Applicants for head teacher positions who do not satisfy the eligibility requirements based on their academic qualifications can apply to have their eligibility determined on an assessment of equivalence.

All applications for an assessment of equivalence should be submitted to the Director, School Recruitment and Placement via email to: additional.approval@det.nsw.edu.au.

Clearly identify your email in the subject line as: Head Teacher Qualifications Committee assessment.

The application will be reviewed by Teacher Approvals and referred to the Head Teacher Qualifications Committee, who will assess the application and make recommendations to the Director regarding the eligibility of the applicant.

The role of the Head Teacher Qualifications Committee includes determining whether the training, skills and experience of a teacher whose qualifications do not meet the eligibility requirements, are the equivalent of the academic requirements set out in Section 2.1 of Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools, and making recommendations to the Director, School Recruitment and Placement, on the eligibility of the applicants.

This document can be found with the Head Teacher Eligibility Requirements Policy.

In making this assessment, the committee will have regard for the following areas that are listed in the Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools. Following each area is some advice from the committee about how best to address these in your application. It is not necessary for you to be able to address each of these areas in order to be successful, but you are advised to address as many as you can.

Tertiary academic studies

You should provide a transcript from the institution you attended, and highlight the subjects you believe will have a bearing on assessing their equivalence.

Teaching methodology studies

Again, you should provide a transcript, highlighting the relevant courses.

Teaching experiences

You should include reference to teaching any subject that relates to the faculty area for which you are applying. You should list the subjects, specific levels taught (eg. Year 8, Year 11 Preliminary, Year 12 HSC etc) and the years you have taught the subject (eg. 4 years, 2000-2004), over the last 5-10 years. You may demonstrate your experience as in the following example:

TAFE courses/certificates/diplomas

You should provide transcripts detailing subjects studies and, where possible, a copy of your certificate/diploma.

Departmental courses

You should present some evidence, such as a certificate, of courses you attended to your principal and, where appropriate, a brief outline of what was covered in the course that relates to the head teacher category for which you are applying. If your principal verifies the courses attended after sighting relevant documentation, there is no need to attach certificates of attendance for each course.

Membership of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) examination/syllabus committees

You should provide some documentary evidence of this and the period in which you were a member.

Participation in School Certificate or HSC marking

You should list the courses marked and the period of time for which you marked them.

Other professional development

You should list anything you think might be relevant, including any documentation that might assist the committee in determining that relevance. Included could be, for example, membership of professional associations, NESA curriculum committees, regional project teams, supervision of student teachers, mentoring roles.

Formal advice from a tertiary institution in terms of any advanced standing it would grant

You may have completed some courses, e.g. TAFE courses that a university has determined to be the equivalent of a year or two of tertiary study, for which the university is prepared to grant advanced standing for the completion of a degree. You may not have completed the university course, but if advanced standing was granted, then these studies may be considered by the committee to be the equivalent of a year or more of academic study in the relevant area. You would have to produce evidence of the university’s granting of advanced standing.

Should you require further information regarding assessment of equivalence for head teacher eligibility please contact Teacher Approvals on phone number 1300 300 498 or via email at additional.approval@det.nsw.edu.au .

Sample HTQC Application

Use the sample application to assist with the preparation of your application to the Head Teacher Qualifications Committee.