Ask any school leader what devours their teachers' time, and curriculum planning will be near the top of the list. And for principals of small schools juggling multi-age classrooms, the challenge is steeper still.
Now, a new suite of resources has been unveiled to help lighten the load.
Developed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the Curriculum leadership resources offer practical tools and expert guidance to help school and curriculum leaders build teacher capability, strengthen collaboration, and drive effective curriculum implementation across their schools.
Shaped through extensive consultation with teachers, principals and education stakeholders nationwide – and road-tested in 34 schools across multiple jurisdictions – the resources span eight key aspects of curriculum planning, from sequencing learning and including all learners through to planning for multi-age classes.
The initiative forms part of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, which aims to boost teacher retention by cutting unnecessary workload.
The hidden load middle leaders are carrying
Tim Bullard, CEO of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), was one of the key education partners involved in the resources’ development.
Bullard said teaching is a human endeavour, and it works best when teachers feel connected, trusted and supported to plan and learn together.
“Whilst more time cannot be manufactured it’s important that time for collaborative planning and assessment, is not treated as an ‘add on’,” Bullard told The Educator.
“Evidence and data help us see where the pressure points regarding workload, and use of teacher time, currently are, and schools, systems and sectors are responding with a range of initiatives that seek to address workload and administrative burden.”
Equally as important, however, is the availability of practical guidance and support that is easy to use and supports growth in teacher capability and confidence, Bullard noted.
Research has shown that middle leaders often end up carrying curriculum implementation on top of a full teaching load.
Bullard said ACARA’s resources give middle leaders practical tools, templates and guiding questions that make curriculum planning more manageable, especially when they are balancing leadership with a full teaching load.
“They help focus attention on the conversations and decisions that matter, and they create a clear structure for building teacher capability and sequencing learning,” he said.
“Principals play a crucial role in creating an environment where middle leaders can thrive. By protecting time, providing their backing, and establishing the trust and structures necessary for effective collaboration, principals create the foundation for successful initiatives.”
Bullard said the ripple effect of well-supported middle leaders reaches every classroom.
“When this support is in place, middle leaders are empowered to connect curriculum to practice, ultimately strengthening teaching and enhancing learning outcomes for children and young people.”
'Bringing the Australian Curriculum to life'
ACARA’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gniel highlighted how the resources were developed in response to feedback from educators and school leaders seeking practical support for curriculum implementation.
“ACARA is committed to providing practical resources that support high-quality teaching and learning,” Gniel said. “That’s why our new Curriculum leadership resources have been created to help school leaders foster collaborative approaches to curriculum planning in their implementation of the Australian Curriculum.”
Gniel said the new resources, developed in partnership with primary and secondary school educators from across Australia, provide guidance and tools that schools can adapt to their own context.
“They are designed to strengthen whole-school approaches to curriculum planning, and help teachers focus on delivering engaging learning experiences for their students,” he said, adding that the resources will be especially valuable for small schools with multi-age classes.
“We know that the principals and teachers in these schools have specific workload and resource challenges teaching multiple age groups in the same classroom. That’s why it is so important that our new high-quality resources can be adapted to meet the needs of different school settings, sectors and communities, helping our teachers to bring the Australian Curriculum to life in their classrooms.”