School leaders

The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) includes a principal questionnaire. Today’s infographic looks at the percentages of principals by Australian state and territory (and the OECD average) who reported participating at least once a week in 7 stated educational and instructional leadership behaviours.

School Assembly is the podcast where we find out what it takes to build a school from the ground up. In Series 3 we’re following Dan McShea, Principal of Notre Dame College, Queensland. In this episode we’re talking leadership – including the differences between taking on the role at an existing school, as opposed to being a foundation principal.

In this Teacher Awards 2024 winners’ profile, we chat with the executive team at Cessnock High School in NSW. Winners of our Leadership Award for Driving School Improvement, we hear about how they’ve transformed school culture and improved academic achievement.

Improving students’ academic achievement goes hand-in-hand with supporting their health and wellbeing. In Episode 56 of our School Improvement podcast series, we’re focusing on grief and loss education. We’ll be hearing about an evidence-based program that’s helping a high school in regional New South Wales support its students with these issues.

School Assembly is the podcast series that explores what it takes to build a school from the ground up. In this episode we catch up with Notre Dame College Principal Dan McShea to talk about crafting the school vision, mission and motto.

In this Q&A, we speak to Kirsten Hodgson and Bryan Kilkenny from St Monica’s College about their approach to explicit instruction, how they use professional learning to support staff in shifting their practice, and what they’ve learned from visiting other schools that have undertaken a similar journey.

We’re joined by Professor David Hopkins ahead of his keynote at ACER’s Research Conference 2025, titled ‘Unleashing Greatness – A Strategy for School Improvement’. Our conversation zeros in on one of the 8 steps of his strategy, instructional leadership, and includes practical pointers and plenty to reflect on in relation to your own context and practice.

In this episode of our Global Education podcast, Teacher Editor Jo Earp talks to Soukdalone Phommathep – Foundation Principal of Lab Langban in Laos – about its growth from humble beginnings, learning while having fun, the importance of student voice, and a playful design touch that’s enjoyed by adults just as much as the children.

As a teacher or school leader, what are the mental health needs of your students? How do you promote mental health and wellbeing? What would a whole-school approach look like in your own context? Educational and Developmental Psychologist Dr Jane Kirkham shares details of an organisational tool called the ‘Wellbeing Tree’.

How can we transform education practice to enable holistic growth for all students? That’s the topic for Research Conference 2025. In this Q&A, we speak with Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy – Research Director for ACER’s Centre for School and System Improvement – about the theme, and why it’s an important topic for school leaders and teachers.