PROFILES OF TEACHERS IN SELECTED CURRICULUM AREAS:
FURTHER ANALYSES OF THE STAFF IN AUSTRALIA’S SCHOOLS 2010SURVEY

Paul Weldon

Glenn Rowley

Phillip McKenzie

November2011

This report was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).The assistance of Paul Hunt (DEEWR) andMartin Murphy (ACER) in preparing the report is gratefully acknowledged. The report is based on analyses of the data collected through the Staff in Australia’s Schools2010 (SiAS) survey which DEEWR commissioned from ACER. The assistance of DEEWR, Advisory Committee members, ACER colleagues, school authorities and teacher and principal associations from around Australia in supporting the SiAS survey is gratefully acknowledged. Particular appreciation is due to the teachers and school leaders who completed the survey questionnaires. The views expressed in the report are those of the authors and not necessarily of DEEWR or any other individual or organisation.

1

Contents

List of Tables

ACRONYMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Overview of the project

1.2 Curriculum areas examined in this report

1.3 Background on the SiAS survey

1.4 The number of teachers in the specified curriculum areas

1.5 Reporting and interpreting the survey data

2. SCHOOL LOCATION AND SECTOR

2.1 Geographic location of the school

2.2 School sector

2.3 Socio-economic composition

3. DEMOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND

3.1 Age

3.2 Gender

3.3 Country of birth

4. QUALIFICATIONS AND TERTIARY STUDY

4.1 Qualifications in Education

4.2 Qualifications in fields other than Education

4.3 Tertiary study in the curriculum area

5. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES

5.1 Extent of participation in professional learning

5.2 Perceived benefits of professional learning

5.3 Perceived needs for professional learning

6. EMPLOYMENT BASIS AND WORKLOAD

6.1 Basis of employment

6.2 Workload

7. CAREER PATHS

7.1 Age started teaching

7.2 Length of teaching experience

7.3 Schools worked in

7.4 School sectors and locations worked in

8. CAREER INTENTIONS

8.1 Intention to leave teaching

8.2 Number of years teachers intend to keep working in schools

APPENDIX 1: The Teacher Questionnaire

APPENDIX 2: LOTE TEACHERS

A.1 Identification of languages

A.2 School location, sector and SES composition

A.3 Demographic characteristics of LOTE teachers

A.4 Qualifications of LOTE teachers

A.5 Professional learning of LOTE teachers

A.6 Employment basis of LOTE teachers

A.7 Career paths of LOTE teachers

A.8 Career intentions of LOTE teachers

APPENDIX 3: 2007 TABLES

List of Tables

Table 1: Proportion and number of teachers teaching in specified curriculum areas

Table 1.1: Final school and teacher response rates for Australia, primary and secondary

Table 1.2: Primary teachers: proportions teaching in specified curriculum areas

Table 1.3: Secondary teachers: proportions currently teaching in specified curriculum areas

Table 1.4: Average standard errors for reported percentages, by subject specialty (Primary)

Table 1.5: Average standard errors for reported percentages, by subject specialty (Secondary)

Table 2.1: Geographic location of school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 2.2: Geographic location of school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 2.3: School sector: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 2.4: School sector: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 2.5: School SES: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 2.6: School SES: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 3.1: Age distribution: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 3.2: Age distribution: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 3.3: Proportions of male and female teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 3.4: Proportions of male and female teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 3.5: Age distribution by gender: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 3.6: Age distribution by gender: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 3.7: Proportion of teachers born in Australia: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 3.8: Proportion of teachers born in Australia: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 4.1: Proportions who hold qualifications in Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 4.2: Proportions who hold qualifications in Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 4.3: Proportions who hold qualifications in fields other than Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 4.4: Proportions who hold qualifications in fields other than Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 4.5: Primary teachers currently teaching in specified areas, by extent of tertiary study in the area

Table 4.6: Secondary teachers currently teaching in specified areas, by extent of tertiary study in the area

Table 4.7: Secondary teachers who are qualified to teach in specified curriculum areas but are not doing so – the other areas in which they are teaching

Table 5.1: Average number of days of professional learning in past 12 months: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 5.2: Average number of days of professional learning in past 12 months: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 5.3: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 5.4: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: all Primary teachers

Table 5.5: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 5.6: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: all Secondary teachers

Table 5.7: Professional learning impact: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 5.8: Professional learning impact: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 5.9: Perceived needs for more professional learning: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 5.10: Perceived needs for more professional learning: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 6.1: Proportion employed full-time: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 6.2: Proportion employed full-time: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 6.3: Proportion employed on an on-going or contractual basis: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 6.4: Proportion employed on an on-going or contractual basis: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 6.5: Hours per week on all school-related activities by full-time teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 6.6: Hours per week on all school-related activities by full-time teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 7.1: Average age started teaching: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 7.2: Average age started teaching: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 7.3: Average length of teaching experience: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 7.4: Average length of teaching experience: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 7.5: Proportion who are currently working in their first school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 7.6: Proportion who are currently working in their first school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 7.8: Sector and location of current and first schools for those who have worked in more than one school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 7.9: Sector and location of current and first schools for those who have worked in more than one school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 8.1: Proportions of teachers who intend to leave teaching permanently prior to retirement: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 8.2: Proportions of teachers who intend to leave teaching permanently prior to retirement: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table 8.3: Average number of years teachers intend to keep working in schools: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers

Table 8.4: Average number of years teachers intend to keep working in schools: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers

Table A.1: LOTE teachers: classification of specified languages into Asian and Non-Asian groups

Table A.2: LOTE teachers: geographic location of school, by language group

Table A.3: LOTE teachers: school sector, by language group

Table A.4: LOTE teachers: school SES composition, by language group

Table A.5: LOTE teachers: age distribution and average age, by language group

Table A.6: LOTE teachers: proportions of male and female teachers, by language group

Table A.7: LOTE teachers: proportion of teachers born in Australia, by language group

Table A.8: LOTE teachers: proportions who hold qualifications in Education, by language group

Table A.9: LOTE teachers: proportions who hold qualifications in fields other than Education, by language group

Table A.10: LOTE teachers: average number of days of professional learning in past 12 months, by language group

Table A.12: LOTE teachers: Perceived needs for more professional learning, by language group

Table A.13: LOTE teachers: proportion employed full-time, by language group

Table A.14: LOTE teachers: proportion employed on an on-going or contractual basis, by language group

Table A.15: LOTE teachers: average length of teaching experience, by language group

Table A.16: LOTE teachers: sector and location of current and first schools for those who have worked in more than one school, by language group

Table A.17: LOTE teachers: proportions who intend to leave teaching permanently prior to retirement, by language group

Table A.18: LOTE teachers: average number of years that teachers intend to keep working in schools, by language group

Table A2.1.1: Final school and teacher response rates for Australia, primary and secondary, 2007

Table A2.1.2: Primary teachers: proportions teaching in specified curriculum areas, , 2007

Table A2.1.3: Secondary teachers: proportions teaching in specified curriculum areas, 2007

Table A2.2.1: Geographic location of school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.2.2: Geographic location of school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.2.3: School sector: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.2.4: School sector: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.2.5: School SES: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.2.6: School SES: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.1: Age distribution: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.2: Age distribution: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.3: Proportions of male and female teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.4: Proportions of male and female teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.5: Age distribution by gender: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.6: Age distribution by gender: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.7: Proportion of teachers born in Australia: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.3.8: Proportion of teachers born in Australia: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.4.1: Proportions who hold qualifications in Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.4.2: Proportions who hold qualifications in Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.4.3: Proportions who hold qualifications in fields other than Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.4.4: Proportions who hold qualifications in fields other than Education: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.4.5: Primary teachers currently teaching in specified areas, by extent of tertiary study in the area, 2007

Table A2.4.6: Secondary teachers currently teaching in specified areas, by extent of tertiary study in the area, 2007

Table A2.4.7: Primary teachers who are qualified to teach in specified curriculum areas but are not doing so – the other areas in which they are teaching, 2007

Table A2.4.8: Secondary teachers who are qualified to teach in specified curriculum areas but are not doing so – the other areas in which they are teaching, 2007

Table A2.4.9: Proportions currently studying for a tertiary qualification: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.4.10: Proportions currently studying for a tertiary qualification: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.1: Average number of days of professional learning in past 12 months: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.2: Average number of days of professional learning in past 12 months: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.3: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.4: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: all Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.5: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.6: Proportions who have engaged in professional learning activities in the past 12 months, and who have >5 years teaching experience in the area: all Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.7: Professional learning impact: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.8: Professional learning impact: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.9: Professional learning: extent to which PL activities involved developing capacity to teach in different curriculum areas or stages of schooling, for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.10: Professional learning: extent to which PL activities involved developing capacity to teach in different curriculum areas or stages of schooling, for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.11: Perceived needs for more professional learning: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.5.12: Perceived needs for more professional learning: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.6.1: Proportion employed full-time: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.6.2: Proportion employed full-time: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.6.3: Proportion employed on an on-going or contractual basis: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.6.4: Proportion employed on an on-going or contractual basis: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.6.5: Hours per week on all school-related activities by full-time teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.6.6: Hours per week on all school-related activities by full-time teachers: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.1: Average age started teaching: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.2: Average age started teaching: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.3: Average length of teaching experience: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.4: Average length of teaching experience: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.5: Proportion who are currently working in their first school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.6: Proportion who are currently working in their first school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.7: Sector and location of current and first schools for those who have worked in more than one school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.7.8: Sector and location of current and first schools for those who have worked in more than one school: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.8.1: Proportions of teachers who intend to leave teaching permanently prior to retirement: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.8.2: Proportions of teachers who intend to leave teaching permanently prior to retirement: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2.8.3: Average number of years teachers intend to keep working in schools: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Primary teachers, 2007

Table A2.8.4: Average number of years teachers intend to keep working in schools: for teachers currently teaching in specified areas, Secondary teachers, 2007

Table A2L.1: LOTE teachers: classification of specified languages into Asian and Non-Asian groups, 2007

Table A2L.2: LOTE teachers: geographic location of school, by language group, 2007

Table A2L.3: LOTE teachers: school sector, by language group, 2007

Table A2L.4: LOTE teachers: school SES composition, by language group, 2007

Table A2L.5: LOTE teachers: age distribution and average age, by language group, 2007

Table A2L.6: LOTE teachers: proportions of male and female teachers, by language group, 2007

Table A2L.7: LOTE teachers: proportion of teachers born in Australia, by language group, 2007