity in education.
Implementation and Support
The School Excellence Framework Version 3 offers a structured approach to implementation, supported by resources like the Self-Assessment Survey and NSW Department of Education guides. It promotes a culture of continuous improvement and equity through a cycle of planning, action, and reflection, ensuring schools have the tools to achieve sustainable growth and excellence.
The School Excellence Cycle
The School Excellence Cycle is a structured process designed to guide NSW public schools in achieving continuous improvement. It begins with self-assessment, where schools evaluate their performance across the three domains—Learning, Teaching, and Leading. This step identifies strengths and areas for growth, enabling schools to develop tailored action plans aligned with the framework’s 14 elements. Implementation follows, where evidence-informed practices are put into action, fostering collaboration among staff, students, and the community. Regular monitoring and evaluation ensure progress toward goals, with data-driven decisions informing adjustments. The cycle concludes with a review phase, where outcomes are analyzed, and future priorities are set. This iterative process supports schools in embedding excellence into their culture, ensuring sustainable improvement and enhanced student outcomes. By systematically pursuing equity and excellence, schools drive long-term success and prepare students for future challenges.
Self-Assessment and Planning Tools
Self-Assessment and Planning Tools are essential components of the School Excellence Framework Version 3, enabling schools to evaluate their performance and plan for improvement. The Self-Assessment Survey (SEF S-aS) is a key tool designed to help schools reflect on their practices across the three domains of Learning, Teaching, and Leading. This survey aligns with the framework’s 14 elements, providing a structured approach to identify strengths and areas for growth. Schools can use the insights gained to develop targeted action plans, ensuring strategies are tailored to address specific needs and enhance student outcomes. Additionally, the framework offers guides for mapping educational approaches, helping schools align their practices with the framework’s expectations. These tools promote a culture of continuous improvement, enabling schools to make data-driven decisions and track progress over time; By leveraging these resources, schools can effectively plan and implement initiatives that foster equity, excellence, and sustainable growth, ultimately benefiting both students and the broader educational community.
Resources and Guidance for Schools
The School Excellence Framework Version 3 provides a range of resources and guidance to support schools in achieving equity and excellence. The NSW Department of Education offers tools such as the Self-Assessment Survey (SEF S-aS) and guides for mapping educational approaches to the framework’s elements. These resources help schools align their practices with the framework’s expectations and identify areas for improvement. Additionally, partnerships with organizations like Evidence for Learning provide schools with practical tools and resources to implement evidence-informed practices. The framework also includes detailed guides to support schools in understanding and applying its 14 elements across the three domains. These resources empower schools to develop targeted action plans, engage in continuous improvement, and foster a culture of excellence. By leveraging these tools, schools can access professional development opportunities, strategic planning templates, and data-driven strategies to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. This comprehensive support ensures schools are well-equipped to meet the framework’s goals and deliver high-quality education for all students.