Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong

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Relieving and Acting Principals Policy

Policy

DOCUMENT DETAILS

Document Owner	People and Culture
Approval Date	20 February 2020
Release Date	13 March 2020
Compliance Date	13 March 2020
Review Date	1 December 2022
Version Control
12 May 2022	updated terminology updated contacts

introduction and context

INTRODUCTION

Policy in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDOW) is developed to support the implementation of consistent and comprehensive practices to guide quality Catholic learning and teaching in systemic schools in the Diocese of Wollongong.

Education Policy is developed within the context of documents and frameworks. These include:

CONTEXT

A Relieving Principal has an important role in providing trained and experienced leadership to a school in the absence of an Incumbent Principal. Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDOW) utilises retired or Catholic Education Office (CEO)-based leaders to support:

an Assistant Principal in their first year
a leadership team when the Principal and Assistant are absent
classes that would otherwise have to be disrupted by the withdrawal of the Assistant Principal or other teachers to accommodate short term acting up arrangements
a particularly challenging situation that is known to be facing a school community during the absence of the incumbent Principal, or
other circumstances as deemed relevant to the Director of Schools.

The role of the Relieving Principal is not to inhibit the leadership opportunities of the senior leaders in a school and wherever possible an experienced Assistant Principal will be the first option for Acting Principal roles (particularly for periods of 4 weeks or more) and where the impact on the teaching of students will be minimal.

EXPECTATIONS

It is expected that Incumbent, Relieving and Acting Principals will take all reasonable measures to comply with this Policy.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES:

The CEDOW Head of People and Culture in consultation with the CEDOW Head of School Improvement Services (Primary or Secondary as relevant) appoints Relieving and Acting Principals. The CeDoW Head of People and Culture will consult with the Parish Priest.

CEDOW Leadership and Professional Growth:

seeks the availability of Relieving Principals
seeks approval from CEDOW Head of People and Culture and the CEDOW Head of School Improvement Services (Primary or Secondary as relevant)
secures the Relieving Principal appointment
emails the Incumbent Principal with the name and contact details of the appointed Relieving Principal, at least two weeks in advance wherever possible and contingent upon early notification of the Incumbent Principal's absence
completes tasks according to the Relieving and Acting Principal Checklist

1 APPOINTMENT and training

INCUMBENT PRINCIPAL MUST:

1.1	advise, via email, the CEDOW Head of People and Culture and the CEDOW Head of School Improvement Services (Primary or Secondary as relevant) as soon as they become aware of the need for a Relieving Principal or Acting Principal

RELIEVING PRINCIPALS MUST:

1.2	undertake governance training
1.3	engage in annual CEDOW Professional Update and any further compliance or training required

2 responsibilities

INCUMBENT PRINCIPAL MUST:

2.1	use the Relieving and Acting Principal Checklist to prepare for any Relieving Principal after they have received approval confirmation of leave dates from the CEDOW Head of People and Culture
2.2	use the Relieving and Acting Principal Checklist when the Assistant Principal is acting up for 5 days or more
2.3	delegate any preparatory work when appropriate

RELIEVING AND ACTING PRINCIPALS MUST:

2.4	sign a Letter of Delegation when the relieving block is at least one full term
2.5	during the time they are appointed to the role of Relieving Principal or Acting Principal:
	2.5.1	act upon any matter that involves the safety and security of the school community
	2.5.2	act upon any urgent compliance issue that may arise
	2.5.3	take on any workload possible for the Incumbent Principal
	2.5.4	communicate with the Incumbent Principal any key observations or incidents that occurred

Procedure

There are no CEDOW Procedures for this Policy

Implementation

RELIEVING AND ACTING PRINCIPALS POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

POLICY RELEASE

The Relieving and Acting Policy was released at the Term 1 Principals' Business Meeting 13 March 2020, 16 March 2020 and 17 March 2020. The release included representatives from Human Resource Services and Head of School Improvement (Primary and Secondary as relevant)
Additional support will be provided to Principals in their ongoing implementation of the Relieving and Acting Principals Policy Policy on an individual basis.
The Policy was updated on 12 May 2022 to reflect the new name change of CEDOW People and Culture and that responsibility for managing the administration of this Policy now rests with CEDOW Leadership and Professional Growth.

POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

Principals are expected fully implement the Relieving and Acting Principals Policy as required from 13 March 2020.
Any Principal that determines they will not be able to implement all Expectations from 13 March 2020 must contact the CEDOW Head of People and Culture.

POLICY MONITORING

Compliance to the Policy expectations will occur through a range of Compliance processes.
Any advice about changes to the Relieving and Acting Principals Policy must be presented to the Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy. When appropriate the Policy will be amended.
A formal evaluation process of the Relieving and Acting Principals Policy be conducted in December 2022.

POLICY PUBLICATION

The Relieving and Acting Principals Policy will be published on the CEDOW website in the Policy Directory. The Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy is responsible for ensuring the Policy’s version currency and accuracy.
Schools should contact CEDOW People and Culture for any clarifications regarding the Policy.
Schools should contact CEDOW People and Culture for support in the implementation of the Policy.

LEGISLATION

Australian Education Act 2013 (Cth)
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2013A00067

NSW Education Act 1990 (NSW)
https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/1990/8/whole

SUPPORT MATERIALS

Relieving and Acting Principal Checklist

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong