CHANGING syllabuses, professional development and expectations are the biggest issues facing teachers in Bathurst’s schools.
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Chief executive officer David de Carhalho of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) – formerly known as the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards – was in the city for a visit on Thursday.
On his agenda was the chance to speak to students and staff at Denison College’s Bathurst and Kelso campuses.
Mr de Carhalho said it was important for NESA to hear firsthand from staff and students about what issues were of greatest concern.
“Our mission is to help teachers and students to be better,” he said.
Mr de Carhalho said recent changes to the way students in Year 11 and 12 are assessed are among some of the syllabus changes that teachers are becoming familiar with.
Denison College principal Craig Petersen said extra work along with pressure from the community and society were among the issues that teachers raised during the visit.
The people who place the most pressure on teachers are teachers themselves.
- Denison College principal Craig Petersen
“There’s an increased workload and demands on time,” he said.
“The people who place the most pressure on teachers are teachers themselves.”
NESA western liaison officer Julie Pyne, who is based in Bathurst, was also at the visit and she praised staff at all Bathurst schools for the work they do in and out of classrooms.
“What I see is really dedicated and hard-working teachers,” she said.
“It’s a really demanding profession, but people love that because they are dedicated to it.”
Mr de Carhalho said the upcoming merger of All Saints’ College and The Scots School can bring benefits to students and staff.
He said the new school should be able to offer a wider range of subjects for study due to the larger student population.
NESA has a wide-range of roles across the state for government, religious and independent schools. Among the roles it oversees are: syllabus design for students in kindergarten to Year 12, running the Higher School Certificate and NAPLAN testing, along with ensuring all of the state’s 150,000 teachers are accredited.