Announcements

New legislation will come into effect in early 2010 that will give greater flexibility to the Department of Education and Training and courts in dealing with cases of school non-attendance. Find out more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, announced almost 69,000 Year 8 students from 600 NSW schools will put their scientific knowledge to the test as they sit their annual science assessment. Find out more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, will present awards to students from St Michael's Primary School in Stanmore and Ashfield Boys High School at Parliament House to recognise their achievements in learning history. Read more.

Director-General of the NSW Department of Education and Training, Michael Coutts-Trotter has acknowledged 36 NSW public schools for their significant contribution to public education. Find out more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, congratulated the winners of the 2009 Premier's Spelling Bee State Final. Lian Yang from Carlingford West Public School took first place in the Junior State Final and Elizabeth Hsu from Summer Hill Public School took first place in the Senior competition. Find out more.

Premier Nathan Rees and Education Minister, Verity Firth, visited La Perouse Public School to confirm the NSW Government's commitment to improving literacy and numeracy for Aboriginal students. Read more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, announced teachers working in early childhood education, schools, TAFEs and universities were presented with a 2009 Quality Teaching Award for their commitment to excellence and student achievement. Read more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, congratulates students on the completion of their secondary school studies and wishes them all the best for the future. Ms Firth said students could check their Assessment Rank Order Notices at Students Online from 5pm, 13th November. Find out more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, announced that four NSW primary schools had been selected to become bilingual in Asian languages. Read more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, announced the Patricia Long Bequest which provides for scholarships to support students attending the specialist music school. Find out more (PDF 49kB).

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, has announced that students planning to enrol in a Year 10 equivalent course at TAFE from next year will now have access to a variety of approved industry-based courses. Read more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, has announced the first round of schools to become Centres for Excellence, which will develop high quality teaching and improve teacher training. Find out more.

Legislation being introduced to the NSW Parliament will give courts greater powers when dealing with parents failing to ensure their children attend school. Read more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said the NSW Government had established an audit squad to ensure value for money in the implementation of the education stimulus package. Find out more.

The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, has announced a new website is now available for anyone seeking information about projects being constructed in NSW under the Building the Education Revolution. The website will contain information on all Building the Education Revolution programs: Primary Schools for the 21st Century, National School Pride and Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Schools. Find out more.

Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and the NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, have announced the delivery of the first laptop computers to public secondary schools in NSW under the Australian Government's Digital Education Revolution program. Find out more.

2010 is the first year that students must stay at school until 17 to gain skills for their future. Are 2009 Year 10 students affected? What options and choices for planning do parents and students have? Find out more.

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, announced parents could access a new website to help them understand reports about their child and their school's performance in national literacy and numeracy tests. Find out more.

NSW Education Minister, Verity Firth, has announced new guidelines that help principals work with local councils to provide community access to public school playing fields. Find out more (PDF 92kB).

This year it is likely many more people will come down with flu‐like illnesses than in recent flu seasons because few people have immunity to the human swine flu virus. Read more.