Scathing report lacks independence: director

Department of Education director- general Sharyn O’Neill has dismissed the findings of a teachers’ union inquiry which found regional principals were underpaid, lacked support and had limited access to professional development.

The State School Teachers Union of WA inquiry examined the changing roles, expectations and duties of school leaders since 1991, the last time a similar investigation took place.

The inquiry was chaired by former ACT Education Department chief Fran Hinton.

Ms Hinton said the inquiry found teachers in regional areas, including the South West, were reluctant to take leadership roles because of the ever-increasing complexity of the positions.

“WA overall is pretty well served by its current leadership and school system, but most of the current leaders have been developed under previous arrangements when there was far more support for principals,” she said.

“But senior leaders are talking about leaving and no one wants to take on their roles because they are viewed as too hard with too little support from the Department of Education.”

“There is an urgent need for a system to develop and sustain future principals, particularly in regional areas such as Bunbury, because the cost of professional development is close to prohibitive.”

Ms O’Neill said the inquiry’s claim that overworked principals were a detriment to students learning was “drawing a long bow”.

“I’m the first person to acknowledge what principals do for their schools and communities — they do a wonderful job and many go way beyond what is required,” she said.

“But this is not an independent report. It is commissioned by the union and reflects the views of 500 people out of a workforce of about 35,000.”

She said she would read the report and thought schools needed leaders who were well-supported.