NSW teachers will be given more time than ever to prepare high quality lessons under plans to support teachers roll out the changes to the new school curriculum.
The additional curriculum release time is on top of the existing weekly release time from face-to-face teaching provided to all NSW public school teachers.
Nationals Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the release time will give teachers the opportunity to fully engage with the new curriculum, which is on track to be delivered by 2025.
“We continue to listen to the workforce by removing unnecessary administration requirements, and now we are giving additional time for planning to get this landmark new curriculum right from the beginning,” Ms Mitchell said.
Secondary school teachers, who currently receive five hours and 35 minutes of release time each week, will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week for three years.
Primary school teachers, who currently receive two hours of release time every week, will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week in 2023, increasing to an extra 60 minutes per week in 2024 and 2025.
Primary school executive staff will also receive additional release time.
Ms Mitchell said schools will also be given more time to plan for the following school years, with an extra school development day scheduled for the end of Term 4 in 2022 and 2023.
“Currently the last day of face-to-face learning for students in Term 4 in both 2022 and 2023 is a Monday, so converting these two days to a school development day is a no-brainer,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It also makes more sense for families to finish the school year on a Friday, while allowing staff more time to have an extra day of professional learning.”
