1. Australian Professional Standard for Principals 360° Reflection Tool

2. Australian Professional Standard for Principals

3. What is the Standard?
The Standard is a public statement which sets out what Principals are expected to know, understand and do.
It is represented as an integrated model.
The Standard aims to:
define the role and unify the profession nationally
describe professional practice in a common language
make explicit the role of quality school leadership in raising standards for the 21st century
The National Professional Standard for Principals is a public statement which sets out what principals are expected to know, understand and do to achieve in their work.
The development of the Standard:
Informed by research and by existing leadership standards and frameworks
Wide consultation process across all school sectors, institutes and professional associations
Engagement of International Advisory Panel
Included feedback on draft standard from stakeholders
Road tested standard through pilot studies nationwide
Approved by Ministerial Council in July 2011.
fifty sets of school leadership standards / capability frameworks in Australia
Principal standard acknowledges and draws on them, doesn’t replace – sits above as meta standard
Principal standard is the first nationally agreed standard for Australian principals
vision of our team to have the Standard used in every school across the country
It is important to note that, unlike the National Professional Standards for Teachers, the Principal Standard is an invitational document only, and is not mandatory.
It is also one Standard, a stake in the ground, that denotes high quality leadership. It does not deliberate on a developing set of skills, like the Teacher Standards, which are represented as four levels: G, P, HA, L. It is deliberately one Standard designed for aspirational and continuous improvement and reflection

4. Context: School, sector, community: socio-economic, geographic: and education systems at local, regional, national and global levels
The standard for principals : The role in action
Leadership requirements
Professional practices
Vision and values
Knowledge
and understanding
Personal qualities, social and interpersonal skills
High quality learning, teaching and schooling
Successful learners, confident creative individuals and active informed citizens*
Leading teaching and learning
Developing self and others
Leading improvement, innovation and change
The Principal Standard is based on three leadership requirements:
vision and values
knowledge and understanding
personal qualities and social and interpersonal skills
These requirements are enacted through five key professional practices:
leading teaching and learning
developing self and others
leading improvement, innovation and change
leading the management of the school
engaging and working with the community
The Principal Standard is a purposefully integrated model with no hierarchy intended.
Leading the management of the school
Engaging and working with the community

5. How is the Standard being used?
problem solve
inform strategic planning
self reflect
identify professional learning
coach
communicate the role
prepare for new opportunities
as an element of professional appraisal
attract, develop and support
The crucial role of the principal
The Standard sets out what principals are expected to know, understand and do to achieve excellence in their work.
It takes full account of the crucial contribution made by principals in:
raising student achievement at all levels and all stages
promoting equity and excellence
creating and sustaining the conditions under which quality teaching and learning thrive
influencing, developing and delivering community expectations and government policy
contributing to the development of a 21st century education system at local, national and international levels.
The standard is being used to:
as a problem solving and strategic planning framework
as a tool for self reflection
to identify and plan professional development opportunities
as a framework for professional learning
to coach middle and senior managers
to communicate the role to staff, parents and governing bodies
to prepare for new leadership opportunities
as one element of professional appraisal
to attract, develop and support principals
to guide the management of self and others

6. Unpacking the Standard activities
Watch the video that introduces the Standard
Videos can be found at: or
These resources can be found on the AITSL website: and have been designed to support principals / school leaders to engage with and develop their understanding of the Principal Standard

7. Unpacking the Standard activities
Using one of the resources available, work in small groups to unpack the Standard.
These resources can be found on the AITSL website: and have been designed to support principals / school leaders to engage with and develop their understanding of the Principal Standard

8. School Leadership Clearinghouse

9. What is the Clearinghouse?
The School Leadership Clearinghouse is an up-to-date repository of research and best-practice in the field of school leadership.
It provides:
access to the latest research and evidence in school leadership
the ability to share resources and information via the Community Resources database
The School Leadership Clearinghouse is an up-to-date repository of research and best-practice in the field of school leadership, designed to support the learning and growth of leaders in Australian schools.
The Clearinghouse has been designed to enhance the leadership capacity of aspiring, emerging, practising and experienced school leaders in Australia by providing:
access to the latest research and evidence in school leadership
the ability to share resources and information via the Community Resources database
It features a Research Repository and a Community Resources database.
Originally launched in July 2011, the Clearinghouse has now been re-developed to improve functionality and usability.
New features:
guided searching and browsing
relevant research linked to NPSP
topical monthly Reading Lists
unlicensed or ‘free’ resources tagged
social media widgets
login only to save a search or leave a comment

10. Featuring:
in excess of 700 resources
topical reading lists
professional learning opportunities
tools & materials
events & conferences
websites

11. 360o Reflection Tool

12. What is the 360o Reflection Tool?
describes 15 attributes evident in the behaviours of high performing school leaders
connects school leaders with the Standard
provides formative feedback on the leadership behaviours they exhibit.
The 360o Reflection Tool is a resource that provides principals and school leaders the opportunity to connect with the Principal Standard and gather formative feedback on the leadership behaviours they exhibit in their daily work.

13. 360o Reflection Tool Attributes Model
The 360 Reflection Tool is a magnification or a deeper study of the Principal Standard.
We have in effect, zoomed in on the Principal Standard and focussed on the intersection of each of the leadership requirements and the professional practices.
At these intersections we have, with the help of the profession, determined 15 attributes which in turn, support the nature of the Principal Standard integrated model.
Each attribute is supported by a series of observable behaviours that high performing principals exhibit in their daily work.

14. What can the 360o Reflection Tool be used for?
monitoring change
learning more about their strengths
exploring opportunities for improvement
gathering feedback
developing an action plan
planning professional learning
an element of professional appraisal.
The 360o Reflection Tool will provide principals opportunity to:
reflect on their leadership capacity
monitor change in their leadership behaviour and actions
learn more about their strengths
better understand and explore opportunities for improvement
gather critical feedback on their performance
use that feedback to reflect on their leadership and develop a leadership action plan
use the feedback as one element of their professional appraisal
plan professional learning and development opportunities for themselves.

15. Engaging with the 360o Reflection Tool
Ensuring everyone has a copy of the:
attribute cards
stimulus question cards
360° Reflection Tool Attribute Model
Pick an activity from the “engaging with the 360º Reflection Tool activities” sheet and undertake either individually or in a small group.
These resources can be found on the AITSL website: and are best used by the principal / school leader and members of the school community, in preparation for the principal / school leader to seek 360° feedback on their leadership capacity.
The resources can be used to stimulate discussion regarding the attributes and behaviours of the 360° Reflection Tool in relation to the Principal Standard.
Select from the activities provided or create your own.

16. Principal Standard Clearinghouse 360o Reflection Tool