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27 March 2026

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The Australian Secondary Principals' Association (ASPA) welcomes the release of the first progress report on the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and acknowledges the positive trends in attendance, teacher retention and student outcomes reported by Minister Clare.

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These early indicators are encouraging and reflect the combined efforts of school leaders, teachers, and education systems across the country. ASPA has consistently supported the BFSA's reform directions, and it is right that the Commonwealth reports publicly on progress.

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However, ASPA notes that the headline figures do not yet provide sufficient detail on how the Agreement is translating into improvements at the secondary school level specifically. Secondary schools face distinct pressures: the complexity and cost of senior secondary provision, the breadth of curriculum required to serve diverse student pathways, and the ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining specialist teachers in areas such as mathematics, science and the arts.

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ASPA calls on the Commonwealth and state governments to ensure that future BFSA reporting includes disaggregated data on funding distribution, secondary school attendance, completion, and workforce indicators. Without this level of transparency, it is difficult for school leaders and the community to assess whether the Agreement's full-funding promise is reaching the students and schools that need it most.

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ASPA's 2026 National Summit, which concluded in Canberra on 25 March, included a briefing from Minister Clare on the progress of the BFSA, including the potential of its enabling initiatives to support achievement of the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Declaration's goals for equity and excellence.

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At the Summit, Minister Clare also announced that the Commonwealth will contribute funding to a national pilot for reflective supervision for principals, coordinated by Headspace. ASPA warmly welcomes this announcement. Reflective supervision is an evidence-informed strategy that ASPA and other national principals' peak bodies have long advocated as essential to supporting the health and wellbeing of school leaders. The pressures facing principals continue to intensify, and targeted, structured support of this kind is both timely and necessary.

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A collaborative approach from states, territories and the Commonwealth toward an ongoing and transparent evaluation of how public funds are used to support achieving the Declaration's goals for equity and excellence is essential. The Association looks forward to engaging constructively with Minister Clare, and state and territory education ministers, on these matters.

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About ASPA: The Australian Secondary Principals' Association represents secondary school leaders across Australia, advocating for excellence in secondary education and supporting principals in their vital role.