Professional Development > Frameworks and Standards >

Education Queensland Professional Standards for Teachers

Education Queensland's (EQ) Professional Standards for Teachers 495k were developed as part of the Queensland State Education - 2010 strategy and the Education and Training Reforms for the Future.

The Standards define the knowledge, skills and abilities to apply to all teachers in state education in Queensland, celebrating, articulating and supporting the complex and varied nature of a teacher's work. They describe what teachers need to know and do to provide relevant and worthwhile learning experiences for individuals and groups of students in Queensland state schools, and so equip young people for the future to enable them to contribute to a socially, economically and culturally vibrant society. As such, the Standards:

provide a platform for teachers to identify and then drive their continuing professional development;
inform program development for preservice education; and
represent the aspirations of the teaching profession.

EQ collaboratively developed the Standards with its teachers, the Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) and key stakeholders. A joint statement from EQ and the QTU 145k endorses the commitment of both bodies to promoting the use of the Standards framework to Queensland state school teachers as an effective tool for reflecting on and strengthening teaching practice, and for planning personal and team professional development.

New Resources

Education Queensland and Queensland College of Teachers Professional Standards
The release of the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers in January 2007 raised questions about the purposes and uses of both the College standards and Education Queensland s Professional Standards for Teachers (PST).

The QCT Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers represents the minimum benchmark or entry level into the profession and describe provisional registration requirements.

In contrast, Education Queensland's Professional Standards for Teachers 495k is an aspirational framework which can be used by teachers to formulate goals and extend their own learning in order to strengthen classroom practice.

A new document 175k has been developed that describes the similarities and differences between the two standards frameworks and their purpose in supporting state school teachers as they reflect on their practice and identify continuing professional development needs throughout their career.

Introducing the Professional Standards for Teachers at your school

Two new programs and complementing PowerPoint slides have been developed for school leaders to introduce the Professional Standards for Teachers to staff. One workshop has been designed for a staff meeting and the other workshop is for a student free day and allows for deeper engagement with the standards.

Introducing the Professional Standards for Teachers at a staff meeting
Program 82k: 30-45 minutes
PowerPoint 1.3M: 30-45 minutes

Introducing the Professional Standards for Teachers at a student free day
Program 110k: 90-120 minutes
PowerPoint 1.3M: 90-120 minutes

Professional Standards for Teachers as an 'umbrella'

Teachers have strongly expressed their appreciation for the Standards as an 'umbrella' to align and understand the range of systemic imperatives that they need to integrate into their practice.

Teachers and school leaders should recognise that engaging with the documents below is best facilitated through collaborate and reflective practice within professional learning communities.

Professional Standards for Teachers and the Early Years Curriculum Guidelines 183k

Professional Standards for Teachers and the Productive Pedagogies 47k

Revised Standards

The Standards were trialled with a Pilot of 230 teachers in 2002 and endorsed for use by teachers in Queensland state schools in 2003. Maintaining the accuracy, relevance and currency of the definition of teachers' work captured in the PST is a priority. Education Queensland has established a reference group of practising teacher to undertake analysis and recommendations re content revisions on a cyclical basis. Their work has culminated in the revised edition of the Professional Standards for Teachers 495k which was launched October 2005.

Considerable focus has been devoted to skilling teachers to lead their peers in professional development programs using the standards.

Education Queensland Professional Standards for Teachers

New Resources

Revised Standards

Related documents: