Primary Matters

Primary Matters May 2004

extracted from Board Bulletin, volume 13, number 2

Contents

Your Board Inspectors

Board of Studies Inspectors are highly experienced educators who are seconded by the Office of the Board of Studies to provide curriculum leadership to NSW education systems, schools and education communities in their field of expertise. Their key role has been demonstrated recently with their leadership of the process of development of 42 new Years 7–10 syllabuses and their presentation of more than 160 Years 7–10 workshops across the state to assist teachers to prepare for the implementation of the new syllabuses. Board Inspectors also play a key role leading the Board’s processes for the registration and accreditation of non-government schools in NSW.

Rosemary Hafner – Board Inspector, Non-government School Review

Rosemary is responsible for developing a strategic management plan to implement the recommendations related to the registration and accreditation of non-government schools in the Review of Non-government Schooling in NSW: Report 1. This has involved developing the registration manuals that articulate the registration and accreditation requirements, the evidence of compliance for each requirement and the appeal mechanisms for non-government schools and registration systems. Prior to undertaking this role she was Inspector, Science, and oversaw the development of all syllabuses from Kindergarten to Year 12 including the implementation of the Eltis and McGaw review recommendations.

Phone: (02) 9265 8603

Paul Hewitt – Board Inspector, PDHPE

Paul was previously Senior Curriculum Officer (PDHPE) at the Office of the Board of Studies, following extensive experience in PDHPE education as a teacher, Head Teacher and Consultant. Paul currently exercises a syllabus development management role across the curriculum in addition to his role as Inspector, PDHPE.

Phone: (02) 9367 8156

Howard Kennedy – Board Inspector, Technology Education

Howard was previously Head Teacher, Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) at Cherrybrook Technology High and DET TAS consultant for Western Region. He has chaired the HSC Design and Technology Examination Committee and has extensive experience as a Senior HSC Marker. Howard is currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Politics and Public Policy.

Phone: (02) 9367 8246

Peter Osland – Board Inspector, Mathematics

Peter has taught Mathematics in a number of government secondary schools and was previously Head Teacher, Mathematics at Matraville High School. Peter held the position of Senior Assessment Officer (Mathematics) at the Office of the Board of Studies during 1993 –1994 and 1997. He has been a senior HSC Marker and Supervisor ofMarking for the School Certificate, and was recently appointed Coordinating Supervisor of Marking for Mathematics. Peter is a former President of the Mathematical Association of NSW and is currently the Office’s coordinating Inspector of the program for the registration and accreditation of non-government schools.

Phone: (02) 9367 8103

Lindsay Swan – Board Inspector, Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE)

Lindsay has been teaching or directly involved in education in NSW for over 27 years. Lindsay has extensive teaching experience and has been chair of HSC Examination Committees and a Supervisor of Marking in HSIE. Prior to his appointment as Inspector, Lindsay was a project officer with the Office of the Board of Studies. Lindsay has supervised the revision and development of HSIE curriculum and is responsible for the HSIE subjects of Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Society and Culture, Studies of Religion, Commerce and Work Education.

Phone: (02) 9367 8150

Marianne Millan – Board Inspector, Vocational Education and Training

Marianne has previously held various positions in the Department of Education and Training in VET policy and implementation, and in Training and Development. Marianne has also worked as an adviser in the previous NSW Ministry of Education and has teaching experience in government and TAFE systems. Marianne is currently completing a graduate diploma in Public Administration at the University of Sydney under a scholarship from the NSW Premier’s Department.

Phone: (02) 9367 8310

Kevin Lowe – Board Inspector, Aboriginal Education

Kevin commenced teaching in 1975 and has taught at inner city, metropolitan, north coast and western regional government high schools. He has lectured in Teacher Education programs and has worked on ACAP and DSP programs. Kevin is the National Deputy Chairperson of the Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages and AECG Inc. Kevin holds a graduate certificate in Public Sector Management and was recently awarded the prestigious Equity and Diversity prize at the Public Sector Management Course graduation ceremony.

Phone: (02) 9367 8198

Tony Moore – Board Inspector, English

Tony has been teaching or been directly involved with education in NSW for over 27 years. Previously an English teacher and Head of English, Tony served more recently as a Senior Curriculum Officer (English) with the Office of the Board of Studies. Tony has also been a senior HSC and School Certificate marker and has been a project officer and manager of the NSW Stage 6 English Syllabus, the NSW Years 7–10 English Syllabus and the NSW K–10 Curriculum Framework.

Phone: (02) 9367 8276

Jennifer Lawless – Board Inspector, Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE)

Jennifer is Inspector, HSIE with responsibility for curriculum leadership in History, Aboriginal Studies and Legal Studies. Jennifer has previously taught in government schools. Since 1974, she has served as a DET History Consultant and lectured in History Method at the Universities of Sydney and Western Sydney, and at Macquarie University. Jennifer is currently undertaking a PhD in Australian History.

Phone: (02) 9367 8151

Jay McPherson – Board Inspector, Creative Arts

Jay has held various arts consultancy positions with the Department of Education and Training and was Head Teacher, Creative Arts at Macquarie Fields High School. Jay’s background is musical education and he has presented at regional, state and international conferences. Jay is currently undertaking a PhD on the assessment of musical performance.

Phone: (02) 9367 8030

Margaret Malone – Board Inspector, Primary

Margaret was previously Principal of Pennant Hills Public School and has served as Vice-President of the NSW Primary Principals’ Association. Margaret’s current position includes curriculum leadership and responsibility for Primary education for over 2000 government and non-government schools with 36 000 teachers and over 600 000 students, K–12 special education and special needs students, home schooling for over 1500 children and curriculum development for the six Primary Education Key Learning Areas.

Phone: (02) 9367 8199

Dr Margaret Silink – Board Inspector, Languages

Margaret has extensive teaching experience in both tertiary and secondary education and has taught in government and independent schools. She has also had extensive involvement in HSC Languages marking. Margaret has previously worked in the Test Development unit of the Office of the Board of Studies, which involved working closely with the Board’s Languages examination committees.

Phone: (02) 9367 8152

Gina Grant – Board Inspector, Science

Gina has had extensive experience in Science education across Kindergarten to Year 12. She has taught Science in government, Catholic systemic and Independent schools. Previously a DET Science Consultant (St George–Sutherland Districts) and Coordinator, Professional Development at Kincoppal- Rose Bay, Gina has been a Head Teacher, Science in three Independent schools.

Phone: (02) 9367 8136

Your local BOSLO

Board of Studies Liaison Officers (BOSLOs) are highly experienced teachers who are seconded by the Office of the Board of Studies to provide advice and assistance to schools and the community on matters relating to Board of Studies policies and programs. There are ten BOSLOs located across the state. Four are situated within metropolitan Sydney and six are based in regional centres across NSW.

Paul Carnemolla – BOSLO, Metropolitan North

Paul was previously Head of Curriculum at St Leo’s Catholic College, Wahroonga and served as the BOSLO for Metropolitan North-West from 2001 to 2002. He is also the current President of the Science Teachers’ Association of NSW. Paul is based at the Office of the Board of Studies in Clarence Street, Sydney.

Phone: (02) 9367 8356

Jenny Bryant – BOSLO, Metropolitan South-West

Jenny has served as the BOSLO for Metropolitan South-West since 2002. She was previously a Senior English Teacher and Student Welfare Coordinator at Manly High School and a Senior HSC Marker for English. Jenny is based at Parramatta.

Phone: (02) 9806 0932

Scott Thomson – BOSLO, Metropolitan East

Scott was previously Head Teacher, HSIE at Seven Hills High School and held the position of Senior Curriculum Officer with the Office of Board of Studies prior to his secondment as the BOSLO for Metropolitan East. Scott has also served as a Chair of a HSC Examination Committee and as a Coordinating Supervisor of HSC Marking. Scott is based at Randwick.

Phone: (02) 9314 7987

Vivien Brewer – BOSLO, Metropolitan North-West

Vivien has 30 years experience teaching English in government schools, TAFE Colleges and more recently in Catholic schools. Vivien was most recently Assistant Principal (Curriculum) at Catherine McAuley College, Westmead and has been involved in HSC and School Certificate marking for a number of years. Vivien is based at Parramatta.

Phone: (02) 9806 0931

Edwina McCoy – BOSLO, North Coast

Edwina was previously Head Teacher, English at Coffs Harbour Senior College before her appointment as the BOSLO for the North Coast. Edwina is based at Coffs Harbour.

Phone: (02) 6659 3274

Wilfried Keller – BOSLO, North-West

Wilfried was previously Assistant Principal at O’Connor Catholic College in Armidale and has been involved in curriculum development for Catholic schools. Wilfried has taught Mathematics in both government and non-government schools. Wilfried is based at Tamworth.

Phone: (02) 6755 5043

Philippa Young – BOSLO, Hunter

Philippa was previously Assistant Principal at Tenambit Public School. As BOSLO for Hunter area, Philippa is based at Newcastle.

Phone: (02) 4924 9976

John Gildea – BOSLO, South Coast

John was previously a Regional VET Coordinator with the Parramatta Catholic Education Office and has also worked with the Department of Education and Training on the Student Welfare – Full Service Schools Program. John has previously taught at John Therry Catholic High School and has held Head Teacher positions in Curriculum and Student Welfare. John is based at Wollongong.

Phone: (02) 4224 9940

David Lisle – BOSLO, Riverina

David is now in his third year as Riverina BOSLO. Prior to holding this position David was Head Teacher Welfare and then Head Teacher Administration at Mount Austin High School Wagga. David also had a two-year term as Riverina Regional K–12 HSIE Consultant. David is based in Wagga Wagga.

Phone: (02) 6937 3889

BOSLO Western Region

Kathy Prudence is currently acting in the position of BOSLO Western Region. She is based in Bathurst.

Phone: (02) 6334 8048

Aboriginal Education Review update

The work of the Review was undertaken by five working parties, each of which gathered statistical data, investigated current policies and practices and looked at national and international programs.

The current Ministerial Review on Aboriginal Education, which was announced in May 2003 at the Annual General Meeting of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc (AECG), is now drawing to a close.

The Review, which is being jointly managed by the NSW Department of Education and Training and the AECG, has gathered extensive quantitative and qualitative evidence pertaining to the performance and retention and attendance of Aboriginal students in relation to Departmental programs and initiatives. This evidence will now be assessed and recommendations developed to better address the needs of Aboriginal students.

The work of the Review was undertaken by five working parties, each of which gathered statistical data, investigated current policies and practices and looked at national and international programs. In addition, many interviews were undertaken during field visits with teachers, Aboriginal parents and communities across ten school districts.

The Board of Studies has actively supported the work of the Review and has moved to address key curriculum issues raised by teachers, school systems and Aboriginal communities during the Review process. These curriculum initiatives have been prioritised for their potential to substantially impact on the primary focus areas of the Review. At its December 2003 meeting, the Board endorsed recommendations to support Aboriginal Education. The recommendations included:

  1. That as part of the Review, the Office of the Board undertake further analysis of current policies, practices and syllabuses as they relate to the learning needs of Aboriginal students.
  2. That the Board of Studies explore the options and implications of VET courses being made available in Stage 5.
  3. That the Board of Studies undertake a curriculum project that focuses on supporting teachers in the development of programs that assist students who would be unlikely to achieve English Years 7–10 Syllabus outcomes.
  4. That the Board undertake a curriculum project that focuses on developing teaching approaches and further support materials for the assistance of students in late primary and early high school who have performed poorly in their numeracy learning.

Work has commenced in the area of Mathematics and numeracy development, with a project being developed that critically assesses the issues of the curriculum and social transitions when students move from primary to secondary school.

Support will be ongoing with schools and Aboriginal communities looking at the implementation of the new K–10 Aboriginal Languages Syllabus. This project will explore syllabus implementation in a diverse range of language environments in NSW. Resources developed through this project will be made available to schools and communities through the Board’s website.