Hundreds of South Australian school and preschool leaders will receive significant pay rises under a major $36.2 million reform package.

Next year, a new six-level structure will replace the existing nine-level system currently used to classify schools and preschools. This will better reflect the complexity of the work of leading modern schools and preschools, rather than relying solely on the size of schools.

The reform will see 699 principals and preschool directors receive a pay increase, delivering an average annual pay increase of $8,679 for leaders across the public education system. This is in addition to 4% increases in 2024 and 2025 and a 3% increase next year.

Developed in close collaboration with the Australian Education Union and key stakeholder associations, the new model delivers greater equity across the public system, especially for leaders at more complex sites.

Under the changes, principals and preschool directors will be remunerated based on the complexity of their site, recognising the additional challenges these leaders manage and ensure we attract the best staff to change lives in these schools and preschools.

Lockleys Children’s Centre Director Nadia Carruozzo said, while there is a salary impact for preschool directors through this process, it’s not all about the money – it’s about the recognition of the value of the work done in the early years of children’s learning.

‘The introduction of the new classification structure is great news for preschools because the current structure doesn’t accurately reflect the complexity of sites’.

‘After nearly 40 years in early childhood education, I’m passionate about achieving equity for all sites and leaders. I’ve seen tremendous change over the decades I’ve worked in this area and I’m pleased to see changes that support all leaders’.

‘I believe that greater equity and cohesion across the public education system will lead to better outcomes for children and their families’, said Ms Carruozzo.

The system will also bring more stability, removing the uncertainty of the current model that can see up to 40% of sites move up or down classification levels each year.

It follows a suite of new initiatives to support school leaders, including 10-year contracts, reduced administrative burdens, new powers to address aggressive parent behaviours, and a record $1.6 billion investment in the most recent enterprise bargaining agreement.