Understand the Principal Standard
What is the Principal Standard?
The Australian Professional Standard for Principals is a public statement setting out what school principals are expected to know, understand and do to succeed in their work. The Principal Standard is an integrated model that recognises 3 Leadership Requirements that a principal draws upon, within 5 areas of Professional Practice.
The Leadership Profiles were developed and validated by the profession to describe each of the Leadership Requirements and Professional Practices in more detail. The profiles, developed directly from the Principal Standard, are presented as a set of leadership actions that effective principals implement as they progress to higher levels of proficiency.
Principals and aspiring principals can use the profiles to help them grow and develop as school leaders. The most effective leaders see learning as central to their professional lives.
Why a Principal Standard?
Principals are leading educational professionals. They inspire students, staff and community members to continuously enhance learning. The Principal Standard promotes a shared vision for effective and impactful school leadership, so principals and school leaders can continually strive to understand and improve their impact.
How was the Principal Standard developed?
The Principal Standard emerged from an intensive and collaborative process involving national and international research, critical review and feedback from over 550 stakeholders. The Principal Standard was developed in collaboration with UK expert, Dame Patricia ‘Pat’ Collarbone.
In 2011, AITSL partnered with 9 organisations to test the Principal Standard nationally through 10 pilot studies.
- Australian Council for Educational Leaders
- Australian Council for Educational Research
- Charles Darwin University, Centre for School Leadership, Learning and Development
- New South Wales Department of Education and Communities
- Principals Australia Institute
- Rural Education Forum Australia
- South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services
- Tasmanian Department of Education
- Western Australia Department of Education
The outcomes of the pilot studies informed the refinement and finalisation of the Principal Standard. The findings and recommendations from each pilot were presented at a leadership symposium held in Melbourne in June 2011.