❓ The Minister for Education provides an update on the Independent Public Schools program, highlighting the high number of applications received for the third round and positive feedback from principals. The program aims to empower schools through local decision-making and increased autonomy.
AnsweredQoN 264Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
As members know, schools in my electorate of Wanneroo have been very successful applicants for the Liberal–National government’s independent public schools program. Could the Minister for Education update the house about the continued rollout of a genuine education revolution and the number of schools that have applied for this round? Dr E. CONSTABLE
As members know, schools in my electorate of Wanneroo have been very successful applicants for the Liberal–National government’s independent public schools program. Could the Minister for Education update the house about the continued rollout of a genuine education revolution and the number of schools that have applied for this round? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question. I know that he has a great interest in this matter and a very interesting cluster of schools in his electorate that form an independent public school cluster. Applications for expressions of interest for the third-round intake for independent public schools closed last Thursday, and a massive 195 applications came forward. In the first intake, in 2009, 34 schools were chosen out of 104. In the second intake, in 2010, 64 schools were chosen out of 134. Now 195 schools are putting up their hands and applying to become independent public schools. Of those 195 schools, 183 have applied individually, and 35 have applied in clusters. About 24 schools have applied both as individual applicants and part of clusters of schools. Altogether there are 13 clusters of schools. They are working extremely well. In the Mid West, the three schools at Perenjori, Coorow and Three Springs have formed a cluster of small primary schools working closely together. They have teamed up with Beaumaris Primary School, which is a very large metropolitan school they are working with. All sorts of relationships are developing between schools. When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question. I know that he has a great interest in this matter and a very interesting cluster of schools in his electorate that form an independent public school cluster. Applications for expressions of interest for the third-round intake for independent public schools closed last Thursday, and a massive 195 applications came forward. In the first intake, in 2009, 34 schools were chosen out of 104. In the second intake, in 2010, 64 schools were chosen out of 134. Now 195 schools are putting up their hands and applying to become independent public schools. Of those 195 schools, 183 have applied individually, and 35 have applied in clusters. About 24 schools have applied both as individual applicants and part of clusters of schools. Altogether there are 13 clusters of schools. They are working extremely well. In the Mid West, the three schools at Perenjori, Coorow and Three Springs have formed a cluster of small primary schools working closely together. They have teamed up with Beaumaris Primary School, which is a very large metropolitan school they are working with. All sorts of relationships are developing between schools. When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question. I know that he has a great interest in this matter and a very interesting cluster of schools in his electorate that form an independent public school cluster. Applications for expressions of interest for the third-round intake for independent public schools closed last Thursday, and a massive 195 applications came forward. In the first intake, in 2009, 34 schools were chosen out of 104. In the second intake, in 2010, 64 schools were chosen out of 134. Now 195 schools are putting up their hands and applying to become independent public schools. Of those 195 schools, 183 have applied individually, and 35 have applied in clusters. About 24 schools have applied both as individual applicants and part of clusters of schools. Altogether there are 13 clusters of schools. They are working extremely well. In the Mid West, the three schools at Perenjori, Coorow and Three Springs have formed a cluster of small primary schools working closely together. They have teamed up with Beaumaris Primary School, which is a very large metropolitan school they are working with. All sorts of relationships are developing between schools. When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Of those 195 schools, 183 have applied individually, and 35 have applied in clusters. About 24 schools have applied both as individual applicants and part of clusters of schools. Altogether there are 13 clusters of schools. They are working extremely well. In the Mid West, the three schools at Perenjori, Coorow and Three Springs have formed a cluster of small primary schools working closely together. They have teamed up with Beaumaris Primary School, which is a very large metropolitan school they are working with. All sorts of relationships are developing between schools. When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question. I know that he has a great interest in this matter and a very interesting cluster of schools in his electorate that form an independent public school cluster. Applications for expressions of interest for the third-round intake for independent public schools closed last Thursday, and a massive 195 applications came forward. In the first intake, in 2009, 34 schools were chosen out of 104. In the second intake, in 2010, 64 schools were chosen out of 134. Now 195 schools are putting up their hands and applying to become independent public schools. Of those 195 schools, 183 have applied individually, and 35 have applied in clusters. About 24 schools have applied both as individual applicants and part of clusters of schools. Altogether there are 13 clusters of schools. They are working extremely well. In the Mid West, the three schools at Perenjori, Coorow and Three Springs have formed a cluster of small primary schools working closely together. They have teamed up with Beaumaris Primary School, which is a very large metropolitan school they are working with. All sorts of relationships are developing between schools. When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
I thank the member for Wanneroo for his question. I know that he has a great interest in this matter and a very interesting cluster of schools in his electorate that form an independent public school cluster. Applications for expressions of interest for the third-round intake for independent public schools closed last Thursday, and a massive 195 applications came forward. In the first intake, in 2009, 34 schools were chosen out of 104. In the second intake, in 2010, 64 schools were chosen out of 134. Now 195 schools are putting up their hands and applying to become independent public schools. Of those 195 schools, 183 have applied individually, and 35 have applied in clusters. About 24 schools have applied both as individual applicants and part of clusters of schools. Altogether there are 13 clusters of schools. They are working extremely well. In the Mid West, the three schools at Perenjori, Coorow and Three Springs have formed a cluster of small primary schools working closely together. They have teamed up with Beaumaris Primary School, which is a very large metropolitan school they are working with. All sorts of relationships are developing between schools. When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Of those 195 schools, 183 have applied individually, and 35 have applied in clusters. About 24 schools have applied both as individual applicants and part of clusters of schools. Altogether there are 13 clusters of schools. They are working extremely well. In the Mid West, the three schools at Perenjori, Coorow and Three Springs have formed a cluster of small primary schools working closely together. They have teamed up with Beaumaris Primary School, which is a very large metropolitan school they are working with. All sorts of relationships are developing between schools. When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
When we look at the breakdown of the third intake applications, 38 per cent of expressions of interest have come from country schools and 62 per cent have come from metropolitan schools, which is about as expected. Amongst those, there are four agricultural colleges, 10 district high schools, two senior colleges, 127 primary schools, 10 education support centres, three high schools and 38 senior high schools, so they are pretty well spread around the different configurations of schools. They have come from all regions except from the Kimberley. It is not surprising that the Kimberley has yet to attract independent public schools, given the number of small remote schools within the Kimberley. Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Perhaps the best measure of success of the independent public school initiative is that so many schools want to be part of this program. One hundred and ninety-five is a huge number. The selection process is carried out by a group of people who are independent of the department but who are given some support from the department as well. They will have a huge task this year going through those applications and selecting and recommending to the department the schools that they think are ready to become independent public schools. Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
Principals have said that autonomy is something that they want. It is about school communities wanting to be more involved in their schools, it is about the value of decisions on schools being made locally and it is about empowering schools, as was our election commitment that schools would be empowered to make decisions at the local level. It is working, because people are putting their hands up and volunteering. They are making their own decisions. This is not something that is being imposed on schools, but schools are able to take their time and to put together their applications in this way. The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
The independent public schools initiative has provided flexibility to schools to make their own decisions in staffing and in budgeting with their one-line budgets. They are really enjoying their freedom from central support. I would just like to sum up by citing a principal of a senior high school, who said that IPS has been the best initiative he has been involved with since becoming a principal. I think that sums up the sentiment of many principals. That is why so many people are working with their school communities to put forward their expressions of interest.
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