Girraween High School welcomed up to 50 principals and public-school leaders from across western Sydney on Tuesday 25 June, marking the final stop of the NSW Department of Education's 2026 Schools Roadshow.

The department's annual roadshow has travelled across the state throughout the year, serving as a key platform to engage directly with school leaders and bring the NSW Plan for Public Education to life in every community. With the Girraween event, the roadshow has now visited 10 locations across NSW.

Leaders from a range of school contexts came together to share insights and ensure local voices continue to shape the future of public education in NSW.

NSW Department of Education Secretary, Murat Dizdar, said the roadshow plays a critical role in strengthening the system by listening to those closest to students.

"It's inspiring to see so many school leaders coming together with a shared purpose to improve outcomes for every student," he said.

"When we listen to the experiences of principals and leaders on the ground, we build policies that are more responsive, more effective, and more deeply connected to the communities we serve."

The department's senior executive team attended the event, as they have at each stop on the roadshow, to engage directly with principals and deepen their understanding of local opportunities and challenges.

"This is about genuine partnership. We listen, we learn, and we lead together," Mr Dizdar said.

The ten schools to host the 2026 Schools Roadshow were Kariong Mountains High School, Goulburn High School, Pittwater High School, Forbes High School, Griffith High School, Menai High School, Broken Hill High School, Hastings Secondary College – Port Macquarie Campus, Rivers Secondary College – Lismore High Campus, Girraween High School

At the Girraween event, Mr Dizdar highlighted key achievements across NSW public schools, including strong student growth in NAPLAN and the successful expansion of the Inspire program for high potential and gifted students.

"We are committed to ensuring every student—regardless of their postcode or background—has access to a world-class public education," he said. "Bringing leaders together like this strengthens professional networks and builds a more connected, resilient public education system."

A proud moment for the host school

Girraween Principal Leigh Crangle said hosting the final roadshow event was a privilege.

"It's a great honour to be able to showcase my school. My staff work really hard, my students are excellent ambassadors for public education, so to be able to showcase that to Murat and the deputy secretaries from the department was a wonderful opportunity," Mr Crangle said.

He said the roadshow gave principals a valuable opportunity to speak candidly with department leadership.

"This allows Murat and the deputy secretaries to hear directly from the principals about exactly what's going on in schools, and the impact their policies have, both good and bad."

"A big discussion topic today was the new anti-bullying policy, which is hugely important. We need to ensure that every single student feels safe and included in their school," Mr Crangle said.

Reflecting on the day, Mr Crangle said his students left the biggest impression.

"The thing I'm most proud of is my students—just how my prefects carried themselves today and communicated, their confidence, their passion for the school. They are great role models, not only for public education, but for my Year 7 students to see as well, that this is what you're going to turn out like."