Click here to download the position paper in a PDF file.

The SACE First Year Evaluation has been discussed at the SASPA Curriculum & Pedagogy Strategic Directions Group (24th February), the SASPA Board (9th March) and through on-line discussion on the SASPA chatlist. Discussion was centred around the terms of reference for the evaluation stated in 3.1 of the Evaluation Brief document.

In July 2011 SASPA received funding from DECD Teaching and Learning Services to undertake an Adolescent Literacy Project.

To date, two aspects of the Project have been completed - click here to download the report.:

1. Literature Review: Adolescent literacy research
   
2. Principals’ perspectives on adolescent literacy improvement: September – November 2011

The Literature Review: Adolescent literacy research mainly covers Australian and international research conducted since 2000 and is designed to give leaders and teachers an overview of current issues in the area of adolescent literacy.

"What clearly emerges from all the research on adolescent literacy improvement is the importance of ‘capacity-building’ and the need for models of capacity-building to be diverse, locally-responsive, focussed on classroom practice and heavily-supported in a sustained way by leadership at the school and system levels."

The document, Principals’ perspectives on adolescent literacy improvement: September – November 2011, represents a synthesis of Principals’ comments and perspectives on issues associated with literacy in the secondary sector. These emerged from interviews conducted with Principals in South Australian High Schools between September and November 2011. The last part of this document draws connections between the views of Principals and the research documented in the Literature Review.

The Adolescent Literacy Project Report is divided into three parts:

1. Executive Summary
2. Literature Review: Adolescent literacy research
3. Principals’ perspectives on adolescent literacy improvement: September – November 2011

Click here to read the letter of invitation from Jan Paterson, SASPA President.

Leaders in public schools face multiple challenges. All of us work within a human resources system which constrains our ability to put the best teachers in front of our students. All of us experience the daily pressures that can crowd out planning for the future. We face changing technology and the need to properly face and understand what 21st Century learning really means. We know that site circumstances add different challenges, and these vary from school to school. For example, some are isolated, by remoteness or rurality. This distances them from the support of their peers and makes it harder to become involved in collective action that could help their schools or affect policy. Some have more plentiful resources but have to deal with extremely demanding and influential parent groups. Some deal with the complexities that are associated with poverty which are expressed both in the lives of their students and in the life of their school. As leaders we bring a wealth of knowledge about how to serve the wide and complex array of students who make up public schools and are the future. This is a strength we can use.

I am committed to ensuring SASPA

• Has a more active participation of its members, including using effective technology
• Has stronger links between members and the Board
• Articulates a strong view of secondary education
• Collaborates with others to support members’ professional growth.

The 2012 SASPA Membership Form has been added to the website for renewing and new members. Click on the Join SASPA menu item above to access the page with the form. You can download it from there.