Student Free Days - Policy Statement

Student free days are staff professional development or school development days for teachers. Queensland state schools undertake six student free days throughout the school year:

two days at the end of the summer holiday (fixed)
three days during the Easter holiday, or taken flexibly within holiday periods or after hours, according to local school decision-making
the third Monday after spring holiday (fixed).

As required, the Minister may approve other student free days for specific professional development opportunities.

The student free days at the end of the summer holiday and on the third Monday after the spring holiday are fixed. Schools will have flexibility to position the remaining three professional development days during any school holiday period or at any time outside of school hours, according to their workforce needs and arrangements. Schools choosing to make flexible arrangements for these three days must ensure that a total of 15 hours professional development is undertaken. For example schools could:

extend the two fixed days at the end of the summer holidays to five days
create a consolidated block of three days during the Easter holiday
distribute the three professional development days across the holiday periods, allocating days before students return from holidays
schedule blocks of professional development after school hours totalling 15 hours (this is exclusive of staff meetings).

School communities negotiate their arrangements in consultation with their staff including the Local Consultative Committee or, for schools with less than 20 employees, a consultative body.

Arrangements for student free days must be finalised by the end of the previous year.

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Frequently asked questions: Queensland State School Student Free Days

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This page was last reviewed on 16 Jan 2013 at 01:59PM