Teaching standards
The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Standards) ensure quality teaching practice in NSW schools. The Standards define what effective teaching looks like, how it displays in the classroom, and how it improves student learning.
The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Standards)
The Australian professional standards for teachers (the Standards) is the core framework around which you gain and maintain accreditation throughout your career as a teacher.
The Standards enable you to plan, practise, refine and reflect on your teaching practice. You can use them to monitor your ongoing growth and development.
Teaching domains and Standards
The framework is outlined by the 3 teaching domains together with the 7 Standards to demonstrate the skills and understanding required for effective teaching.
| Domains of teaching | Standards |
|---|---|
| Professional Knowledge | Standard 1 – Know students and how they learn Standard 2 – Know the content and how to teach it |
| Professional Practice | Standard 3 – Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning Standard 4 – Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments Standard 5 – Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning |
| Professional Engagement | Standard 6 – Engage in professional learning Standard 7 – Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community |
The 7 Standards are grouped into 3 teaching domains:
- professional knowledge – Standards 1 and 2
- professional practice – Standards 3, 4 and 5
- professional engagement – Standards 6 and 7.
- Know your students and how they learn
- Know the content and how to teach it
- Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
- Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
- Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning
- Engage in professional learning
- Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/ carers and the community
The Standards describe the classroom practice, capabilities and expertise expected of all teachers across career stages:
- graduate teacher
- proficient teacher
- highly accomplished teacher
- lead teacher.
These stages provide a clear career pathway where you can be recognised for your expertise and skills as an exemplary classroom teacher.
Standard Descriptors
The Standards are organised by, domains, Standards, career stages, focus areas and Standard Descriptors.
Each Standard Descriptor explicitly describes the professional knowledge, practice and professional engagement required for high quality effective teaching at different stages of your career.
Each Standard Descriptor is comprised of 3 numbers, such as 3.2.4, where:
- the first number is the ‘Standard’
- the second number is the ‘Focus area'
- the third number is the ‘Career stage’.
Learn more
- Teaching standards (current webpage):
- Applying for Proficient Teacher accreditation (staff only)
- Maintaining Proficient Teacher accreditation (staff only)
- Applying for HALT accreditation (staff only)
- Maintaining HALT accreditation (staff only)
- Teaching standards in action (TSA) courses
- Strong start great teachers (SSGT).
Department resources
- Performance and Development for School Teachers
- Quality teaching rounds
- Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE)