School Development Day

Purpose of school development days

School development days are used by schools to build on the knowledge and skills of our teachers, school leaders and school administrative support staff through a targeted professional learning program.

The dates are determined by the department.

2025 school development days

• Term 1:  Friday 31 January to Wednesday 5 February
• Term 2: Monday 28 April and Tuesday 29 April
• Term 3: Monday 21 July
• Term 4: Monday 13 October

Professional learning is important in building the capabilities of all staff to ensure a highly skilled and professional workforce that can support the department’s vision for NSW public education to be Australia’s best education system and one of the finest in the world. School development days improve the learning outcomes of students by:

• providing targeted professional learning activities aligned to school strategic directions and Department of Education priorities
• enabling whole school planning and enhancing teacher quality, school leadership and management practices
• implementing legislative and policy requirements.

The content of school development days is determined by the principal in consultation with the school community and the school’s leadership team.

Professional learning on this day is planned in alignment with the department’s Professional Learning Policy for Teachers and School Staff (2020) which requires:

• all staff to participate in a cycle of continuous professional learning which contributes to whole-school improvement, including ongoing student progress and achievement
• all teachers and school leaders to participate in professional learning to fulfil their requirements when gaining or maintaining accreditation at the relevant career stage
• all staff complete relevant mandatory training to comply with legislative, department and school requirements, ensuring the safety and optimal functioning of the school.

Examples of school development day programs may include:

• analysing student and school data to identify student needs and provide a focus for teaching
• induction and mentoring programs to support teachers new to their school
• analysing school welfare support initiatives to meet student welfare needs
• using evidence-informed approaches to enhance teaching and learning programs, assessments and classroom practice
• developing programs to help students with special learning needs.