❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinizes the implementation and impact of Independent Public Schools (IPS), covering staffing, workload, accountability, and student outcomes. The Minister's response provides details on redeployment, contract arrangements, consultation, and evaluation processes.
AnsweredQoN 3658Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Minister, in relation to independent public schools (IPSs)I ask:
(a) how many staff within education department schools are currently awaiting redeployment;
(b) how many of these people will need to be placed in IPSs;
(c) how will a system that allows for redeployment work alongside a system of merit-based appointments;
(d) why are more than 50% of the staff at the IPS Bletchley Park Primary School on short-term contracts when there are still permanent teachers seeking positions in the metropolitan area;
(e) will this type of staffing arrangement be the norm in IPSs;
(f) what consultation has occurred between the Principals’ Association and the State School Teachers Union in relation to the additional workload involved in becoming an IPS;
(g) what research was undertaken to determine whether the minor amount being added to IPS budgets is adequate to cover the considerable additional administrative workload involved;
(h) given that the decision to establish IPSs was not based on any evidence suggesting that this initiative would improve student outcomes, what research will now be carried out to determine whether IPSs have had a positive impact on student outcomes;
(i) can the Minister guarantee that IPSs will not contravene government policy regarding equal opportunity, racial discrimination and the
Financial Management Act
2006
;
(j) given that IPSs are operating outside of existing and traditional departmental line management structures, what checks and balances are in place to ensure that the Minister’s responsibility for these schools is still clear;
(k) what type of training has been provided to the principals and staff of IPSs to ensure that they are fully aware of their responsibilities in managing these schools; and
(l) when will the decision be made regarding collapsing the ten education district offices into four regions?
(a) how many staff within education department schools are currently awaiting redeployment;
(b) how many of these people will need to be placed in IPSs;
(c) how will a system that allows for redeployment work alongside a system of merit-based appointments;
(d) why are more than 50% of the staff at the IPS Bletchley Park Primary School on short-term contracts when there are still permanent teachers seeking positions in the metropolitan area;
(e) will this type of staffing arrangement be the norm in IPSs;
(f) what consultation has occurred between the Principals’ Association and the State School Teachers Union in relation to the additional workload involved in becoming an IPS;
(g) what research was undertaken to determine whether the minor amount being added to IPS budgets is adequate to cover the considerable additional administrative workload involved;
(h) given that the decision to establish IPSs was not based on any evidence suggesting that this initiative would improve student outcomes, what research will now be carried out to determine whether IPSs have had a positive impact on student outcomes;
(i) can the Minister guarantee that IPSs will not contravene government policy regarding equal opportunity, racial discrimination and the
Financial Management Act
2006
;
(j) given that IPSs are operating outside of existing and traditional departmental line management structures, what checks and balances are in place to ensure that the Minister’s responsibility for these schools is still clear;
(k) what type of training has been provided to the principals and staff of IPSs to ensure that they are fully aware of their responsibilities in managing these schools; and
(l) when will the decision be made regarding collapsing the ten education district offices into four regions?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2010
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
30 days
(a) As at 20 August 2010 - Sixty-one teachers.
(b) None. However school principals of IPS may appoint suitable redeployees to appropriate vacant positions as they arise.
(c) School principals may choose to appoint suitable redeployees into appropriate positions as vacancies occur. This is also the case for Departments generally across the wider public sector.
(d) BletchleyParkPrimary Schoolhas 39 teaching staff. Eleven (28 per cent) are currently on fixed-term contracts for 2010, relieving permanent teachers on approved leave. A further eleven are completing probationary and performance requirements as a prelude to permanency.
(e) Each school will determine the mix of fixed-term and permanent staff based on the school profile.
(f) I am unable to comment on discussions to which I was not a party.
(g) An analysis was undertaken of the administrative workload associated with the adoption of the flexibilities offered to Independent Public Schools to establish the level of additional funding that the schools would need to manage the task.
(h) Each IPS will be independently reviewed in the final year of the school's Delivery and Performance Agreement. The first intake of 34 schools will be reviewed in 2012 to assess the improvement each has made. Part of this assessment will involve the standards of student performance.
Additionally, an independent evaluation of the IPS initiative is currently under consideration.
(i) IPS are required to operate within relevant legislation and industrial agreements.
(j) All IPS operate within a line management structure reporting to the Director General who is responsible to me.
(k) IPS principals, staff and members of the school council undertake initial training comprising governance, accountability; school boards, Delivery and Performance agreements, business plans, workforce management and finance. This training is ongoing and schools can access the training as required.
(l) Consistent with its commitment and focus on empowering school communities, the Government has reduced the number of education districts and created eight education regions and 75 school networks across the State. For further information on this restructure, please refer to my Brief Ministerial Statement made on 7 September 2010.
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(b) None. However school principals of IPS may appoint suitable redeployees to appropriate vacant positions as they arise.
(c) School principals may choose to appoint suitable redeployees into appropriate positions as vacancies occur. This is also the case for Departments generally across the wider public sector.
(d) BletchleyParkPrimary Schoolhas 39 teaching staff. Eleven (28 per cent) are currently on fixed-term contracts for 2010, relieving permanent teachers on approved leave. A further eleven are completing probationary and performance requirements as a prelude to permanency.
(e) Each school will determine the mix of fixed-term and permanent staff based on the school profile.
(f) I am unable to comment on discussions to which I was not a party.
(g) An analysis was undertaken of the administrative workload associated with the adoption of the flexibilities offered to Independent Public Schools to establish the level of additional funding that the schools would need to manage the task.
(h) Each IPS will be independently reviewed in the final year of the school's Delivery and Performance Agreement. The first intake of 34 schools will be reviewed in 2012 to assess the improvement each has made. Part of this assessment will involve the standards of student performance.
Additionally, an independent evaluation of the IPS initiative is currently under consideration.
(i) IPS are required to operate within relevant legislation and industrial agreements.
(j) All IPS operate within a line management structure reporting to the Director General who is responsible to me.
(k) IPS principals, staff and members of the school council undertake initial training comprising governance, accountability; school boards, Delivery and Performance agreements, business plans, workforce management and finance. This training is ongoing and schools can access the training as required.
(l) Consistent with its commitment and focus on empowering school communities, the Government has reduced the number of education districts and created eight education regions and 75 school networks across the State. For further information on this restructure, please refer to my Brief Ministerial Statement made on 7 September 2010.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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