Assessment on Placement and NTPA

Each placement course has an assessment item which, in combination with the school-based Professional Experience Report, is used to determine if the student has attained a passing grade. These assessments focus on the Graduate Teaching Standards as well as build skills required for accreditation and to successfully complete the final assessment, the Newcastle Teaching Performance Assessment (known as the NTPA).

NTPA is the final assessment hurdle for all Initial Teacher Education Students (ITE) and is completed after their final school placement as part of a nationwide reform process. Although administered and assessed by the University of Newcastle, it is a NESA and federal government initiative and must be passed for accreditation. Before placement begins, students undertake modules and tutorials to prepare them for the NTPA. Each ITE student chooses examples from their final placement planning, teaching and assessing practices with a focus on the impact of teaching on student learning and linking teaching practice to the Graduate Teaching Standards.

The examples are annotated to explain the planning, teaching and learn sequence. During the final placement, the appointed Tertiary Supervisor carries out Quality Teaching coding which forms part of the evidence of impact.