❓ Mr. Jacob asks about the Independent Public Schools program, highlighting Beaumaris Primary's success. Dr. Constable provides an update on the program's expansion, voluntary nature, and positive impact on student outcomes, referencing an OECD study and an upcoming evaluation.
AnsweredQoN 429Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Amongst our government’s unprecedented reforms in education since coming to office, one of the most exciting is the independent public schools program. As the minister would be aware, Beaumaris Primary School in my electorate was rolled out in the first round of the independent public schools initiative with great success. Over the winter break, I noticed that the government announced the third intake of IPS. Could the minister please provide us with an update on this most recent announcement and what this means for the local school communities that are now part of this fantastic reform? Dr E. CONSTABLE
Amongst our government’s unprecedented reforms in education since coming to office, one of the most exciting is the independent public schools program. As the minister would be aware, Beaumaris Primary School in my electorate was rolled out in the first round of the independent public schools initiative with great success. Over the winter break, I noticed that the government announced the third intake of IPS. Could the minister please provide us with an update on this most recent announcement and what this means for the local school communities that are now part of this fantastic reform? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Ocean Reef for his question and I recognise his interest in schools, particularly Beaumaris Primary School in his electorate, which I will comment on in a moment. As the member intimated, coming into government, our major policy in education was the desire to empower school communities, principals, staff and parents in the delivery of education within their communities. It is fair to say that in many respects this initiative has revolutionised the way people think about their school and the local community. Over the last two and a half years independent public schools have been embraced by principals in particular, but also by school staff, parents and general communities. On that last point, we see many community members putting up their hands to be part of school boards in independent schools and wanting to contribute to them. I think there has been an overwhelming response to each of the calls for applications and expressions of interest, so much so that 40 per cent of all public schools have now applied over that time. In the last intake, there were 196 applications and the independent committee that goes through those applications recommended to the director general that 109 schools be part of the independent public schools program. Last Friday was the first day of those recognised schools’ transition to independent schools. One of the things that distinguishes the empowering of, and the giving of more autonomy to, public schools in this state compared with other states is that the process has been voluntary. Therefore, schools are able to think through their applications, whether they wish to be part of this program at this point and whether they wish to apply to become an independent public school. Most important is that all socioeconomic index levels are represented in the demographics of those schools—large schools and small schools. About 40 per cent of them are schools outside the metropolitan area, and about 60 per cent are from the metropolitan area; they cover a wide range of schools. The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Ocean Reef for his question and I recognise his interest in schools, particularly Beaumaris Primary School in his electorate, which I will comment on in a moment. As the member intimated, coming into government, our major policy in education was the desire to empower school communities, principals, staff and parents in the delivery of education within their communities. It is fair to say that in many respects this initiative has revolutionised the way people think about their school and the local community. Over the last two and a half years independent public schools have been embraced by principals in particular, but also by school staff, parents and general communities. On that last point, we see many community members putting up their hands to be part of school boards in independent schools and wanting to contribute to them. I think there has been an overwhelming response to each of the calls for applications and expressions of interest, so much so that 40 per cent of all public schools have now applied over that time. In the last intake, there were 196 applications and the independent committee that goes through those applications recommended to the director general that 109 schools be part of the independent public schools program. Last Friday was the first day of those recognised schools’ transition to independent schools. One of the things that distinguishes the empowering of, and the giving of more autonomy to, public schools in this state compared with other states is that the process has been voluntary. Therefore, schools are able to think through their applications, whether they wish to be part of this program at this point and whether they wish to apply to become an independent public school. Most important is that all socioeconomic index levels are represented in the demographics of those schools—large schools and small schools. About 40 per cent of them are schools outside the metropolitan area, and about 60 per cent are from the metropolitan area; they cover a wide range of schools. The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
I thank the member for Ocean Reef for his question and I recognise his interest in schools, particularly Beaumaris Primary School in his electorate, which I will comment on in a moment. As the member intimated, coming into government, our major policy in education was the desire to empower school communities, principals, staff and parents in the delivery of education within their communities. It is fair to say that in many respects this initiative has revolutionised the way people think about their school and the local community. Over the last two and a half years independent public schools have been embraced by principals in particular, but also by school staff, parents and general communities. On that last point, we see many community members putting up their hands to be part of school boards in independent schools and wanting to contribute to them. I think there has been an overwhelming response to each of the calls for applications and expressions of interest, so much so that 40 per cent of all public schools have now applied over that time. In the last intake, there were 196 applications and the independent committee that goes through those applications recommended to the director general that 109 schools be part of the independent public schools program. Last Friday was the first day of those recognised schools’ transition to independent schools. One of the things that distinguishes the empowering of, and the giving of more autonomy to, public schools in this state compared with other states is that the process has been voluntary. Therefore, schools are able to think through their applications, whether they wish to be part of this program at this point and whether they wish to apply to become an independent public school. Most important is that all socioeconomic index levels are represented in the demographics of those schools—large schools and small schools. About 40 per cent of them are schools outside the metropolitan area, and about 60 per cent are from the metropolitan area; they cover a wide range of schools. The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
One of the things that distinguishes the empowering of, and the giving of more autonomy to, public schools in this state compared with other states is that the process has been voluntary. Therefore, schools are able to think through their applications, whether they wish to be part of this program at this point and whether they wish to apply to become an independent public school. Most important is that all socioeconomic index levels are represented in the demographics of those schools—large schools and small schools. About 40 per cent of them are schools outside the metropolitan area, and about 60 per cent are from the metropolitan area; they cover a wide range of schools. The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: I thank the member for Ocean Reef for his question and I recognise his interest in schools, particularly Beaumaris Primary School in his electorate, which I will comment on in a moment. As the member intimated, coming into government, our major policy in education was the desire to empower school communities, principals, staff and parents in the delivery of education within their communities. It is fair to say that in many respects this initiative has revolutionised the way people think about their school and the local community. Over the last two and a half years independent public schools have been embraced by principals in particular, but also by school staff, parents and general communities. On that last point, we see many community members putting up their hands to be part of school boards in independent schools and wanting to contribute to them. I think there has been an overwhelming response to each of the calls for applications and expressions of interest, so much so that 40 per cent of all public schools have now applied over that time. In the last intake, there were 196 applications and the independent committee that goes through those applications recommended to the director general that 109 schools be part of the independent public schools program. Last Friday was the first day of those recognised schools’ transition to independent schools. One of the things that distinguishes the empowering of, and the giving of more autonomy to, public schools in this state compared with other states is that the process has been voluntary. Therefore, schools are able to think through their applications, whether they wish to be part of this program at this point and whether they wish to apply to become an independent public school. Most important is that all socioeconomic index levels are represented in the demographics of those schools—large schools and small schools. About 40 per cent of them are schools outside the metropolitan area, and about 60 per cent are from the metropolitan area; they cover a wide range of schools. The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
I thank the member for Ocean Reef for his question and I recognise his interest in schools, particularly Beaumaris Primary School in his electorate, which I will comment on in a moment. As the member intimated, coming into government, our major policy in education was the desire to empower school communities, principals, staff and parents in the delivery of education within their communities. It is fair to say that in many respects this initiative has revolutionised the way people think about their school and the local community. Over the last two and a half years independent public schools have been embraced by principals in particular, but also by school staff, parents and general communities. On that last point, we see many community members putting up their hands to be part of school boards in independent schools and wanting to contribute to them. I think there has been an overwhelming response to each of the calls for applications and expressions of interest, so much so that 40 per cent of all public schools have now applied over that time. In the last intake, there were 196 applications and the independent committee that goes through those applications recommended to the director general that 109 schools be part of the independent public schools program. Last Friday was the first day of those recognised schools’ transition to independent schools. One of the things that distinguishes the empowering of, and the giving of more autonomy to, public schools in this state compared with other states is that the process has been voluntary. Therefore, schools are able to think through their applications, whether they wish to be part of this program at this point and whether they wish to apply to become an independent public school. Most important is that all socioeconomic index levels are represented in the demographics of those schools—large schools and small schools. About 40 per cent of them are schools outside the metropolitan area, and about 60 per cent are from the metropolitan area; they cover a wide range of schools. The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
One of the things that distinguishes the empowering of, and the giving of more autonomy to, public schools in this state compared with other states is that the process has been voluntary. Therefore, schools are able to think through their applications, whether they wish to be part of this program at this point and whether they wish to apply to become an independent public school. Most important is that all socioeconomic index levels are represented in the demographics of those schools—large schools and small schools. About 40 per cent of them are schools outside the metropolitan area, and about 60 per cent are from the metropolitan area; they cover a wide range of schools. The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
The member for Ocean Reef mentioned Beaumaris Primary School and it is worth complimenting it on the work it has done as an independent public school combining with the efforts of three schools, Three Springs Primary School, Perenjori Primary School and Coorow Primary School. Beaumaris Primary School, a large metropolitan school, is now supporting the small country schools by working very closely through video linkups and in other ways. This is the sort of innovation that we are seeing come out of independent public schools. It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
It is also worth noting that recently the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development published a report on 65 schools and the evidence was that when principals are given control — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, member for Mandurah and member for West Swan, I call you all to order—the member for Mandurah for the second time. If you want to ask questions in this place, I might give you an opportunity in the future, “might” being the operative word. The call is with the Minister for Education. I think it is a question that some people in this place are interested in. If other people do not have an interest in question time, they might like to remove themselves; that would be my suggestion. Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : Mr Speaker — Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : The thing that came out of the OECD study was that when principals are given control over staffing and finances, student results are enhanced and students perform better. I think it is very important for us to note that as we move into a phase in which the Department of Education has now published the tender for the evaluation of the independent public schools. I understand that there has been a great deal of interest from academic institutions, universities and other companies involved in education evaluation. Those tenders will be assessed when they come in. The evaluation will cover about 18 months through to 2013. It is very important for us to assess the program as it proceeds in a number of ways: firstly, to look at individual schools and monitor their progress; and secondly, to have independent reviews of those schools, which is happening through the Department of Education Services, and, most importantly, this is an overarching evaluation. That has now been set in train by the department.
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