❓ Mr. Miles asks about preparations for schools transitioning to independent public school status. The Minister details the selection process, support programs for principals and school councils, and broader educational achievements of the government.
AnsweredQoN 763Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS — FIRST INTAKE
I notice the minister’s earlier announcement of the 34 schools that will become independent public schools next year, including some in the electorate of Wanneroo—Ashdale Primary School, Madeley Primary School and Ashdale Senior High School. What will be done to prepare these schools for this new status next year? Dr E. CONSTABLE
I notice the minister’s earlier announcement of the 34 schools that will become independent public schools next year, including some in the electorate of Wanneroo—Ashdale Primary School, Madeley Primary School and Ashdale Senior High School. What will be done to prepare these schools for this new status next year? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
It indeed has been a very exciting day today with the announcement of the first 34 schools that are in the independent public schools program. You will recall, Mr Speaker, that 102 schools applied, which is many more than I expected would apply in the first round. I know that a large number of schools, probably 200 or 300, were very interested in the first instance, but some of them decided that they would wait for the second and third rounds. The 34 schools were chosen by an independent panel, chaired by Audrey Jackson, who is the former chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia. Schools were selected particularly on the strength of their applications, but also because they have embarked on full consultation with their school communities and school staff and they got strong support from their school community. In fact, when I was at Belmont City College today, the principal commented that the school had been waiting a long time for this day when it could become more autonomous within the public school system. The other very important point, as I understand it, for the selection committee is that the schools gave a clear sense of the strategies and educational benefits that would accrue from being autonomous schools. What will happen now is that over the next four and a half months there will be a transition period for those schools and a lot of support for principals and for chairs of the school councils. School registrars in particular will be a major part of that transition period when the school registrars will assume some different aspects of their role in managing the financial budgets and so on of a school. In October the program for principals and chairs of school councils will begin. Through those next months schools will be preparing to be more autonomous. It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: It indeed has been a very exciting day today with the announcement of the first 34 schools that are in the independent public schools program. You will recall, Mr Speaker, that 102 schools applied, which is many more than I expected would apply in the first round. I know that a large number of schools, probably 200 or 300, were very interested in the first instance, but some of them decided that they would wait for the second and third rounds. The 34 schools were chosen by an independent panel, chaired by Audrey Jackson, who is the former chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia. Schools were selected particularly on the strength of their applications, but also because they have embarked on full consultation with their school communities and school staff and they got strong support from their school community. In fact, when I was at Belmont City College today, the principal commented that the school had been waiting a long time for this day when it could become more autonomous within the public school system. The other very important point, as I understand it, for the selection committee is that the schools gave a clear sense of the strategies and educational benefits that would accrue from being autonomous schools. What will happen now is that over the next four and a half months there will be a transition period for those schools and a lot of support for principals and for chairs of the school councils. School registrars in particular will be a major part of that transition period when the school registrars will assume some different aspects of their role in managing the financial budgets and so on of a school. In October the program for principals and chairs of school councils will begin. Through those next months schools will be preparing to be more autonomous. It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
It indeed has been a very exciting day today with the announcement of the first 34 schools that are in the independent public schools program. You will recall, Mr Speaker, that 102 schools applied, which is many more than I expected would apply in the first round. I know that a large number of schools, probably 200 or 300, were very interested in the first instance, but some of them decided that they would wait for the second and third rounds. The 34 schools were chosen by an independent panel, chaired by Audrey Jackson, who is the former chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia. Schools were selected particularly on the strength of their applications, but also because they have embarked on full consultation with their school communities and school staff and they got strong support from their school community. In fact, when I was at Belmont City College today, the principal commented that the school had been waiting a long time for this day when it could become more autonomous within the public school system. The other very important point, as I understand it, for the selection committee is that the schools gave a clear sense of the strategies and educational benefits that would accrue from being autonomous schools. What will happen now is that over the next four and a half months there will be a transition period for those schools and a lot of support for principals and for chairs of the school councils. School registrars in particular will be a major part of that transition period when the school registrars will assume some different aspects of their role in managing the financial budgets and so on of a school. In October the program for principals and chairs of school councils will begin. Through those next months schools will be preparing to be more autonomous. It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
The other very important point, as I understand it, for the selection committee is that the schools gave a clear sense of the strategies and educational benefits that would accrue from being autonomous schools. What will happen now is that over the next four and a half months there will be a transition period for those schools and a lot of support for principals and for chairs of the school councils. School registrars in particular will be a major part of that transition period when the school registrars will assume some different aspects of their role in managing the financial budgets and so on of a school. In October the program for principals and chairs of school councils will begin. Through those next months schools will be preparing to be more autonomous. It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: It indeed has been a very exciting day today with the announcement of the first 34 schools that are in the independent public schools program. You will recall, Mr Speaker, that 102 schools applied, which is many more than I expected would apply in the first round. I know that a large number of schools, probably 200 or 300, were very interested in the first instance, but some of them decided that they would wait for the second and third rounds. The 34 schools were chosen by an independent panel, chaired by Audrey Jackson, who is the former chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia. Schools were selected particularly on the strength of their applications, but also because they have embarked on full consultation with their school communities and school staff and they got strong support from their school community. In fact, when I was at Belmont City College today, the principal commented that the school had been waiting a long time for this day when it could become more autonomous within the public school system. The other very important point, as I understand it, for the selection committee is that the schools gave a clear sense of the strategies and educational benefits that would accrue from being autonomous schools. What will happen now is that over the next four and a half months there will be a transition period for those schools and a lot of support for principals and for chairs of the school councils. School registrars in particular will be a major part of that transition period when the school registrars will assume some different aspects of their role in managing the financial budgets and so on of a school. In October the program for principals and chairs of school councils will begin. Through those next months schools will be preparing to be more autonomous. It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
It indeed has been a very exciting day today with the announcement of the first 34 schools that are in the independent public schools program. You will recall, Mr Speaker, that 102 schools applied, which is many more than I expected would apply in the first round. I know that a large number of schools, probably 200 or 300, were very interested in the first instance, but some of them decided that they would wait for the second and third rounds. The 34 schools were chosen by an independent panel, chaired by Audrey Jackson, who is the former chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia. Schools were selected particularly on the strength of their applications, but also because they have embarked on full consultation with their school communities and school staff and they got strong support from their school community. In fact, when I was at Belmont City College today, the principal commented that the school had been waiting a long time for this day when it could become more autonomous within the public school system. The other very important point, as I understand it, for the selection committee is that the schools gave a clear sense of the strategies and educational benefits that would accrue from being autonomous schools. What will happen now is that over the next four and a half months there will be a transition period for those schools and a lot of support for principals and for chairs of the school councils. School registrars in particular will be a major part of that transition period when the school registrars will assume some different aspects of their role in managing the financial budgets and so on of a school. In October the program for principals and chairs of school councils will begin. Through those next months schools will be preparing to be more autonomous. It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
The other very important point, as I understand it, for the selection committee is that the schools gave a clear sense of the strategies and educational benefits that would accrue from being autonomous schools. What will happen now is that over the next four and a half months there will be a transition period for those schools and a lot of support for principals and for chairs of the school councils. School registrars in particular will be a major part of that transition period when the school registrars will assume some different aspects of their role in managing the financial budgets and so on of a school. In October the program for principals and chairs of school councils will begin. Through those next months schools will be preparing to be more autonomous. It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
It is worthy of note that it is exactly one year since this government was sworn in, so this is a great way in education to be celebrating that first year in government. I am very proud of much of the work that has been done over the past year to improve conditions for teachers, particularly with the conclusion of the agreement with teachers last year, which was within weeks of our coming into office. That was followed by strong announcements to do with behavioural management, particularly with the increased numbers of school psychologists and behaviour centres in regional areas, including, I think, in Geraldton, which will be of help to your constituents, Mr Speaker. There are also funds that have gone into literacy and numeracy. We have already seen some impact that those funds have had on the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy results. Record capital works have been announced and a huge amount of work has been done by the department to get that into place. Over $1 billion in the next year will be spent—more than ever—on capital works in schools in Western Australia. Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Many other things have happened. We have abolished levels in student assessment. We have increased the living-away-from-home allowance. Schools in Western Australia are in a very healthy situation. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat minister. Many members in this place may think they have better answers to the question asked. Other members in this place are absolutely within their rights to stand and ask future questions of the minister. I do not want to hear any further interjections. I do want to hear the minister close her remarks. Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : I will do that very quickly, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing the transition of these first 34 schools in the demonstration phase of the independent public schools program, and many more schools joining that program during the following year.
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