School teachers guide

Records that relate to teacher employment in the Government sector between 1788 and 1979

Records that relate to teacher employment in the Government sector between 1788 and 1979.

List of main record series

Colonial Secretary

Series
Title
Dates
NRS 1286[Fiche 446-613] 
Colonial Secretary: Returns of the Colony
The returns under the headingcover both Sydney and country schools. They include the names of teachers for each school and their annual salaries.See the item list »
1828-1857

Clergy and School Lands Corporation

Series
Title
Dates
Letters received from clergymen, catechists and schoolmasters
1825-1833

Board of National Education

Series
Title
Dates
NRS 613(Reels 4001-4038)
Miscellaneous Letters Received
Includes correspondence concerning the provision of teachers, nominations of teaching staff, complaints against teachers and details of appointments and resignations.
1848-1866
Applications to the Board of National Education for various situations
1848-1852
Applications for and reports on candidates for positions as teachers and pupil teachers [Reels 2380-2384]
1856-1866
NRS 616(Reel 2385)
Reports on teachers and pupil-teachers 
1864-1866

Council of Education

Series
Title
Dates
Miscellaneous letters received
This correspondence is arranged alphabetically by name of school. It may include applications for positions as teachers and letters received from teachers concerning illness, complaints or resignations.
See the item list
1867-1875
Copies of letters sent
These are arranged chronologically and include letters and memoranda sent to teachers.
See the item list
1868-1880
Results of teacher examinations
This register gives the name of the school to which the teacher was appointed, results for individual subjects and comments on skill in teaching.
1867-1878
Reports and memoranda received concerning Training School applicants
These contain applications for admission to the Training School, and reports and memoranda from the Senior Inspector, the Examiner, the Secretary to the Board and the Training Master concerning Training School candidates. 
See the item list
1867-1874
Pupil-teacher applications and reclassification reports
1867-1876
Applications for employment
1867-1872, 1874-1875
Teachers' rolls
These rolls provide a service record for each teacher and include date of birth, examination results, appointments, promotions and date of resignation.
Search for names in the online index
1868-1908
Date range of Teachers' Rolls
Roll
Starting Date
Reel
1
1/01/1869
Reel 1991
2
1/01/1871
Reel 1992
3
1/01/1881
Reel 1993
4
1/01/1882
Reel 1993
5
1/01/1884
Reel 1994
6
1/01/1890
Reel 1995
7
1/01/1897
Reel 1996
8
1/01/1900
Reel 1997
9
1/01/1905
Reel 1998

Department of Education

Series
Title
Dates
Subject files
These include information on individual teachers concerning promotions, resignations and retirements.See the item list »
1875-1948
School files
These files are arranged by name of school. They contain information concerning teacher appointments, leave, examinations and occasionally details of complaints about teachers by parents and inspectors. The files after c.1950 do not contain detailed information about teachers.
The schools are listed in the online index
c.1876-1979
Results of teachers' examinations
Names of applicants and their marks in each subject are listed by examination centre.
1901-1909
Listing of male teachers (by birth date)
This alphabetical list gives the teacher's marital status, district, date of birth, school and hometown.
1 Jul 1906-30 Jun 1921
Salary Registers
These registers are arranged alphabetically by school.
1908-1922
Records of teachers and officers in the A.I.F. during World War I
1914-1940
Record of service of Department of Education personnel in World Wars I and II
1915-1943
Teachers' personal files
Only includes teachers employed prior to 1918
c.1924-1957
Graduate ex-student registers
Item List
- 1929-43 [6/3913]
- 1944-46 [6/3914]
- 1947-57 [6/3915]
- 1947-57 [6/3916] (Not four year trained) 
1929-1957
Returns of casualties of teachers enlisted in the AIF and RAAF during WWII
1939-1946
Teacher career cards
The cards detail the various appointments occupied by each teacher in his/her career in NSW government schools or the Department of Education.
1908-1987
Teacher leave cards
Leave taken is presented in tabular form, showing the period of leave and whether this has been recreation, sick, extended, short, special, without pay or military leave. There is a remarks column used to indicate the reason for the leave.
1908-1987
Heads of School index cards
This records in this series documents either the Head of School or the Principal for each public school listed.
The series consists of index cards arranged alphabetically by the name of the school. Each card has the name of the school and its location at the top. The cards then list the heads of school in chronological order with the start and end dates of their tenure and information on why they left, including new appointments where applicable. Some of the cards are double sided.Access note: the records are closed to public access for 50 years. To access cards less than 50 years old, contact the Department of Education's Records Centre of Expertise: EDConnect.recordsmanagement@det.nsw.edu.au
1848-2002
Photographic collection
The History Unit of the Department of School Education collected these photographs. Most show school buildings, pupils, teachers, or educational activities, with nearly all including an identifying caption and date. The Department of Education holds a digitised copy of these records for reference purposes.
Browse the digitised photos
1963-1991

Teachers Examination and Classification Committee and the Board of Examiners for Teachers

Series
Title
Dates
Minutes [Teachers Examination and Classification Committee]
The minutes include decisions made by the Committee concerning Regulations drafted under both the Public Service Act, 1902 (Act No.31, 1902) and the Public Instruction Act, 1880 (Act 43 Vic. No.23), concerning teacher classification and examination.
4 Jun 1912-12 Jan 1923
Minutes [Board of Examiners for Teachers]
The minutes include decisions made by the Committee concerning Regulations drafted under both the Public Service Act, 1902, (Act No.31, 1902), and the Public Instruction Act, 1880 (43 Vic. No.23), concerning teacher classification and examination.
30 Apr 1923-31 Dec 1943

Further reading

  • As well as the records listed above, researchers should also consult our catalogue under Agency 4816: Education — Teacher Personnel Division.
  • Government schools of New South Wales, 1848-1998: 150 Years, Open Training and Education (OTEN) — Distance Education, New South Wales Department of Education and Training, Sydney, 1998.

How to access the records covered in this guide

  • Some of the files can be viewed online
  • Visit the Reading Room to view the original documents
  • Copy service - choose paper photocopies or digital delivery
  • Hire a researcher. We cannot undertake research for you. Please see our referral list of professional researchers

School records

Find out about the wealth of information in school records about students, teachers and school buildings and sites in NSW

Digitised top half of page with the subject line 'Protest against unjust dismissal from the service'

Married women teachers' applications, 1932–35

The Married Women (Lecturers and Teachers) Act of 1932 restricted employment of married women in the Department of Public Instruction. We hold 693 digitised declarations for exemption by married women teachers for the years 1932–35

A group of men and women pose for the camera

Teachers' rolls & career cards

These are the points of entry for research about teachers. The cards tell us where and when teachers were employed, and their classification

School student records guide

These records provide information about the admission of children to Government Schools, Orphan Schools and Industrial Schools in NSW.