An innovative school-university partnership exploring applications of the framework for professional teaching standards

The policy document Framework for Professional Teaching Standards as articulated by the NSW Institue of Teachers describes clear benchmarks for identifying and describing effective teaching. The Standards provide a language that can be used by teachers to comnumicate within their community about their profession and in so doing advance the status and standing of the profession. This paper will report on how this framework is being used in music teaching and learning experiences with a NSW Senior High School ('Onyx') beyond the Professional Exerperience teaching blocks in schools. These additional experiences encompass the sharing of programs by expert teachers, discussions with pre-service teachers of strategies of managing the critical mass of students of music at Years 11 (70 in 2007) and 12 (56 in 2007) at Onyx, and provision of the opportunity for preservice teachers to give feedback to students on performance tasks prior to their final examinations. At the University of Western Sydney pre-service teachers are required to apply their knowledge and attainment of the Standards in varied contexts, both in and outside of classroom settings. The purpose of the Standards application is seen as a significant benefit to pre-service teachers in their preparation for their accreditation for teaching, in their first year of teaching and throughout their teaching career.