Greater Clarity for Schools Responding to Hate Speech
Last week, the NSW Government announced that all NSW schools will be required to explicitly prohibit hate speech in their Code of Conduct.
Why has the clarification been made?
This clarification aims to better support schools in outlining the behaviours they expect of all staff, in line with community expectations.
What do schools need to do now?
Schools will need to update their Code of Conduct and any related policies and processes, in line with the relevant Registration Manual.
Schools will need to be ready to provide them to NESA at the time of a NESA inspection if required.
What will schools be doing differently?
This is a small but important clarification to schools' Codes of Conduct documents and any related policies.
As is the case with current school registration requirements, schools will need to be able to demonstrate that they followed their policies, prioritised the safety and wellbeing of students, and recorded their own processes and outcomes.
Resources:
We will release additional information this term to support schools with implementation.
What's New
New 7–12 curriculum support materials
Over 40 new resources are now available to support teachers delivering the following reformed syllabuses:
Years 7–10: Commerce; Communication Technology; Design Innovation Technology; Engineering Technology; Food Technology; Geography Elective; History Elective; Industrial Technology; Physical Activity and Sports Science; Photography, Film and Digital Media; and Textiles Technology
Years 11–12: Dance; Dance Life Skills; Drama Life Skills; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth and Environmental Science Life Skills; Economics; Law and the Community Life Skills; Legal Studies; and Music Life Skills
Resources include parent and carer guides, sample units, outcomes worksheets, sample scope and sequences, teaching advice, teacher guides, Aboriginal Education support, glossaries, and teaching and learning support.
Applications for School Developed Board Endorsed Courses
Applications for endorsement of new School Developed Board Endorsed Courses (SDBECs), to commence in 2027, are due Thursday 2 April 2026.
Applications for University Developed Board Endorsed Courses
Applications for a UDBEC, commencing in 2027, close on Friday 1 May 2026.
What's On
ARTEXPRESS opens in Gymea today
ARTEXPRESS heads to southern Sydney, showcasing incredible bodies of work by 2025 HSC students at Hazelhurst Arts Centre. Can't make it to Hazelhurst? ARTEXPRESS is also open for visitors at the Art Gallery of NSW and will open at more locations in the coming months.
Book tickets to HSC showcase OnSTAGE
The OnSTAGE showcase returns to the Seymour Centre from Saturday 7 to Friday 13 February, presenting exemplary Drama performances and projects from the 2025 HSC.
Saturday 7 February, 1pm
Saturday 7 February, 7pm
Friday 13 February, 7pm
Is your school attending an HSC showcase this week?
Road closures are in place in the Sydney CBD and Eastern suburbs and other locations from now until 2pm Thursday, 12 February.
We recommend that you plan your trip and check the latest traffic conditions ahead of your visit to OnSTAGE or CALLBACK at the Seymour Centre, and ARTEXPRESS at the Art Gallery of NSW.
HSC minimum standard tests open next week
2026 HSC minimum standard tests open on Monday 16 February.
Preparation on Schools Online
Teachers can prepare by:
Lockdown browser update
A new lockdown browser is now available for:
MacOS version 2.1.4.03
Windows version 2.1.3.07
Go to Schools Online > Downloads > Memos and Documents > Lockdown browser. All devices must use the latest version of the lockdown browser.
Please note student-owned and unmanaged devices need manual installation by schools. Refer to the email sent to principals last week for more information. No action is required for using Chromebooks for testing.
Practice tests open today, Monday 9 February.
Regards,
David Browne
CEO
Professional Teachers' Council NSW
