Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Education regarding the benefits of applying for Independent Public School (IPS) status given the upcoming changes to school funding and staffing models in 2015. The Minister clarifies that IPS status still offers significant additional flexibilities.

AnsweredQoN 500Legislative Council
Asked
11 September 2013
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

SCHOOLS —
NEW FUNDING MODEL
500. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the announcement of a new model of funding for
Western Australian public schools in 2015. Given that the new model proposes
that all schools—not just independent public schools—will move
to a one-line budget and be able to select staff, and that IPS schools have
been asked to take on redeployees, what is the benefit of applying for IPS
status now?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
Although all schools will have a one-line budget in 2015,
independent public school status affords a much broader set of flexibilities
including, but not limited to: fully selecting all teaching and support staff
and being exempted from appointing redeployees; determining the staffing
profile; approving staff intrastate and interstate travel; determining the
timing of all school development days, rather than some; making early offers to
student teachers and school psychologists in their final year practicum; and
awarding contracts and disposing of assets of up to $150 000. Although
independent public schools were recently asked to consider taking redeployees,
they are under no obligation to do so.

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