Why does your school need a Strategic Improvement Plan?

It is a requirement that all NSW government schools develop and publish a Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP).

A Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) is a working document that details the steps your school will take to improve learning outcomes, and the achievement and growth of all students. To ensure continuous improvement, the Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) reflects where your school is at and how it will further improve learning, teaching and leading.

Animation - The Strategic Improvement Plan

Watch the animation for Strategic Improvement Plan. It outlines the approach and the stages needed to create your Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP).

Policy and context

Schools engage in all aspects of the School Excellence cycle. This includes developing a Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) in consultation with their community. The SIP has up to 3 strategic directions and associated improvement measures which form the basis of each planning cycle. One of these strategic directions will be ‘Student growth and attainment’ for all schools. The remaining strategic directions are chosen by each school to reflect and respond to their unique context.

Improvement measures should include system-negotiated targets for student growth and attainment and references to effective classroom practices. The Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) is approved by the Director, Educational Leadership and published on the school’s website by the end of Term 1 at the commencement of a planning cycle. The Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) is also required as a state archive.

The Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP)

The Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP):

• is underpinned by the School Excellence Framework (SEF), SEF Self-assessments and the external validation process
  
• clearly identifies the expected improvement in learning, teaching and leading aligned to specific strategies, initiatives, resources and professional learning
  
• includes strategic directions and the improvement measures, including references to the school's agreed system-negotiated targets, against which your school's impact will be monitored and evaluated
• clearly reflects the department’s strategic plan and Premier’s priorities
  
• demonstrates your school’s commitment to excellence and equity as part of NSW public education
• is clearly linked to the school budget, reflecting the resources that will be used to achieve the planned improvements
• is underpinned by high impact teacher professional learning to build the capabilities of teachers and school leaders.

The School Excellence Policy provides direction for schools on school planning, ongoing self-assessment, annual reporting and external validation.

Animation - Resourcing your SIP

A school's Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) maps the steps towards improved student outcomes. In the animation, Resourcing your SIP, see how you can use your SBAR allocation to resource your SIP for continuous improvement and school excellence.

What it is and what it isn't