QTU pushing for more deputy principals in state schools

The Queensland Teachers’ Union wants more deputy principals deployed across state schools as principals say extra support is needed to lift student performance.

Queensland’s powerful teachers’ union is pushing for more deputy principals to be deployed across state schools as primary school principals argue extra support is needed to lift student performance.

The Sunday Mail has been told the plan has been raised, but the Queensland Teachers’ Union has refused to confirm or deny whether it is pushing to grow the numbers of deputies currently working at 692 of Queensland’s 1258 state schools, who are paid up to $144,000 a year.

It comes as negotiations for the latest enterprise bargaining agreement get under way.

Asked repeatedly whether the QTU would like to see deputy principals appointed to every state school, president Cresta Richardson said she welcomed any discussions around more school leader placements.

She said the QTU was “advocating for positive reform in resourcing in all of our schools” as the federal election approached.

Ms Richardson said the pandemic had shown current staffing models of teacher numbers, school leaders and support staff did not match the growing demands and pressures of modern education.

“The pressure of 21st century schooling has changed the model with resourcing our schools, especially in rural and remote settings,” she said.

“Schools must be properly resourced for the 21st century.

“This is a major interest for our schools, our teachers, our school leaders, our students, and their communities, right across the state.”

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson

She said the QTU advocated for the “individual needs and resources of each school in partnership with school leaders and QTU members”.

It is understood Education Minister Grace Grace has not been lobbied.

But Queensland Association of State School Principals president Pat Murphy, who represents primary school principals, said he would support any such plan.

He said his members wanted additional middle management – either in the form of deputy principals or heads of department specialising in curriculum and pedagogy – to assist in the rollout of the new national curriculum.

“Our members are certainly very supportive of any claim that would enhance the curriculum delivery into primary schools because this would benefit students in the long run,” Mr Murphy said.

“If we want to see student learning outcome results improve in Queensland, primary school leaders see this as one of the critical components.”

An Education Department spokesman said the department had a needs-based resourcing model that took account of the broad range of state schools.

“The models factor in a broad range of characteristics, including schools’ individual enrolment profiles, to determine state schools staff resourcing across Queensland, including deputy principals,” he said.

“Schools can also choose to allocate additional discretionary resources through programs such as Investing for Success.”