Leading curriculum K-12
Advice and resources supporting leaders to facilitate effective curriculum implementation in schools.
We are supporting school leaders with a wide range of resources and flexible options for implementation, to effectively lead curriculum in your schools. Resources will continue to be released in line with the Curriculum Reform timeline.
Curriculum implementation
The phases of curriculum implementation can be used as a guide to support activities and reflective thinking in schools when implementing a new syllabus. Watch the Phases of curriculum implementation – overview (3:22) to find out more.
Narrator
Have you been wondering how the NSW Curriculum Reform might strengthen teaching and learning in your school?
The NSW Government is reforming the curriculum to streamline and strengthen what is taught in every classroom in NSW, so every student is prepared and ready for their future.
A new curriculum provides an opportunity for all of us to examine what we do and how we do it, in the classroom, in a school and as a system.
What might the curriculum implementation journey look like?
The 3 phases of curriculum implementation guide school leaders and teachers to effectively implement a new syllabus.
Grouping activities into 3 phases makes it easier to understand the curriculum implementation journey and how to access the professional learning, resources and advice most relevant to you.
The 3 phases of curriculum implementation are:
Engage – Enact – Embed
The phases apply across the range of school contexts. They are informed by effective curriculum implementation practices and aligned to Department of Education policies.
The first phase of curriculum implementation is ‘Engage’.
In the engage, phase school leaders and teachers explore aspects of new syllabuses.
They identify and plan for changes required for effective curriculum implementation.
The length of time for this phase may vary depending on your school context. It may be shorter or longer than a year.
The second phase of curriculum implementation is ‘Enact’.
In the enact phase, teachers teach, assess and report using the new syllabus.
School leaders and teachers evaluate their implementation of the curriculum to refine new practices and systems.
The length of time in this phase may vary depending on your school context and the stage you are teaching.
The third phase of curriculum implementation is ‘Embed’.
In the embed phase, school leaders and teachers strengthen and scale to ensure sustainable practices and systems.
Embedding effective implementation is ongoing.
You may move in and out of phases depending on the syllabus you are implementing .
By considering the key activities in the 3 phases, the curriculum implementation journey can be more responsive to staff and student needs.
Professional learning, resources and advice are available to support teachers and school leaders throughout all 3 phases of curriculum implementation.
For more information visit the department’s phases of curriculum implementation web page.
[End of transcript]
Research toolkits
Use the K-12 research toolkits to build school leader and teacher understanding of the evidence base that underpins effective curriculum implementation and the new syllabuses.
Leading collaboration for school improvement
Additional chapters in the Leading Collaboration for School Improvement Toolkit (staff only) support leaders to effectively implement new curriculum.
Directors, educational leadership, principals and other leaders, and principals, school leadership, can use the toolkit to guide reflective conversations around curriculum implementation that drive school improvement and student growth and attainment.
School leaders know that effective curriculum implementation is an iterative process which may be occurring simultaneously for different syllabuses, rather than a singular event.
Each toolkit chapter identifies system expectations, school-based activities and research to guide professional conversations for each of the phases of curriculum implementation. The question prompts guide deep thinking to enhance successful curriculum implementation while ensuring activities remain focused on improving student outcomes.
Explaining the curriculum to parents, carers and community
Engaging with the school community on curriculum, supports best practice and cohesiveness. Learn about:
- an explanation of curriculum and curriculum reform
- texts used in English 7-12
- talking about curriculum with parents, carers and the community.
Leading curriculum K-6 and 7-12
Support includes preparing for a new K-6 syllabus, syllabus information and research toolkits