A major win for small schools is on the horizon, with the NSW Department of Education announcing a permanent increase in release time for teaching principals – a move hailed as a vital improvement for learning conditions.
From Term 1, 2026, all infants and primary schools with fewer than 160 enrolments and a teaching principal will receive a permanent staffing entitlement for principal release time. The allocation will range between 0.3 and 0.4 full-time equivalent (FTE), depending on school size.
This change replaces the previous system of flexible funding for casual release days, ensuring more permanent teachers are employed and safeguarding the $10 million investment secured in 2018, which nearly doubled release time for teaching principals.
In a further boost, seven isolated one-teacher schools (with fewer than 26 students) will gain an additional full-time teacher, achieved by bundling existing fractional entitlements and injecting extra funds.
The announcement follows a grassroots campaign led by the NSW Teachers Federation, triggered by a motion from small school teachers and passed by the Hawkesbury Teachers Association. The campaign called for an immediate increase in guaranteed release time for teaching principals, who juggle leadership responsibilities with classroom teaching.
Members responded strongly, sending hundreds of emails to Premier Chris Minns and Education Minister Prue Car, demanding reforms to reflect the unique challenges of small schools. Their key asks included:
- A base staffing entitlement of two full-time teachers as a minimum.
- A 50 per cent reduction in face-to-face teaching for teaching principals, regardless of enrolments.
While the announcement marks a historic improvement and a shift away from what the NSW Teachers Federation described as a ‘flawed’ Local Schools, Local Decisions policy, the Federation says the fight continues to fully implement its small schools staffing policy.
“This is a significant step forward,” the Federation stated, “but we will keep building momentum to ensure every small school has the staffing it needs.”
