❓ A parliamentary question regarding District High School principal employment levels and school funding in Western Australia. The response indicates some principals are employed at levels higher than their school classification, with no budget compensation provided.
AnsweredQoN 1888Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to District High Schools in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) what is the name of each school; (b) what are the 2019 enrolments by year group; (c) what is the current employment level of the Principal at each school; (d) how does the department determine and review the appropriate employment level which applies to each schools Principal position; (e) how does the department transition a school between Principal employment levels as schools transition in size and classification; (f) are there any District High Schools with a Principal employed at a higher level than their school is classified; and (g) if yes to (f): (i) please identify the schools and appropriate employment and ordinary classification levels; and (ii) how is a school budget compensated arising from the higher employment costs of the school Principal?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 April 2019
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training
Response time
9 days
Answer
(a)-(c) [Refer to Tabled Paper No. ]
(d) The Teachers (Public Sector Primary and Secondary Education) Award 1993 links the salaries of principals to the school type for high schools and senior high schools, and both school type and student enrolments for primary schools, agricultural colleges, district high schools and education support centres.
(e) When a principal position becomes vacant, the position classification is reviewed against current enrolment levels, trends and projections and aligned to the Award. In addition, enrolments are reviewed following the February census to identify current principals classified at levels lower than that indicated in the Award. In these circumstances, principals will receive an allowance in recognition of enrolments being above the classification level of the principal. Adjustments are not made in circumstances where enrolment levels fall below that indicated for the principal’s classification level.
(f) Yes.
(g) (i) [Refer to Tabled Paper No. ]
(ii) There is no compensation provided to the school budget from the higher employment costs of the principal. Schools are funded based on the student and school characteristics. This provides sufficient funding to cover the needs of the students and operational costs of the school, including the principal’s salary.
(a)-(c) [Refer to Tabled Paper No. ]
(d) The Teachers (Public Sector Primary and Secondary Education) Award 1993 links the salaries of principals to the school type for high schools and senior high schools, and both school type and student enrolments for primary schools, agricultural colleges, district high schools and education support centres.
(e) When a principal position becomes vacant, the position classification is reviewed against current enrolment levels, trends and projections and aligned to the Award. In addition, enrolments are reviewed following the February census to identify current principals classified at levels lower than that indicated in the Award. In these circumstances, principals will receive an allowance in recognition of enrolments being above the classification level of the principal. Adjustments are not made in circumstances where enrolment levels fall below that indicated for the principal’s classification level.
(f) Yes.
(g) (i) [Refer to Tabled Paper No. ]
(ii) There is no compensation provided to the school budget from the higher employment costs of the principal. Schools are funded based on the student and school characteristics. This provides sufficient funding to cover the needs of the students and operational costs of the school, including the principal’s salary.
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