A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on the powers and limitations of Independent Public Schools regarding staffing, curriculum, and services. The answers largely confirm that these schools operate within existing departmental frameworks.

AnsweredQoN 6299Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 October 2011
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

(1) What powers does an independent public school have that other schools in the Government school system do not have?
(2) Can an independent public school dismiss or compulsorily transfer a teacher or any other staff member and if so what is the mechanism used to achieve this?
(3) Can an independent public school deviate in any way from the Enterprise Bargaining Agreements applying to employees of the Education Department?
(4) Can an independent public school change the numbers or duties of school cleaners or gardeners or decide to contract out these services?
(5) Can an independent public school opt out of the national curriculum?
(6) Can an independent public primary school decide not to enrol year seven students?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
22 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
35 days
(1) The flexibilities, authorities and responsibilities of an Independent Public School are outlined in the Prospectus which is available on the Department of Education's Independent Public Schools website at
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/independentpublicschools
.
(2) No.
(3) No.
(4) Current Government policy stipulates that school cleaning and gardening is undertaken by staff employed directly by the Department of Education. This applies to all public schools irrespective of independent status. Provision exists for schools to engage contractors for cleaning and gardening services where they can demonstrate they have undertaken all reasonable steps to recruit day labour staff but have been unsuccessful. An Independent Public School or cluster of schools may choose to employ additional cleaning and gardening staff, funded by the school, provided the school complies with the policy on the use of day labour staff.
(5) No.
(6) No. Enrolments in all public schools are governed by the Department's
Enrolment
policy.
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