❓ A Member of Parliament questions changes to Perth Modern's admission rules, particularly regarding music program selection. The Minister defends the changes, emphasizing academic selectivity and alternative options for musically gifted students.
AnsweredQoN 1483Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the decision of the Department of Education to change admission rules for Perth Modern to make it a more academically selective school and I ask -
(1) Is it correct that the Principal and teachers at Perth Modern were not asked for input into the selection of students, which were then solely handled by the Education Department?
(2) Is it correct that, in the case of students seeking admission to music classes in 2007, those admitted were chosen by the department without consideration of their music capabilities or previous scholarly achievements?
(3) Is it the case that music auditions were not taken into consideration by the Education Department?
(4) If ‘yes’ to (3) how can this be justified in education terms?
(5) Has it occurred that students who would previously have been offered places at Perth Modern based on their music abilities are now to be denied places because of the change to a more academic focus, thus ignoring a student’s musical skills?
(6) Will the Minister undertake to make a ministerial statement to the House to fully explain and justify the new rules of admission?
(1) Is it correct that the Principal and teachers at Perth Modern were not asked for input into the selection of students, which were then solely handled by the Education Department?
(2) Is it correct that, in the case of students seeking admission to music classes in 2007, those admitted were chosen by the department without consideration of their music capabilities or previous scholarly achievements?
(3) Is it the case that music auditions were not taken into consideration by the Education Department?
(4) If ‘yes’ to (3) how can this be justified in education terms?
(5) Has it occurred that students who would previously have been offered places at Perth Modern based on their music abilities are now to be denied places because of the change to a more academic focus, thus ignoring a student’s musical skills?
(6) Will the Minister undertake to make a ministerial statement to the House to fully explain and justify the new rules of admission?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 October 2006
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Education and Training
Response time
34 days
1) Selection for students into Perth Modern School must be objective and clear. As a result it is based solely on student results in the paper and pencil test devised by the Australian Council of Educational Research for the purpose of identifying academically gifted students. These processes are consistent with student selection for all public school secondary Academic Talent Programs and those used interstate. 2) No. Applicants for the Music program for 2007 were advised that acceptance would be conditional on them gaining selection to the academic program. Those students who gained a position at the school who wished to apply for the Music Program took part in an additional selection process, comprising an audition and an interview. Only those students approved by the Music Department at Perth Modern School were offered a place in the Music Program. 3) No. 4) Not applicable. 5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
2) No. Applicants for the Music program for 2007 were advised that acceptance would be conditional on them gaining selection to the academic program. Those students who gained a position at the school who wished to apply for the Music Program took part in an additional selection process, comprising an audition and an interview. Only those students approved by the Music Department at Perth Modern School were offered a place in the Music Program. 3) No. 4) Not applicable. 5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
3) No. 4) Not applicable. 5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
4) Not applicable. 5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
2) No. Applicants for the Music program for 2007 were advised that acceptance would be conditional on them gaining selection to the academic program. Those students who gained a position at the school who wished to apply for the Music Program took part in an additional selection process, comprising an audition and an interview. Only those students approved by the Music Department at Perth Modern School were offered a place in the Music Program. 3) No. 4) Not applicable. 5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
3) No. 4) Not applicable. 5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
4) Not applicable. 5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
5) A number of students who may have accessed the music program previously did not achieve placement for 2007 due to the change in status of the school. Students who did not achieve the necessary entrance score are being considered for a place in the Churchlands Senior High School Music Program or another public school Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program based on their musical skills. 6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
6) No apology is made for re-establishing Perth Modern School as an academically selective public school.
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